INFINITIVE

A.    DEFINITION

Infinitive is (TO + VERB I ) or simple form.

e.g: to take, to talk, to tell, to drive, to go, etc.

 B. COMMON VERB FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVE

1. Followed Immediately by Infinitive

If these verbs are followed by another verb, the structure is usually

(VERB + INFINITIVE)

Examples :

-          We decided to take a taxi home.

-          They agreed to lend me some money.

-          I plan to visit her again.

-          She refused to meet him next week.

-          I would like to tell the story.

-          I need to know about you.

You can use the other verbs. They are :

Plan             intend      decide      agree       offer          refuse           pretend        need         expect      forget      attempt      seem      arrange       appear      promise    dare        hope           manage

Note these examples with the negative not to…..

-          We decided not to go out because the weather.

-          He pretended not to see me as he passed me in the street.

With other important verb you can not use the infinitive. For example think and suggest:

-          Are you thinking of buying a car? (not ‘thinking to buy’)

-          Tom suggested going to the cinema. (not ‘suggested to go’)

There is a continuous infinitive and perfect infinitive. We use these especially after seem, appear, and pretend.

-          I pretended to be reading. (= I pretended that I was reading.)

-          You seem to have lost weight. (=it seems that you have lost weight.)

2. Followed by Pronoun, then Infinitive

Want      ask     expect     help      would like      would prefer

There are two possible structures after these verbs:

Verb + Infinitive

-          I asked to see the manager.

-          We expected to be late.

-          He would like to come.

Verb + noun (pronoun) + infinitive

-          I asked Tom to help me.

-          We expected him to be late.

-          He would like me to come.

After help you can use the infinitive with or without to:

-           Can somebody help me (to) move this table?

You can use the other verbs. They are:

Tell             remind            force        enable      persuade      allow Order          warn                invite       advise      permit          require Force          would like       need        instruct     teach            forbid

These verbs have the structure:

VERB + NOUN(PRONOUN) + INFINITIVE

Examples:

-          I invited you to come to my house.

-          I expect you to be my sweet heart.

-          She advises me to sleep early.

-          He permits her to use his motorcycle.

-          The shopkeeper wanted her to pay the T-shirt.

C.    INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE  IN ORDER TO

In order to is used to express purpose. It answers the question “why?”  In order is often omitted.

Example:

-          She goes to market in order to sell vegetables.

-          I come to office in order to work.

-          He buys the book in order to study grammar.

Sometimes “in order”can be omitted.

-          She goes to market to sell vegetables.

-          I come to office to work.

-          He buy the book to study grammar.

D.    USING “FOR” TO EXPRESS PURPOSE

FOR AS PREPOSITION + NOUN OBJECT

Examples:

-          I went to market for some fruit.

-          She goes to campus for final exam.

-          They went to the kitchen for some sugar

Those sentences have the same meaning with :

-          I went to market to buy some fruit.

-          She goes to campus to follow final exam.