2. Infinitive

	Active	Passive
Simple	To telephone	To be telephoned
Continuous	To be telephoning	_________
Perfect	To have telephoned	To have been telephoned
Perfect Continuous	To have been telephoning	_________

NOTE 1: the to-infinitive is used after certain verbs: offer, agree, refuse, decide, plan, arrange, hope, aim, learn, deserve, afford, forget, attempt, manage, fail, promise, threaten, etc (Appendix 4).

2.1 Complete the sentences, using a verb from the box. Use each verb once:

Help, stay, find, speak, look after, telephone, buy, go, go out, get on

e.g. We decided to go to Spain for our holidays.

1. She learnt _________________________ Arabic when she was a child.

2. I tried ____________________________ you but there was no answer.

3. They refused ______________________________________ the plane.

4. She hopes ________________________________________ a job soon.

5. Did you forget _____________________________________ the bread?

6. I'm tired: I don't want __________________________________ tonight.

7. They offered ________________________ the children for the evening.

8. They're planning ________________________ with us for the weekend.

9. He agreed ________________________________ us with our problem.

2.2 * Complete each sentence with a suitable verb:

1. Don't forget to post the letter I gave you.

2. There was a lot of traffic but we managed ______ to the airport in time.

3. Jill has decided not ______ a car.

4. We've got a new computer in our office. I haven't learnt ______ it yet.

5. I wonder where Sue is. She promised not ______ late.

6. We were all too afraid to speak. Nobody dared ______ anything.

NOTE 2: “to-infinitive” is used to express purpose: e.g. I came here to see you. “in order to + infinitive” and “so as to + infinitive” are also used to express purpose, but:

• “in order to + infinitive” is more formal than “to-infinitive”

• “in order to + infinitive” and “so as to + infinitive” are more common than “to-infinitive” before verbs like be, have, know: e.g. I got up early so as to be ready for John’s phone call.

• “in order not to + infinitive” and “so as not to + infinitive” are more common than “not to-infinitive” to express a negative purpose: e.g. He opened the door quietly so as not to disturb the baby.

2.3 Express each question and answer as one sentence, using to + infinitive. Note that you will need to change some words.

e.g. Q: Why do you go to the beach every weekend? A: Because I like swimming. – She goes to the beach every weekend to swim.

1. Q: Why did you move to London?

A: I wanted to find work. – He _____

2. Q: Why are you leaving home?

A: I'm going to university in Birmingham. – She _____

3. Q: Why are you having a party?

A: It's my thirtieth birthday, and I want to celebrate it. – He _____

4. Q: Why do you get up at six every morning?

A: I do my training then. – She _____

5. Q: Why are you going out?

A: I want to post a card to my mother. – He _____

6. Q: Why are you saving money?

A: We want to buy a car. – They _____

7. Q: Why are you going to Egypt?

A: We want to visit Ali's parents. – They _____

8. Q: Why did you buy a new suit?

A: I want to wear it at the office party. – He _____

9. Q: Why did you buy a DVD recorder?

A: We want to record the World Cup Final. – They _____

NOTE 3: “to-infinitive” can be used after certain adjectives: e.g. I’m glad to see you. If an infinitive needs its own subject, this is introduced by “for”. Compare: e.g. Ann will be happy to help you. Ann will be happy for the children to help you.

2.4 Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown:

1. It's difficult to understand him. – He is difficult to understand.

2. It's quite easy to use this machine. – This machine is ________________.

3. It was very difficult to open the window. – The window ______________.

4. It's impossible to translate some words. – Some words _______________.

5. It's not safe to stand on that chair. – That chair _____________________.

6. It's expensive to maintain a car. – A ______________________________.

2.5 Rewrite these sentences using the structure with “for... to ...”:

e.g. She can't come. – It's impossible for her to come.

1. The meeting needn't start before eight. (There's no need for the ...)

2. The postman ought to come, fit's time for...)

3. He's not usually late. (It's unusual for ...)

4. I want the children to go to a good school. (I'm anxious for ...)

5. John shouldn't go to Australia. (It's a bad idea...)

6. Sue shouldn't change her job just now. (It would be a mistake ...)

7. Can Paul come to the meeting? (Is it possible ...?)

8. The car really should have regular services. (It's important...)

9. He normally stays up late on Saturdays. (It's normal...)

10. I'd be happy if you took a holiday. (I'd be happy for ...)

NOTE 4: “to-infinitive” can be used after certain nouns and pronouns, to show what is to be done with them or how they are to be used: e.g. I’ve got some homework to do.

2.6 Complete the second sentence using the adjective in brackets. Use a/an + adjective + noun + to-infinitive (as in the example):

1. I couldn't answer the question. (difficult) – It was a difficult question to answer.

2. Everybody makes that mistake. (easy) – It's an ___________________.

3. I like living in this place. (nice) – It's a _________________________.

4. We enjoyed watching the game. (good) – It was __________________.

2.7 Put the words in the correct order to make sentences, making one verb an infinitive and writing the other in the present simple:

e.g. plane catch she a have. – She has a plane to catch.

lot of a housework there be do. – There is a lot of housework to do.

1. who something eat want?

2. come expect Jane I.

3. delighted hear I be the news.

4. have books some I read.

5. illness surprised hear I be his of.

6. nothing children the have do.

7. letters I write some have.

8. shopping some he do have.

9. nothing say have I.

10. lovely see it again you be.

NOTE5: “to-infinitive” is used in the constructions with “too” and “enough”:

e.g. She is too tired to go out. (too + adjective/adverb – negative meaning) e.g. He is rich enough to afford a yacht. (adjective/adverb + enough – positive meaning) e.g. He’s got enough patience to be a teacher. (enough + noun)

2.8 Complete the text using "too" or "enough":

Gary is leaving school this year but he doesn't know what he wants to do. He isn't motivated 1) enough to go to university. He'd quite like to be an engineer but he thinks it would be 2) _____ difficult. His father wants him to work in the family shop but that's not exciting 3) _____ for Gary. He hasn't got 4) _____ patience to sit in a shop all day. He wants to travel, so the navy seems to be a good idea, although the rules are a bit 5) _____ strict. Someone suggested driving a taxi but the hours are 6) _____ long and he wouldn't earn 7) _____ money. There really is nothing that interests him 8) _____.

NOTE 6: “to-infinitive” is used after question words (what, how, where, etc.) except why: e.g. Have you decided where to go for your holidays?

2.9 Complete each sentence using what/how/whether + one of these verbs: