VI. Parenthesis
E.g. To tell the truth I would rather stay indoors.
verbs of mental activity (to know, to think, to suppose, to expect etc): E.g. He is supposed to be leaving tonight.
verbs of saying (to announce, to declare etc): E.g. He is said to have returned at last.
the verb to make:
E.g. He was made to keep silent.
VII. Infinitive clause as subject, object or complement of sentence
Infinitive clause as subject
In older English, an infinitive clause could easily be the subject of a sentence.
E.g. To make mistakes is easy.
In modern English, this is unusual in an informal style. We more often use it as a “preparatory subject” and put the infinitive clause later.
E.g. It's easy to make mistakes.
An infinitive clause can be used after be as a subject complement.
E.g. My ambition was to retire at thirty.
Sentences like these can also be constructed with “preparatory it”.
E.g. It was my ambition to retire at thirty.
Infinitive as object
Many verbs can be followed by an infinitive clause in the place of the direct object. Compare:
E.g. I like cornflakes for breakfast, (noun object)
I like to have cornflakes for breakfast, (infinitive clause as object)
Infinitive with its own subject
Sometimes it is necessary to make it clear who or what is the subject of an infinitive, especially if this is not the same as the subject of the sentence.
The subject of the infinitive is normally introduced by for.
E.g. For Ann to go to France would make me very happy.
(NOT
Ann
to go to
France would...)
Infinitive clauses of purpose
We often use an infinitive to talk about a person's purpose - why he or she does something.
E.g. I sat
down to
rest, (NOT
I
sat
down for
resting/for to rest.)
We can also use in order to (more formal) or so as to.
E.g. He got up early in order to have time to pack.
I moved to a new flat so as to be near my work.
In order to and so as to are normal before “stative” verbs like be, know and have.
E.g. I watched him in order to know more about him.
We normally use in orde/so as before a negative infinitive.
E.g. I'm going to leave now, so as not to be late.
(NOT I'm
going to leave now, not
to be
late.)
Infinitive clauses: other uses
1. I came home to find...
Infinitive clauses can be used to say what somebody found out or learnt at the end of a journey or task.
E.g. I arrived home to find that the house had been burgled.
The idea of surprise or disappointment can be emphasised by using only before the infinitive.
E.g. After driving all night we got to Amy's place, only to discover that she was away.
to hear her talk, you'd think...
The infinitives of see and hear can be used to explain the reason for a false impression. The infinitive structure is usually followed by you'd think or a similar expression.
E.g. To see them together, you'd think they were an old married couple. But they only met yesterday.
VIII. Infinitive complements:
after verbs