Level: beginner
Verbs with to-infinitives
We use the to-infinitive after certain verbs (verbs followed by to-infinitive), particularly verbs of thinking and feeling:
| choose decide expect forget |
hate hope intend learn |
like love mean plan |
prefer remember want would like/love |
They decided to start a business together.
Remember to turn the lights off.
and verbs of saying:
| agree | promise | refuse | threaten |
We agreed to meet at the cinema.
Promise to call me every day.
Some verbs are followed by a direct object and then the to-infinitive:
| advise ask encourage expect |
intend invite order persuade |
remind tell want warn |
would like/love would prefer |
He encouraged his friends to vote for him.
Remind me to give Julia a call.
- Verbs with to-infinitive 1
- Verbs with to-infinitive 2
Infinitive of purpose
We also use the to-infinitive to express purpose (to answer why?):
He bought some flowers to give to his wife.
He locked the door to keep everyone out.
We can also express purpose with in order to and in order not to:
We started our journey early in order to avoid the traffic.
They spoke quietly in order not to wake the children.
or so as to and so as not to:
We started our journey early so as to avoid the traffic.
They spoke quietly so as not to wake the children.
- Infinitive of purpose 1
- Infinitive of purpose 2
Level: intermediate
Adjectives with to-infinitives
We use the to-infinitive after certain adjectives:
| able unable anxious |
due eager keen |
likely unlikely ready |
prepared willing unwilling |
Unfortunately, I was unable to work for over a week.
I'm really tired. I'm ready to go to bed.
Sometimes the to-infinitive gives a reason for the adjective:
| amazed delighted disappointed |
glad happy pleased |
proud relieved sad |
sorry surprised unhappy |
We were happy to come to the end of our journey.
(= We were happy because we had come to the end of our journey.)
John was surprised to see me.
(= He was surprised because he saw me.)
We often use it + be followed by an adjective to give opinions:
| clever difficult easy |
foolish hard kind |
nice possible impossible |
right wrong silly |
It's easy to play the piano, but it's very difficult to play well.
He spoke so quickly that it was impossible to understand him.
We use the to-infinitive with these adjectives to give opinions about people:
| clever foolish |
kind nice |
right wrong |
silly |
She was right to complain about that hotel.
You were clever to find the answer so quickly.
We use the preposition for to show who these adjectives refer to:
| difficult | easy | hard | possible | impossible |
It was difficult for us to hear what she was saying.
It is easy for you to criticise other people.
With the other adjectives, we use the preposition of:
It's kind of you to help.
It would be silly of him to spend all his money.
- Adjectives with to-infinitive 1
- Adjectives with to-infinitive 2
Level: advanced
Nouns with to-infinitives
We use the to-infinitive as a postmodifier (see noun phrases) after abstract nouns like:
| ability attempt chance |
desire failure need |
opportunity refusal wish |
They gave him an opportunity to escape.
He was annoyed by her refusal to answer.
I have no desire to be rich.
There is no need to shout.
We often use the to-infinitive as a postmodifier after indefinite pronouns:
When I am travelling I always take something to read.
I was all alone. I had no one to talk to.
There is hardly anything to do in most of these small towns.
- Nouns with to-infinitive 1
- Nouns with to-infinitive 2
Dear Teachers,
I'd really appreciate your piece of advice.
I need to rebuild this paragraph without changing its meaning:
To order the right amount of raw materials for future batches, you will use the information about the amount you needed to manufacture the first batch plus 10-12%. This will allow you to cover your needs should any faulty items be produced.
My version is:
Although you know the first batch to have required a certain amount of raw materials, you should add another 10–12% to cover your needs if any faulty items are produced.
In a message to my teacher, I'm trying to explain my steps and my decision to include the perfect infinitive. But I actually don't want to use the infinitive 'to include,' instead I want to employ the verb 'to accommodate' or maybe 'to incorporate'. The possible sentences are:
Or
I understand that my message is very long, but if you've reached this part, kudos :)
Would my version of the initial paragraph sound natural?
Can I use 'accommodate' or/and 'incorporate' to explain the change that I've made?
Thank you very much,
JMorales
Hello JMorales,
It doesn't sound completely natural. I think 'although' and 'you know' together do not work as the contrast shown by 'although' relates to the amount needed, not to what you know. The connection here is one of condition-result rather than contrast:
Once you know how much raw material the first batch required, you should add/include/incorporate another 10–12% to cover/accommodate/meet your needs if any faulty items are produced.
Yes. I've included these and alternatives above.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Thank you. Unfortunately, everything got a little bit mixed up.
Initial text:
To order the right amount of raw materials for future batches, you will use the information about the amount you needed (this action is already in the past) to manufacture the first batch plus 10-12%. This will allow you to cover your needs should any faulty items be produced.
