Questions tagged [infinitive-clauses]
The infinitive-clauses tag has no usage guidance.
86
questions
5
votes
1
answer
57
views
Where should I put “not” in the sentence 'The person admits to ___ having ___ read the book'?
I have three forms that I can think of for this sentence:
The person admits to not having read the book.
The person admits to having not read the book.
The person admits not to have read the book.
...
- 153
0
votes
1
answer
22
views
Drones are designed with lightweight materials to reduce weight. - is the subject of the infinitive clause "drones"?
Example 1
Drones are designed with lightweight materials to reduce weight.
What is the subject of the to-infinitive clause "to reduce weight"?
If my memories serve me right, the subject of ...
- 2,333
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
The rides are dangerous to the teenagers {to play/playing} there
The rides are dangerous to the teenagers to play there.
The rides are dangerous to the teenagers playing there.
Are both acceptable expressions? Is there any difference in meaning between the two ...
- 433
1
vote
1
answer
38
views
"in order for ... to ..." VS "for ... to ..."
I have the following in my documents:
(1a) A mother was permanently having to watch her child for him not to spill the bottle down himself. — incorrect — Is it so?
(1b) A mother was permanently having ...
- 5,373
1
vote
1
answer
99
views
"London is an easy place to get lost in." — What is the object of "in" here: "an easy place", "a place" or "place"?
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (pages 1248-1249), "hollow to-infinitivals licensed by an attributive adjective":
[i] London is an easy place to get lost in __.
[ii] The price ...
- 5,373
2
votes
1
answer
154
views
Why is "to eat" the indirect complement in "Have you had sufficient to eat?"?
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (page 1262):
Infinitivals indirectly licensed by too, enough, sufficient, sufficiently:
[i] [a] It is too late [for you to go out now].
[i] [b] Enough ...
- 5,373
0
votes
1
answer
22
views
We launched these sales campaigns "for the government" to boost the economy - differences if without "for the government"
Example 1
(1)
We launched these sales campaigns to boost the economy.
(2)
We launched these sales campaigns for the government to boost the economy.
Does (1) mean the people launched the campaigns ...
- 2,333
0
votes
2
answers
47
views
Infinitive clauses and time adverbs - Last month, I agreed to help them **the next day/one day later/on 11/12**
In reported speeches, we have to change time references
How about an infinitive clause?
Let's assume right now is Dec 26 and last month, on Nov 11, I agreed to help on Nov 12.
Example 1
Me: Last ...
- 2,333
0
votes
1
answer
19
views
"It is necessary <that he sell the house> <for him to sell the house>."
usefulenglish.ru:
(1) It is necessary that he sell the house.
(2) It is necessary for him to sell the house.
Do (1) and (2) mean the same?
If not, then what's the difference between them?
If they do, ...
- 5,373
0
votes
1
answer
195
views
object + infinitive?
In a book there is an expression like '' Many verbs are followed by object + infinitive ''
I want you to listen.
They told me to go.
What is meant by '' object '' in this statement ?
Yes i know these ...
- 331
1
vote
1
answer
30
views
Can an infinitive substitute a clause?
I won a contest, probably the biggest thing to happen to me in my life.
When I read this sentence, I don't know if it comes from:
I won a contest, probably the biggest thing [that will happen to me ...
- 89
0
votes
1
answer
603
views
Infinitive forms as reducted relative clauses
I think use of infinitive forms as reducted relative clauses is advanced level of English (many grammar books and sites that I've read don't contain this topic) but I've just wanted to make permanent ...
- 91
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Something about infinitive clause
Tom is hard (for us) to convince.
It's hard (for us) to convince Tom.
The location is hard to find on the map.
It's hard to find the location on the map.
In above examples, #2 and #4 can be ...
- 472
3
votes
1
answer
183
views
What is the difference in meaning between "I want to do something" and "I want to have done something"?
In the 12th episode of the 2nd season of Suits one of the characters said the following.
I want to have talked to everyone of my clients by the end of the day.
That's the first time I've seen the ...
- 16k
1
vote
1
answer
237
views
Is " of him" or " for him " followed by the infinitive?
It's hard for you to make such a decision.
