2. Categories and functions of infinities

Different forms of the infinitives:

Besides simple infinitive like to write, there are also complex forms: progressive, perfect and passive infinitives in English. The infinitive in Ukrainian has no perfect active and perfect passive forms, and no continuous aspect form.

• Simple: to do He agreed to come to the party.

• Continuous: to be doing. Like other progressive forms, the progressive (=continuous) infinitive is used to suggest that actions and events are/were/will be continuing around the time we are talking about: It’s nice to be sitting here with you; This time tomorrow I’ll be lying on the beach; Why is she so late? She can’t be working.

• Perfect infinitive: It’s nice to have finished work (It’s nice that I have finished). Perfect infinitive can have the same kind of meaning as perfect tenses or past tenses. We use it when the infinitive clause refers to a time before the main clause: We often use perfect infinitives to talk about “unreal past events”, things that didn’t happen, or that may not have happened: I’m sorry not to have come on Thursday (..= that I didn’t come). We often use perfect infinitives to talk about “unreal past events”, things that didn’t happen, or that may not have happened: I meant to have telephoned but I forgot. You should have told me that you were coming. Compare: I’d like to visit Rome while I’m in Europe (the speaker wants to visit Rome and he’s in Europe now) and I’d like to have visited Rome while I was in Europe, but unfortunately I ran out of money. The speaker wishes he had visited Rome, but is no longer in Europe.

• Passive infinitives: (to be + past participle) have the same kind of meaning as other passive forms: There’s a lot of work to be done. She ought to be told about it. That window must be repaired before tonight.

Negative infinitives are normally made by putting NOT before the infinitive: Try not to be late. You were silly not to have locked your car. He’s busy. I’m afraid he can’t be disturbed. Why not ask him now? Why walk when we can go in the car? Why not buy a new bed for your bedroom?

Why leave before the end of the game? Why not spend a week in Beirut and a week in Baghdad?

I decided not to go to London. He asked me not to be late. Elephants ought not to marry mice.

You'd better not smile at the crocodile. I'd rather not eat meat.

Split infinitive is a structure in which TO is separated from the rest of the infinitive by an adverb: I’d like to really understand philosophy. He began to slowly get up off the floor.

Functions of the infinitives

1. after DO or a modal auxiliary verb as part of a verb phrase: Do you think she is ready? We must get some more light bulbs.

As the subject or complement of a clause: To watch him eating really gets on my nerves. The main thing is to stay calm. It’s great to talk to you. To be or not to be, that is the question.

To know her is to love her.

To express a person’s purpose, with nouns or pronouns, to indicate what something can be used for, or what is to be done with it: He came to London to look for work. Would you like something to drink? I haven't anything to wear. The children need a garden to play in.

2. As object or complement of a verb, adjective or a noun: I don’t want to go to bed. You have the right to remain silent. I’m anxious to contact your brother.

Uses

The most common uses of the infinitive are:

After certain verbs: I can’t afford myself to buy a car. (see the list below).

1. After certain verbs + person: I asked her to come here.

2. After verbs of knowing and believing: I know him to be an honest man (He’s known to be an honest man). We consider it to be our duty (=It’s considered to be our duty).

3. After TO BE: My first thought was to call you. His main concern is to care about her.

5) To express purpose: Helen’s gone out to buy a newspaper. She's gone to collect her pay cheque.

The three bears went into the forest to find firewood.

6) After adjectives in this pattern: It is + adjective +to-infinitive

I’m sorry to hear about accident. She’s very keen to do the course. It is good to talk to him. It is unkind of her to say that.

7) After TOO + adjective and Adjective + ENOUGH: He is too ill to come. He’s too young to vote. The garden isn’t big enough to play games in. She’s old enough to drive.

8) After nouns chance, opportunity, effort, decision, time: I don’t agree with the decision to postpone the elections. It’s not every day you have the opportunity to visit India.

9) After first/second/last/best/only/one: He was the only one to die. He was the first man to win three successful elections. Elsa was the latest guest to leave.

10) After question words (WHERE, WHAT, WHO, WHEN, etc): I don’t know what to do.

11) After IS/ARE to describe future events: He is to become Mayor next month.

12) After something, anything, nothing, etc.: I never go on a long journey without something to read.

The following verbs are normally followed by INFINITIVE with TO:

Afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, begin, care, choose, consent, decide, demand, deserve, determine, expect, fail, forget, grow, happen, hasten, hate, help, hope, hesitate, hurry, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, need, neglect, offer, pay, persuade, plan, prefer, prepare, pretend, promise, propose, refuse, resolve, remember, recommend, request, seek, seem, start, struggle, swear, threaten, try, wish, want.