The functions of the Infinitive

The Infinitive can be used as:

1) a Subject:

To discuss the question is useless.

To be recognized gave her a great joy.

2) a Predicative:

His intention is to get into Parliament.

The manager's task is to keep track of the finance.

3) an Attribute:

She had a little boy to look after.

There was someone to meet him at the airport.

NOTE: As an Attribute the Infinitive often has a modal or a future meaning:

The goods to be produced (that will be produced) by this company will be a real sensation.

The task to be understood (that must be understood ) as urgent is to be given special attention.

4) an Object:

The girl learned to dance at school.

I was angry to read the letter from Mrs Williams.

NOTE: With the expressions: to be sorry, to be glad, to be pleased etc. the Perfect Infinitive is used only when the subject of the finite verb and the subject of the Infinitive coincide:

I'm glad to have got the ticket for the concert.

I'm sorry to have done him wrong

In other cases the subordinate clause is used:

I'm glad that Mary got a ticket for the concert.

I'm sorry that you have done him wrong.

5) Adverbial modifiers:

a) of purpose:

Sometimes you retreat to/in order to/ advance.

I did my best to stop her.

b) of result:

He was tall enough to get the book from the shelf.

They are too tired to talk.

6) Parantheses. T hey are used in fixed phrases: to be honest, to begin with, to cut the long story short, to get to the point, not to make too much of it, to put it another way, to tell you the truth, etc.

To tell you the truth, I've never heard of this story.

Strange to say, he has never been to Minsk.