A. The most common form of the infinitive consists of two words, to and the first principal part of the verb.
Examples:
to walk to sing to become
This word to is not a preposition, but is usually called the sign of the infinitive. You remember that we have been careful, since the very beginning of our study, not to call the infinitive a prepositional phrase.
B. Frequently the to, the sign of the infinitive, is omitted, and then we must be more alert in order to detect the infinitive.
We say:
Mother allowed me to go to the show, but Mother let me go to the show.
Martha helped me to wash the dishes, or Martha helped me wash the dishes.
John did nothing except to gaze out the window, or John did nothing except gaze out the window.
In each sentence the infinitive is underlined.
C, The infinitive has three uses; that is, it is used as three different parts of speech, instead of just the noun as the gerund is.
1. The noun use:
A Subject: To see through the fog was almost impossible.
b. Direct object: We tried to see through the fog.
c. Predicate nominative: His plan was to see a lawyer.
d. Object of preposition: (Usually after except, but meaning except, and about) The child did nothing but scream with fury.
The class is about to finish that unit of work.
e. Appositive: His ambition, to become a lawyer, will require years of training.
f. Retained object: (Follows only a transitive passive verb) He was ordered to appear before the judge.
She was requested to send the necessary information.
2. The adjective use: (Of course this means that the infinitive will modify a noun or pronoun.) Is this a good book to read? ( Modifies book)
Ann has a long lesson to prepare. (Modifies lesson)
3. The adverbial use: (In this use the infinitive almost always tells why, or what reason, in what way.)
He was glad to give us the help we needed.
(Tells why or for what reason he was glad and modifies the predicate adjective glad.) I am ready to take my examina tion.
(Tells in what way or why ready and modifies the predicate adjective ready.) OTHER HELPFUL POINTS
1. Often the word it is used as an expletive to push the subject farther over in the sentence, and this subject may be an infinitive. We have noticed there used as an expletive.
It was almost impossible to see through the fog.
(What was almost impossible? To see—the subject. ) It was easy to understand the clear explanation.
(What was easy? To understand—the subject.)
2. Since the infinitive is formed from a verb, it may be modified by an adverb and may be followed by a direct object or other complements, just as a gerund may.
To think clearly was difficult amid the noise and confusion.
(The adverb clearly modifies to think.) We tried to prepare our lessons well.
(Lessons is the direct object of to prepare. The adverb well modifies to prepare.) He hopes to become a lawyer.
(Lawyer is a predicate nominative following to become.)
3. The infinitive often has a subject. This subject always names the person or thing that is to do the action which the infinitive indicates.
We hired him to paint the house.
(Him is the subject of to paint.) They asked us to arrange the program.
(Us is the subject of to arrange.)
In each of these examples the infinitive is the direct object of the verb.
You notice that the pronouns him and us are the forms that would be used as objects of verbs or prepositions; in other words, they are in the objective case. This is a peculiarity of the subject of the infinitive—it is always in the objective form, or case. It may be either a noun or a pronoun. In the practice work, the second sentence is the first example.
FOR FURTHER PROGRESS:
We have thus far considered only the most common form of the infinitive, the present active infinitive; but there are several forms which you should recognize. They are as follows:
PPORONE ACTIVE INFINITIVE vopcessessscescadccenchacsead to hear Present passive infinitive...ccssseees to be heard Presentractivednfinitive ...:0..s....ssesere2 to have heard Perfect passive infinitive...ccceeesseee to have been heard There are also the progressive forms, but they are rather rarely used.
Present progressive infinitive...0: to be hearing
Perfect progressive infinitive...06¢ to have been hearing 96
PRACTICE:
In the following sentences underline each infinitive and in the blank at the left tell how the infinitive is used. If it is used as a noun, give the specific noun use; if it is used as an adjective
Se
modifier, write adj.; if it is used as an adverb modifier, write adv.
Warning: None of these infinitives consist of more than two words (to plus the first principal part).
ie 2:
To be generous in our opinions of others is a test of our own characters.
The manager asked the crowd to be quiet during the intermission.
. His favorite hobby, to collect moths and butterflies, afforded him much pleasure.
. It is sometimes difficult to make wise decisions.
. The clown painted his face white to give a comical effect.
. A sharp pain in his eye caused him to lose control of the car.
. His intention was to leave on a later boat.
The careful driver sounded his horn to warn the pedestrian.
To read the biographies of great men is often inspiring.
. I tried to write a poem.
. He went to his father to ask his consent.
. The pupils were requested to refrain from clapping after the Christmas play.
. The teacher required the students to write their themes in ink.
It is necessary to observe the traffic regulations.
. The boat was about to leave the pier when we arrived.
. Mother let us children play games in the attic on rainy days.
. The woman did nothing but gaze helplessly at the injured man.
. To be just is sometimes aif eale
. She asked me to send the message to her brother.
. We were asked to send our contributions to the Red Cross headquarters.
WORD STUDY 17.
Master the spelling and the pronunciation:
(Part of speech and definition)
celebration audacity
encyclopedia
escape (to) eradicate
repetition
tragedy scrupulous
For further progress:
(to) deteriorate
inhibition
Write effective sentences using the words which you have defined.
Examples:
The girl’s audacity in accosting the distinguished stranger was embarrassing to her mother.
If a false idea once becomes firmly rooted in a person’s mind, it is difficult to eradicate it.
He was scrupulous in all business dealings and handled other people’s money as carefully as if it were his own.
Unused machinery will deteriorate much more rapidly than that which is in constant use.
The severe atmosphere and strict discipline of his early home developed in the boy certain inhibitions which handicapped him in later life.
Write original sentences here:
SECTION 38