Infinitives

Home Sweet Home

6

Focus on Grammar 5Part VI, Unit 16By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Do You Want to Buy a House?Do You Want to Buy a House?

When you are ready to purchase a home, it is essential to know how much you can afford to spend. Location will be an important factor. People who choose to buy a larger house in a rural area can expect to have a longer commute. If you love to garden, you may prefer to invest in a bigger lot. Don’t forget to talk with the neighbors to learn more about the neighborhood. Your goal is to create a happy home and make the best possible investment.

Form and FunctionForm and Function

An infinitive is to + the base form of a verb. Infinitives function in a variety of ways.

Infinitivescan act

like nounsin a

sentence.

Infinitivescan act

like nounsin a

sentence.

subjectsubject

objectobject

subject subject complementcomplement

Infinitives as SubjectsInfinitives as Subjects

To buyTo buy a house you really love is important.

To findTo find the right property takes time.

subject

subject

Infinitives as Objects Infinitives as Objects

People may choose to buy a larger house.

You can expect to have a longer commute.

object

object

Infinitives as Subject ComplementsInfinitives as Subject Complements

A subject complement is a phrase that describes or explains the subject of a sentence.

Your goalYour goal is to maketo make the best investment possible.

Their dreamTheir dream was to haveto have a big kitchen.

subject

subject

subject complement

subject complement

Infinitives Following AdjectivesInfinitives Following Adjectives

Adjectives followed by infinitives often express feelings about the action in the infinitive.

They were readyready to purchaseto purchase a home.

It will be necessarynecessary to inspectto inspect the property.

infinitiveadjective

Examples: afraid, amazed, excited, fortunate, glad, happy, important, likely, necessary, proud, reluctant, sorry, and willing

adjective infinitive

Infinitives vs. Gerunds 1 Infinitives vs. Gerunds 1

You may prefer investinginvesting in a bigger lot.

Some verbs are followed by infinitives or gerunds with no change in meaning.

infinitive

gerund

Examples: begin, can’t stand, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, and start.

You may prefer to investto invest in a bigger lot.

Infinitives vs. Gerunds 2Infinitives vs. Gerunds 2

Don’t forget talkingtalking to the neighbors.

Some verbs are followed by infinitives or gerunds with a significant change in meaning.

You haven’t done it –but it’s a

good idea.

You talked to them –don’t you

remember?

infinitive

gerund

Examples: forget, go on, quit, regret, remember, stop, and try.

Don’t forget to talkto talk to the neighbors.

Complete the sentences with the infinitive or gerund form of the verb.

Example: A couple was jogging down the street. They stopped (talk) __ to the new

neighbors.

1. The people who just moved in are unfriendly. We stopped (talk) __ to them.

2. She forgot (buy)__ paint. She has to go back to the store.

3. I hope I remember (go) __ to the neighborhood meeting next week.

Practice 1Practice 1

talking

to buy

to go

to talkto talk

Practice 2Practice 2Make sentences using infinitives and the adjective in parentheses.

Example: Luckily, they found the perfect property. (fortunate)

They were fortunate to find the perfect property.

1. The owner didn’t want to hand over the keys. (reluctant)

2. They found some cracks in the foundation. (shocked)

3. I moved from my first apartment. (sorry)

The owner was reluctant to hand over the keys.

They were shocked to find some cracks in the foundation.

I was sorry to move from my first apartment.

Passive InfinitivesPassive Infinitives

Use to + be or get + past participle to make a passive infinitive in the present. Use to + have + been + past participle for the past.

Request to be to be shownshown houses in your price range.

The renovations were to have to have beenbeen donedone quickly.

infinitive

infinitive

ReferencesReferences

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.