viernes, 9 de mayo de 2014

how should we use the infinitive in grammar

How should we use the infinitive

FUNCTION

The most common uses of the infinitive are:
To indicate the purpose or intention of an action (where the 'to' has the same meaning as 'in order to' or 'so as to'):
  • She's gone to collect her pay cheque.
  • The three bears went into the forest to find firewood.
As the subject of the sentence:
  • To be or not to be, that is the question.
  • To know her is to love her.
    (Note: this is more common in written English than spoken)
With nouns or pronouns, to indicate what something can be used for, or what is to be done with it:
  • Would you like something to drink?
  • I haven't anything to wear.
  • The children need a garden to play in.
After adjectives in these patterns:
  • It is + adjective +to-infinitive
    It is good to talk
  • It is + adjective + infinitive + for someone + to-infinitive.
    It is hard for elephants to see mice
  • It is + adjective + infintive + of someone + to-infinitive.
    It is unkind of her to say that.
After an adjective + noun when a comment or judgement is being made:
  • It was a stupid place to park the car.
  • This is the right thing to do.
  • It was an astonishing way to behave.
With too and enough in these patterns:
too much/many (+ noun) + to-infinitive
  • There's too much sugar to put in this bowl.
  • I had too many books to carry.
too + adjective + to-infinitive
  • This soup is too hot to eat.
  • She was too tired to work.
too + adverb + to-infinitive
  • He arrived too late to see the actors.
enough (+ noun) + to-infinitive
  • I've had enough (food) to eat.
adjective + enough + to-infinitive
  • She's old enough to make up her own mind.
not enough (+noun) + to-infinitive
  • There isn't enough snow to ski on.
not + adjective + enough + to-infinitive
  • You're not old enough to have grand-children.
webgraphy: http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/infinitive_function.php

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