The Infinitive as The Verb
The Infinitive as The Verb :
It may be noted that the Infinitive works as a noun and at the same time functions as a verb. It serves as subject and object like a noun. It takes an object on its stride like a verb and also gets modified by an adverb. The Infinitive is a kind of noun with certain features of the verb, especially that of taking an object (when the verb is transitive) and adverbial qualifiers. In short the Infinitive can be termed as verb-noun.
The word TO is frequently used with the Infinitive, but is not an essential part or sign of it. The Infinitive is capable of surviving often without TO. The Infinitive verb has many different uses.
The Infinitive with TO as the subject….
1. To err is human.
2. To forgive is divine.
3. To make mistakes is easy.
4. It was impossible to explain.
5. To explain was impossible.
6. It was difficult to sell my car.
7. To sell my car was difficult.
8. To walk in the middle of the road is dangerous.
9. To wear this kind of skirt has become fashionable.
10. To telephone is quicker than to write.
11. To find fault is rather easy.
12. To be a king is worth ambition.
13. To be or not to be is the problem now for me.
The infinitive with TO as the object of a verb…..
1. I do not mean to work now.
2. She likes to play chess with me.
3. Mrs. Gray's students are trying very hard to learn English.
4. How did you manage to finish that difficult task?
5. Do you think he deserved to get that award?
The infinitive with TO as the complement of an incomplete verb….
1. The most important thing in life is to keep healthy.
2. My wife is getting to be a beautiful woman.
3. The little hut seems to be the most comfortable one.
4. My greatest pleasure is to suffer for the humanity at large.
5. His habit is to find fault with anything and everything.
The infinitive with TO as the object of a preposition….
1. The Government had no choice, but to accede to my demand.
2. She had no other alternative, but to obey.
3. The Parliament is about to transact business.
but & about - prepositions
to accede, to obey and to transact - infinitives – objects of the preposition
The main verb + the object + the infinitive with TO….
1. The secretary expects everyone on his staff to be punctual.
2. She didn't want me to come with her.
3. I didn't want you to put the file there.
4. You mustn't encourage them to do mischief.
Objects : staff, me, you, and them.
Infinitives : to be, to come, to put and to do.
The Infinitive as The Verb
The Grammar Index
