Forms of the Infinitive

1. The continuous infinitive

The continuous infinitive is formed with to be + present participle.

It expresses activities in progress.

I’d like to be lying in the sun right now.

He seems to be having financial difficulties.

2. The perfect infinitive

The perfect infinitive is formed with to have + past participle.

I’d like to have seen his face when you told him.

He seems to have forgotten about the appointment.

3. The passive infinitive

The passive infinitive is formed with to be + past participle.

I’d like to be promoted to sales manager.

I asked to be informed as soon as there was any news.

Notes

The continuous, perfect, and passive infinitives can also be used with modal auxiliary verbs, but with these verbs to is omitted.

You should be working, not watching television.

She must have gone home already.

This report must be finished tonight.

PRACTICE

1. Complete the following sentences using infinitives.

■ It is easy to find cheap places to eat.

1. I was surprised to ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

2. It can be expesive to -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

3. When you are old, it can be difficult to -------------------------------------------------------------------.

4. If you haven’t got much money, it’s impossible to ------------------------------------------------------.

5. When you travel abroad, it’s important to ----------------------------------------------------------------.

6. I cannot often persuade others to ---------------------------------------------------------------------------.

7. She was made to ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

8. I always try to -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

2. Read each sentence and write a second sentence from the words given.

■ Jill didn’t have any money.

She/ want/ Ann/ lend her some ----She wanted Ann to lend her some.

1. Tom’s parents were disappointed when he decided to leave home.

They/ want/ Tom/ stay with them ----_________________________________________.

2. Please don’t tell anyone that I’m leaving my job.

I/ not/ want/ anyone/ know ----______________________________________________.

3. Unfortunately someone had told Sue that I was going to visit her.

I/ want/ it/ be a surprise ----_________________________________________________.

TAPESCRIPT SECTION

Tapescript 13

Listen and check.

1. s-t-a-d-i-u-m

2. p-r-o-f-e-s-s-o-r

3. d-o-c-t-o-r-a-t-e

4. t-e-a-c-h-e-r

5. c-a-n-t-e-e-n

6. l-i-b-r-a-r-y

7. a-c-a-d-e-m-i-c-i-a-n

8. p-o-s-t-g-r-a-d-u-a-t-e

9. l-a-b-o-r-a-t-o-r-y

Tapescript 14

Listen and check.

1-c (The university course runs five years.)

2-b (the main objective of our university is to educate specialists of higher technical education for the establishments of various property forms.)

3-a (Great importance is attached to the

development of physical culture.)

4-a (Our student and teachers have all facilities at their disposal free of charge: 55 educational and 10 research laboratories.)

5-c (The campus has 5 hostels for 2200 students and postgraduates.)

1lessor and lessor = less and less