Infinitive Constructions
the for-to- Infinitive Construction;
the Complex Object (the Objective-with-the-Infinitive Construction);
the Complex Subject (the Subjective Infinitive Construction).
The for-to- Infinitive Construction
infinitive with its own subject
The structure for + noun/pronoun + infinitive is very common in English.
It is used when an infinitive needs its own subject. Compare:
E.g. - Ann will be happy to help you. (Ann will help.)
Ann will be happy for the children to help you. (The children will help.)
- My idea was to learn Russian.
My idea was for her to learn Russian.
Note that the subject of the infinitive is the object of the preposition for.
Object forms of pronouns are used.
E.g. Ann
will be happy for them
to
help you. (NOT
... for
they
to
help you)
use
The structure is often used when we are referring to possibility, necessity or frequency, when we are expressing wishes, suggestions or plans for the future, and when we are giving personal reactions to situations.
Like other infinitive structures, it is used especially after adjectives, nouns and verbs; itcan also act as the subject or object of a clause. It often has the same meaning as a that-clause. Compare:
E.g. It's important for the meeting to start on time.
It's important that the meeting should start on time.
after adjectives (wishes etc)
The structure for + object + infinitive can be used after certain adjectives which express wishes and other personal feelings about the importance or value of future events (e.g. anxious, eager, delighted, willing, reluctant).
E.g. Robert says he'd be delighted for Mary to come and stay.
with preparatory it
For-structures with preparatory it are common with many adjectives expressing possibility, necessity, importance, urgency, frequency and value judgements.
(...)
it
(...)
+ adjective +for
+
object + infinitive
E.g. It's impossible for the job to be finished in time.
Would it be easy for you to phone me tomorrow?
Other common adjectives that are used in this way: vital, necessary, pointless, unimportant, common, normal, unusual, rare, right, wrong.
Note that likely and probable are not used like this.
E.g. She's likely to arrive this evening.
(NOT It's
likely for her to arrive this
evening.)
It's probable that she'll be in a bad temper, о R She'll probably be...
(NOT It's
probable for her to be...)
after nouns
The structure can also be used after nouns in expressions with meanings similar to the adjectives listed above. Examples are: time, a good/bad idea, plan, aim, need, request, mistake, shame.
E.g. It's time for everybody to go to bed.
His idea is for us to travel in separate cars.
after something, anything, nothing etc
Something, anything, nothing and similar words are often followed by
Far + object + infinitive.
E.g. Have you got something for me to do?
There's nothing for the cats to eat.
after verbs
For-structures are not normally used in object position after verbs.
E.g. I
need you to help me.
(NOT
I
need for you to help me.)
However, verbs which are normally followed by for (e.g. ask, hope, wait, look, pay, arrange) can often be used with for + object + infinitive.
E.g. Anne asked for the designs to be ready by Friday.
I can't wait for them to finish talking.
A few other verbs can be used with this structure: suit and take (time).
E.g. When will it suit you for us to call?
It took twenty minutes for the smoke to clear.
after too and enough
A for-structure is often used after too and enough.
E.g. This is much too heavy for you to lift.
There are too many people here for me to talk to all of them.
as subject or object
The for-structure can be the subject of a clause.
E.g. For us to fail now would be a disaster.
For her to lose the election would make me very happy.
However, it is more common for a structure with preparatory it to be used:
E.g. It would make me very happy for her to lose the election.
Preparatory it is normal when the for-structure is the object of a clause.
E.g. He made it very difficult for us to refuse.
for there to be
The infinitive of there is {there to be) is common after for.
E.g. I'm anxious for there to be plenty of time for discussion.
It's important for there to be afire escape at the back of the building.
that-clauses
Instead of the for + object + infinitive structure, a that-clause with should or a subjunctive is often possible, especially when we want to express wishes, recommendations, suggestions and plans for the future.
A that-clause is usually more formal than a for-structure.
E.g. It is important that there should be afire escape.
I'm anxious that the party should be a success.