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to do -- Infinitive
Grammar forms of the infinitive
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple (Active) | to + V | to do |
| Simple (Passive) | to be + V-ed | to be done |
| Continuous (Active) | to be + V-ing | to be doing |
| Perfect (Active) | to have + V-ed | to have done |
| Perfect (Passive) | to have been + V-ed | to have been done |
Syntactic functions of the infinitive
| Syntactic Function | Explanation & Example |
|---|---|
| Subject | Often, it is used as a placeholder and refers to the subject. • To master a language requires patience. • It requires patience to master a language. |
| Object | The infinitive follows and is the object of a transitive verb. • She hopes to succeed. • We have arranged to meet them. |
| Subject Complement (Predicative) | The infinitive follows a linking verb (most commonly be) and renames or describes the subject. • His ultimate goal is to innovate. • The company’s strategy was to expand rapidly. |
| Object Complement | The infinitive follows a direct object and completes its meaning. Common with verbs of persuasion, causation, or perception. • The manager encouraged her to apply. • They appointed him to lead the project. |
| Adjective Complement | The infinitive follows an adjective to complete its meaning, often explaining the cause of the state described. • I am delighted to be here. • This problem is difficult to solve. |
| Adverbial | The infinitive phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or an entire clause to express purpose, reason, or result. • Purpose: He works hard to support his family. • Result: She grew up to be a brilliant leader. |
| Attribute (Post-modifier) | The infinitive functions as an adjective phrase that post-modifies a noun or pronoun. It often implies a future action or necessity. • She was the first to arrive. • Is there anything to eat? |
| Independent Element (Disjunct) | The infinitive phrase is used as a sentence modifier or disjunct, expressing the speaker’s comment or attitude on the sentence. • To be frank, this plan is flawed. • To put it simply, we need more data. |
Interrogative + to
Function as noun phrase.
- We don’t know what to do next. (object)
- The challenge is how to proceed. (predicate)
- It is not yet certain how to do it. (subject)
Bare infinitive(infinitive without to)
Used after
- Perception verbs: see,hear,watch…
- Causative verbs: make,let,have..
- Modal verbs: can,will,must…
to do -- Infinitive
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