Understanding Infinitives in English Grammar
- Identifying the infinitive in a sentence:
- "to help him" (verb function)
- "to help us" (verb function)
- "to look like that" (verb function)
- "to invite friends and to go with them for a walk" (noun function)
- "to see his house" (verb function)
- "to watch the children play" (noun function)
- "to go there more than once a week" (verb function)
- "to rest" (noun function)
- Using infinitive constructions instead of subordinate clauses:
- The boys were the first to meet us.
- We expect her to come and help us.
- Take another pencil to write better.
- Write down all their names to remember.
- He is so tall that he can’t go through this low door.
- Explaining the difference between non-perfect and perfect form of the infinitive:
- "I’m glad to have helped you" (perfect form, action completed)
- "I’m glad to help you" (non-perfect form, ongoing action)
- "You’d better stay there" (non-perfect form, advice for present)
- "You’d better have stayed there" (perfect form, advice for past)
- "We know them to live in the flat next door" (non-perfect form, general statement)
- "We know them to have lived in the flat next door" (perfect form, specific past action)