It's very kind of you to see me off.
Either of the above sentences works well. Here arises a question about how to use the prepositional phrase preceding ...
- 472
0
votes
1
answer
156
views
Why are non-finite verb phrases defined as non-finite clauses?
Before this question is marked as a duplicate, understand that I am not questioning the classification of a non-finite clause nor asking the generic reason for said classification. I know that the ...
- 277
-2
votes
1
answer
34
views
one of 15 astronauts to have landed on Mars [closed]
Are the following sentences okay?
a. Peter is one of 15 astronauts to have landed on Mars.
b. Peter is an astronaut to have landed on Mars.
If there's any difference in acceptability, could you ...
- 5,996
13
votes
5
answers
9k
views
"She need not worry" or "she needs to not worry"?
I just came across this weird use of "need not" on Twitter:
Madam/sir,
My daughter is stuck in Uk . She has lost her BRP . She is difficult to return back India home [sic]. Please help
In ...
user119042
2
votes
1
answer
103
views
Can I use the combination "to-infinitive and relative clause" for the same noun in a row?
Can I use "to-infinitive and relative clause" in a row for the same noun?
I have an example about it.
The main sentence:
The idea to make children happy that I always cared about, is ...
- 882
2
votes
1
answer
194
views
Infinitives clauses and noun clauses
I thought Ela to have beaten Ron.
(The sentence may sound ridiculous and unconventional, but I made it solely to understand the Infinitive and their functions better and will never choose these kind ...
- 519
1
vote
2
answers
722
views
It's + Adjective+ Infinitive
'It is important to take a break twice a day'
'It' is a dummy subject here, 'important' is working as an Adjective and but how this Infinitive clause'to take a break...' is working. Is it an Adverb as ...
- 519
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
Beginning with infinitives to provide further explanation?
I know I can start a sentence with an infinitive. However, in this case I am not sure whether I can start with it to provide further explanation. Is it correct?
Therefore, I want to use this master to ...
- 107
0
votes
1
answer
104
views
Infinitive usage as an adjective
I'm studying infinitives being a verbal that can function as noun, adjective, or adverb.
I'm somewhat confused that the following sentences are correct. If so, what is difference between them? If I ...
- 3
0
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Function of Bare Infinitive
I have recently learned about infinitives. I know that infinitives act as nouns in the sentence rather than verbs, and that most infinitives are 'to + verb'.
Now bare infinitives have created a lot of ...
- 485
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
An infinitive clause modifies actions according to the context?
My question:
Sometimes, an infinitive clause can modify all the actions preceding it. Sometimes, an infinitive clause only modifies some actions preceding it.
This is all determined by the context. Am ...
- 2,333
1
vote
1
answer
309
views
How do you call the subject of infinitive clause?
I learned English grammar with my mother tongue, and am not sure how to call it in English.
There are clauses in the form, 'for subject to do' or 'of subject to do'.
For example,
It is necessary for ...
- 976
0
votes
1
answer
61
views
Usage of bare infinitive
1). Do you wish to watch TV or to go to bed early.
2). Do you wish to watch TV or go to bed early.
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences? My friend is saying second sentence ...
0
votes
1
answer
39
views
Infinitive usage pattern
What is the difference in meaning of the below two sentences? Are both of them correct? If so, what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences
1)She was heard to sing a song by them.
2)She ...
0
votes
0
answers
40
views
How can I interpret an infinitive clause?
I wonder whether an infinitive clause can be interpreted in different ways. For example:
Example 1:
"It is a joke for me to wear this shirt on streets."
Interpretation no.1: For me/From my ...
- 2,333
0
votes
0
answers
32
views
gerund and infinitive difference
I regret being late
vs
I regret to be late.
what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences???
-1
votes
2
answers
2k
views
0
votes
1
answer
110
views
function of infinitive clause
From BBC news,
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Mr Musk of breaching a court order to not share information which could impact the financial markets, without pre-approval.
Is ...
- 185
1
vote
3
answers
892
views
subject complement with infinitive
This is a sentence in my grammar book.
He was asked to write the letter.
In the book it says :
He = subject , was asked to write the letter = subject complement.