My version 2.0 + your suggestions:
Even if you know the first batch to have required a certain amount of raw materials, you should add another 10–12% to cover your needs in case any faulty items are produced.
At this point, I’m done with the task. Now I need to explain the changes that I made to my teacher in a message:
‘Dear Mr. Sambla,
I’ve completed Exercise 15 from your book. I’ve decided to rebuild the second sentence…’
Or
Would version 2.0 work better?
Can I use:
I’ve decided to rebuild the second sentence to accommodate the perfect infinitive (in it).
Or
I’ve decided to rebuild the second sentence to incorporate the perfect infinitive (in it).
JMorales
Hello again JMorales,
As I said in my initial reply, I would not use a perfect form here. The simple past (...how much the first batch required...) is a better choice.
Both accommodate and incorporate are fine here. I think I would go with incorporate.
Please note that this site is not a proofreading site. We don't generally help people with text construction or checking but rather focus on explaining points of language in a didactic sense.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Thank you very much.
You wrote: "... but rather focus on explaining points of language in a didactic sense."
That's exactly what I need now:)
Could you please tell me why the perfect infinitive doesn't work here?
JMorales
Hello again JMorales,
It's not that that the construction is incorrect but rather that it does not sound like a natural choice here. The past simple is better because the action described is a completed action in the past, just as in the original sentence you used the past simple with the verb 'needed'. A perfect form would be used if the action had a relevant present result, but that is hard to see as the case here. A different action might have present relevance (learn, experience or discover, for example), but it seems to me that you are not so much attempting to express something in a clear and elegant manner so much as force a particular structure into a context in which it does not really belong.
I think we've explored this about as far as we usefully can. I hope the comments have been helpful.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi,
I'd like to ask whether this text would be considered a viable exercise for B2 foreign students.
The point is to for them to understand the functions of infinitives (meaning - subject, object, etc.), which I believe is very clear and pretty simple in this particular text:
"As an avid gardener, her dream is to cultivate a flourishing garden filled with vibrant flowers and lush greenery. To achieve this, she spends hours each day nurturing her plants, carefully tending to their needs. Her favorite activity is to plant new seeds, watching eagerly as they sprout and grow into beautiful blooms. One of her greatest joys is to share her love of gardening with others, teaching them how to care for their own plants and create their own little slices of paradise. To her, gardening is not just a hobby but a passion that enriches her life in countless ways."
Thank you.
Hi BenSimmons,
This site is for learners rather than teachers so I'll limit myself to a brief reply, but I think the text contains some good examples of the infinitive in use, and it sounds like natural written language. Apart from the text itself, you can think about what guiding info or questions to add, to help students to identify the target structure and its meaning(s).
Good luck with your lesson!
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello sir. I wonder which of the following is correct: "How would you like your steak cooked?" or "How would you like your steak to be cooked?"
And "I wish the work finished before 5 pm." or "I wish the work to be finished before 5 pm."
Specifiying the reasons would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Hi Radioheady,
Both the "steak" sentences are correct and they mean the same thing.
The "wish" sentences are a bit different. "I wish the work finished before 5 pm." means that the work does not actually finish before 5 pm, but the speaker wants it to. The meaning of "I wish" is similar to "If only" (i.e., introducing a desired situation, but one that is only imaginary, not real). "Finished" is a past simple verb form, indicating an unreal action.
"I wish the work to be finished before 5 pm." sounds like a boss giving out an order. "I wish" doesn't mean "If only" here. It expresses the speaker's instructions for others to follow (rather than showing a purely imaginary situation, as in the previous sentence). This structure is also somewhat formal in style. "Finished" is a past participle.
It's also possible that "I wish the work finished" is a contracted form of "I wish the work to be finished", omitting "to be", similar to the "steak" sentences.
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Would you please help me? Which one is correct in or on?
Most Japanese live in the four largest islands or on the four largest islands.
Thanks in advance
Hello SM Jakirul Islam,
We use 'on' with islands.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how these infinitive phrases function (if they are infinitive phrases at all) in the following examples. I have learnt that they can act as nouns, adjectives and adverbs.
Firstly,
It was impossible to understand him.
In this case, we could think that the infinitive phrase is acting as a subject complement, (of “it,” anyway!). Then, we could rephrase it as “To understand him was impossible.”
However, this could not be possible with You were clever to find the answers so quickly.
Then, it occurs to me that what we are modifying are adjectives, and adverbs can modify adjectives, as well as verbs. In these two previous cases, would the phrases be functioning as an adverb? What’s going on in You don't look happy to see me?? It looks like the same scenario.
And finally,
It’s difficult for us to hear what she’s saying.
In this last example, is it acting as a direct object? If so, would it be functioning as a noun?
Maybe in these following sentences, with abstract nouns and indefinite pronouns, it is easier to see the adjectival quality:
I had no one to talk to.