The verb ask is a catenative verb....
- 61
0
votes
3
answers
167
views
Identifying noun clauses
[Whom we expect] to be delivering the presentation is absent.
The desire to fight is [what we believe] to be planted in his mind.
I bracketed the words which I think are the noun clauses of the ...
- 185
2
votes
1
answer
44
views
Does the meaning change? To / In order to
The manager sent Mike to Japan to receive some training.
In this sentence, I think it's Mike who receives some training .
But if I change the sentence to:
The manager sent Mike to Japan in order ...
- 175
3
votes
1
answer
68
views
infinitive clause behind passive voice
Are the following examples, infinitive clause following passive voice, be understood to be in order to? If not, what do they mean?
The machine was needed to speed the process.
The machine was ...
- 175
3
votes
2
answers
105
views
adverb infinitive + clause
The cooks are not allowed to decide the amount of salt to be included in the dishes, as the proportion is fixed to maintain the quality of the flavor.
As is a conjunction, so the entire sentence that ...
- 201
2
votes
1
answer
188
views
Can a nominal phrase (the size of bullets) modify another noun word (Raindrops) as in "Raindrops the size of bullets"?
Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flowerbeds turned into muddy streams and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds.
My ...
- 13k
0
votes
1
answer
103
views
Can we use an infinitive clause with no object in order to specify a purpose?
Even if it is not a common way, it seems that we can use an infinitive clause with no object for a purpose statement.
We talked here before about the accuracy of the question
Who did you find to ...
- 882
1
vote
1
answer
489
views
dummy "it" and the the verb "make"
I really want to know about the relation between dummy "it" and the the verb "make".
These example sentences are from TOEFL, and I collected all of them which includes dummy "it" after the verb "...
- 473
0
votes
2
answers
143
views
Infinitive clause question query
"We try to be nice" In this sentence " to be nice" us an infinitive clause.
So my question is whether it is an object for the verb or is it functioning as an adjective.
- 97
0
votes
4
answers
800
views
Is 'what to do' a clause?
I don't know what to do.
Here, is what to do a clause?
If so, what's the reasoning for that?
- 1,245
2
votes
1
answer
822
views
Leaving out an infinitive clause : No auxillary and auxiliary after to-infinitive clause
The definition below is from the book "Oxford Guide to English Grammar"
I can't understand why there is no auxiliary after to in the example "I haven't washed up yet, but I'm going to."
But why ...
- 825
3
votes
2
answers
95
views
to-infinitival clause expressing a manner
Experts say the drowsiness many of us feel during the day may not be because we had too little sleep at night, but because we need an early afternoon nap. Humans were made to sleep not once, but twice,...
- 1,229
0
votes
1
answer
378
views
For-to-Infinitive clause
I have the following statement:
I find it necessary for you to graduate from school.
Though, I can rephrase it:
I think it best for you to graduate from school.
I read about "for-to-infinitive ...
- 1,623
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Direct object of the verb "want"
John wants Jim to write a letter to the mayor
According to Cambridge, the verb "want" can take the pattern of obj+to-infinitive as a complement, so that means "Jim" here is the direct object of the ...
- 8,864
6
votes
2
answers
26k
views
"Stopped talking" and "stopped to talk"
In this exercise:
Ali stopped _____ to his friend. He talked to him then.
a) talk
b) talking (I chose this one)
c) to talk (This one is marked as the correct answer)
d) being talked
Why did they ...
- 119
0
votes
1
answer
80
views
The managers did not know whom to trust
I don't know why the writer use 'to' before verb 'trust'.
Following is the pattern used in a verb 'trust'
"trust somebody to do something"
Now, why we use 'to' before trust?
The managers did ...
- 435
2
votes
3
answers
202
views
Can we leave out "for"?
He wants very badly for everyone to like him.
Can we leave out "for" in this sentence? If not, is it because of the adverb "badly",its position in the clause or the following pronoun?
He wants ...
- 7,115
-1
votes
1
answer
75
views
Infinitive.. How to form these sentences correctly?
1) I intended to have spent my summer vacation in the country
2) I knew him to be waiting for me that evening -
I would rather say "I knew he was waiting for me that ...