(Or “Your team is the best one to talk (to) about grammar problems **)
When I’m travelling, I always take something to read.
I realise that I might have found the answer by elaborating the question.
Anyway, I would really appreciate any insight about this.
** (An extra question on the “to”: would it be incorrect to include that second to in that sentence?)
Hello fonema_Jimena,
Our site here at LearnEnglish is aimed at language learners rather than linguistics and your question is more in the latter area. I think a better place to ask this kind of question is StackExchange, which has a section for this kind of topic with very helpful users. You can find it here:
https://english.stackexchange.com/
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
What does "to" mean in this sentence? Does it have a modal meaning? I'm confused whether "is" is dropped here? The full sentence would be "A perfomance is to be proud of, Maxy".
A perfomance to be proud of, Maxy.
Hi Gendeng,
Actually, this is not a sentence, because a sentence requires a subject and a verb. Grammatically speaking, it's a noun phrase, and a sentence fragment. But it's common to say things like this, since in real life people don't always speak in complete sentences. The full version would be: It was a performance to be proud of, Maxy.
When remarking on something, people may just say a noun phrase and drop the subject and the verb "be", e.g. somebody may say "beautiful picture" upon seeing a picture (rather than a complete sentence such as "It's a beautiful picture").
Here, "to" introduces an infinitive "to be proud of" that is understood with the preceding noun "performance" as its object. A simpler example of the same structure is "something to eat" (where "something" is the object of "to eat").
I hope that helps to understand it.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello LearnEnglish Team,
I want to enquire about the difference between the following sentences:
1) We hope to finish the job by next Saturday.
2) We hope to have finished the job by next Saturday.
Is there any difference between these two or do they give the same meaning and sense?
Thank you.
Hello Basheer Ahmed,
'to have finished' is an example of a perfect infinitive. When used after the verb 'hope', it generally refers to an action that will be or could be completed in the future.
It adds just a little extra information compared to the regular infinitive 'to finish' -- just a slight focus on the state of the job being finished (perfect infinitive) versus the neutral idea of finishing the job ('to finish').
Other than that, there is no difference in meaning.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Respected team,
Hello,
Furthermore, as a step to reducing the use of private vehicles, the government ought to encourage the use of public transport.
Is "to introducing" a correct structure?
Thank you
Hello Hosseinpour,
Yes, 'to reducing' is fine. You could also say 'towards reducing'. 'to' and 'towards' are prepositions here and so a verb following them goes in the '-ing' form.
Best wishes,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello sir,
Thank you for the feedback and time.
hello, I have a question:
In the sentence "I'm bringing some candies to eat on the plane", does the infinitive "to eat on the plane" modify candies or bringing? They both seem to make sense to me.
Hello Username656602,
The infinitive clause here has an adverbial function and explains the reason for the action (why the person is bringing....). It therefore modifies 'bringing' as this is the action.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello!
I have a question. Is there a difference between infinitives that function as adjectives and infinitives of purpose?
Like these examples:
I went to this place to send a letter.
She said she was going somewhere to buy some books.
I’m going to a place to get some eggs, bread and milk.
Are these examples just infinitives of purpose?
Thank you.
Hello Lost_in_Thought,
Infinitives can be used with adjectives but they do not function as adjectives.
In all of your examples the to-infinitive shows the purpose of the action and so are infinitives of purpose.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello team! Could you tell me about this? Here the sentence ‘Work is the application of a force to move an object in the direction of the force’ is the to infinitives (to move an object in the direction of the force) about expressing purpose or noun with infinitive like an opportunity to
escape.
Hi englishlearningenglish,
It's an expression of purpose (= in order to move ...). :)
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello! Could you please elaborate the difference between these two sentences?
I like to go to the park.
I like going to the park.
Hello arcebelando,
The first thing to note is that there is a lot overlap between these two forms and the distinction in use is more a tendency than a hard and fast rule.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
So, we have "infinitive of purpose", are they any other specific infinitives? "Infinitives of...."?
I hope that makes sense, thank you
Hello Mister Chris,
I can't think of any other 'infinitive of ...' off the top of my head, but please note that it can be used in many, many ways.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hi support team
I'm struggling with the two sentences below. Could you help me please?
all they need to do is call off strikes which are unnecessary and benefit no one. ( this sentence is written by Minister of Britain education).
all they need to do is "to" call off strikes which are unnecessary and benefit no one.( this is my sentence)
I think using "to" is necessary. Am I wrong? If I'm, tell me the reason.
Hi Amir__760__,
Both sentences are grammatically fine. I think "to" can be omitted because it is given earlier in the sentence (All they need to do ...).
In comparison, in the following sentence the "to" is necessary, and cannot be omitted: All they need is to call off strikes ... .
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team
Hello!
Could you please help me with the following:
Could you please tell me which one (if any) is correct:
1. I went to the shop yesterday to buy some chocolate.
2. I went to the shop to buy some chocolate yesterday.
As far as I remember, time phrases usually go to the end of a sentence, but I am hesitant concerning this one.
I appreciate your huge help a lot and yhank you very much for helping me with this issue beforehand!!!
Hello howtosay_,
Both of these are fine. You could also start the sentence with 'Yesterday' and it would also be correct.
There's quite a bit of flexibility with time adverbials (as well as many other types of adverbials). The Cambridge Dictionary Grammar has a useful page on adverb position that I'd recommend having a look at.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Hello!
Could you please explain if it is possible to use "in order" in such a way:
"She told me the lies in order I go there" or "I've gone to the bank in order they cannot pay by my credit card"? I'm very hesitant about this structure.
Thank you so much for your precious work and thank you for answering this post beforehand!!!
Hello howtosay_,
Those are not correct, I'm afraid.
The most common way to use this is to say 'in order to' and follow it with a base verb:
You can also use the construction 'in order that', usually followed by a modal verb:
It's quite a formal expression; so that is much more common and function in a similar way.
You can read more about these forms here:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/so-that-or-in-order-that
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello howtosay_,
Those are not correct, I'm afraid.
The most common way to use this is to say 'in order to' and follow it with a base verb:
You can also use the construction 'in order that', usually followed by a modal verb:
It's quite a formal expression; so that is much more common and function in a similar way.
You can read more about these forms here:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/so-that-or-in-order-that
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
From the book 'THE ALCHEMIST': "What he needed to do was review all he had learned...". Why not 'to review'? Thanks.
Hi Lorenzo311,
It could also be "to review". That would be grammatically correct too.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Are these infinitives an adverb modifying the adjective to add information?
He was willing to carry the bags for me.
I am happy to win.
I do not think they are modifying the verb and showing the reason.
Hi Liam_Kurt,
Yes, right! They are modifying the adjective. They aren't infinitives of purpose.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
I just found out that they are reduced clauses from another website
Like: He was excellent (for us) to work with.
So are these infinitives changing what they're doing?
He was excellent for us to work with(It's modifying a noun)
He was excellent to work with(It's modifying an adjective)
Hi Liam_Kurt,
Yes, right. I would just add that these constructions are not always reduced clauses (e.g. I am happy to win).
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear Sir,
Could you please tell me whether I should say: (1) Only after washing the dishes did she have time to relax or (2) Only after washing the dishes had she time to relax. I am unsure whether I should make an inversion by changing the place of a subject and a verb or make an inversion as in question by "did".
With regards
Hi Zuzanna,
For most verbs the way to invert is (1) - by adding an auxiliary verb (if there isn't one already) and putting it before the subject.
However, the verb "have" as a main verb is sometimes used without an auxiliary verb where one is normally used, for example in the negative sentence "I haven't any time" and the question "Have you any time?" (instead of the usual structures "I don't have any time" and "Do you have any time?"). These sound more formal than usual, and are relatively uncommon. So, your sentence (2) is acceptable too, but with the same note that it sounds a bit formal.
I hope that helps to understand it.
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team
i have a doubt about the infinitives , sometimes i notice that the "TO" which is part of the infinitive, feels more like a preposition in some of the examples of this topic, and it happens because am translating the sentence to spanish and if i translate the infinitive literally it doesn't bring a full idea; for instance:
in this follwing sentence i feel that the "TO" is more like a preposition:
They gave him an opportunity to escape.
in this ohter sentence, wich is not of any of the previous examples , i feel that the infinitive is more factual.
His health appeared to be better.
please help me with this , thanks in advance.
Hello jorgepavlo,
You'll know better than me, but, for example, I'd translate 'an opportunity to escape' as 'una oportunidad de escapar' (though please let me know if you think that's not a good translation). You're right in thinking that in Spanish, the preposition 'de' is needed, but note that the preposition is followed by an infinitive. In English, we skip the preposition and go straight to the infinitive.
In fact, if 'to' were a preposition, then the form after it would have to be an '-ing' form (*'an opportunity to escaping') because prepositions require subsequent verb forms to be in the '-ing' form in English. This is one of the few rules that has no exceptions in English!
As for 'appear', I'm not sure what you mean by 'more factual', but here too, the 'to' is definitely and infinitive form.
I hope this helps.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello! I'm a biginner so if I make any mistake, could you please correct me? Here it's my question: "Don't seek for anything to happen as you wish it would." In this centences, I don't know if 'to-inf' is to express purpose or it follow the structure "seek for sth to inf"? Thank you!
Hi thankyouuu,
It's the second reason - it's part of the structure. :)
We don't correct user's comments here, but you are welcome to post any questions if you have them. Thanks!
Jonathan
The LearnEnglish Team