Infinitive Usage: Shopping Alone!

DIALOGUE PRACTICE
A2
Class No. 38
Infinitive Usage
An Arm and a Leg

Ben: Do you want to go to the movies?
Heather: No, I need to buy a new swimsuit at the store.
Ben: Oh, I forgot to tell you I bought a new swimsuit for you already!
Heather: You did? You promised to save money for our trip!
Ben: I offered to pay for it before but you said no, so I bought it when I went
shopping alone!
Heather: That's nice of you, but I refuse to accept it.
Ben: I hope to get my money back from the store when I return this!
Heather: I don't mean to make you upset, but you need to save some money!
Ben: It seems to me you don't like what I get for you.
Heather: Don't take it like that, please! That's not what I meant, let's go to the shop
together to find a less expensive one.
Ben: We're set, then!
Heather: We have to be smarter this time.
Ben: If you say so...
Vocabulary
Look for the meaning of the following words and phrases and make up your own
sentences.
-Swimsuit
-We’re set. Then
-If you say so…
Infinitive
Forming the infinitive
The infinitive is the base form of a verb. In English, when we talk about the infinitive
we are usually referring to the present infinitive, which is the most common. There
are, however, four other forms of the infinititive: the perfect infinitive, the perfect
continuous infinitive, the continuous infinitive, & the passive infinitive.
The present infinitive has two forms:
 the to-infinitive = to + base

 the zero infinitive = base
The present infinitive base is the verb form you will find in a dictionary.
To- Zero infinitive

infinitive
to sit sit
to eat eat
to have have
to remember
remember
The negative infinitive is formed by putting not in front of any form of the infinitive.
Examples
 I decided not to go to London.

 He asked me not to be late.
 I'd like you not to sing so loudly.
 I'd rather not eat meat.
 I might not come.
Functions of the to-infinitive
The to-infinitive is used in many sentence constructions, often expressing the

purpose of something or someone's opinion about something. The to-infinitive is
used following a large collection of different verbs as well. See this page
about verbs followed by infinitives.
The to-infinitive to indicate the purpose or intention of an action

In this case to has the same meaning as in order to or so as to.
Examples
 She came to collect her pay cheque.

 The three bears went to find firewood.
 I am calling to ask you about dad.
 You sister has gone to finish her homework.
The to-infinitive as the subject of the sentence

This is a formal usage and is far more common in written English than spoken
Examples
 To be or not to be, that is the question.

 To know her is to love her.
 To visit the Grand Canyon is my life-long dream.
 To understand statistics, that is our aim.
The to-infinitive to indicate what something can or will be used for

In this pattern, the to-infinitive follows a noun or pronoun.
Examples
 The children need a garden to play in.

 I would like a sandwich to eat.
 I don't have anything to wear.
 Would you like something to drink?
The to-infinitive after adjectives

There is a common pattern using the to-infinitive with an adjective. These phrases
are formed:
subject + to be + adjective + (for/of someone) + to-infinitive + (rest of
sentence)
Subject + to + (+ for/of + to- (+ rest of

be adjective someone) infinitive sentence)
It is good to talk.
It is good of you to talk to me.
It is important to be
patient.
It is important for Jake to be patient with his little

brother.
I am happy to be here.
The is naughty to destroy our couch.

dog
The to-infinitive to make a comment or judgement

To use the to-infinitive when making a comment or judgement about a noun, the
pattern is:
Subject + to be + noun phrase + to-infinitive
Subject + to be + noun phrase + to-infinitive
It was a stupid place to park.
That is a dangerous way to behave.
What you was a rude thing to say.

said
This is the right thing to do.
Those were the wrong kind of to buy.

eggs
Jim is the best person to hire.
The to-infinitive with adverbs

The to-infinitive is used frequently with the adverbs too and enough to express the
reasoning behind our satisfaction or insatisfaction. The pattern is
that too and enough are placed before or after the adjective, adverb, or noun that
they modify in the same way they would be without the to-infinitive. We then follow
them by the to-infinitive to explain the reason why the quantity is excessive,
sufficient, or insufficient. Normally the to-infinitive and everything that follows can
be removed, leaving a sentence that still functions grammatically.
Examples
 There's too much sugar to put in this bowl.

 I had too many books to carry.
 This soup is too hot to eat.
 She was too tired to work.
 He arrived too late to see the actors.
 I've had enough food to eat.
 She's old enough to make up her own mind.
 There isn't enough snow to ski on.
 You're not old enough to have grand-children!
The to-infinitive with question words

The verbs ask, decide, explain, forget, know, show, tell, & understand can be
followed by a question word such as where, how, what, who, & when + the to-
infinitive.
Examples
 She asked me how to use the washing machine.

 Do you understand what to do?
 Tell me when to press the button.
 I've forgotten where to put this little screw.
 I'm not sure I know who to call.
Functions of the zero infinitive
The zero infinitive after auxiliaries

Examples
 She can't speak to you.

 He should give her some money.
 Shall I talk to him?
 Would you like a cup of coffee?
 I might stay another night in the hotel.
 They must leave before 10.00 a.m.
The zero infinitive after verbs of perception

With verbs of perception, the pattern is verb + object + zero infinitive.
Examples
 He saw her fall from the cliff.

 We heard them close the door.
 They saw us walk toward the lake.
 She felt the spider crawl up her leg.
The zero infinitive after the verbs "make" and "let"
Examples
 Her parents let her stay out late.

 Let's go to the cinema tonight.
 You made me come with you.
 Don't make me study that boring grammar book!
The zero infinitive after the expression "had better"

Examples
 We had better take some warm clothing.

 She had better ask him not to come.
 We had better reserve a room in the hotel.
 You'd better give me your address.
 They had better work harder on their homework.
The zero infinitive with "why"

The question word why is followed by the zero infinitive when making suggestions.
Examples
 Why wait until tomorrow?

 Why not ask him now?
 Why leave before the end of the game?
 Why walk when we can go in the car?
 Why not buy a new bed?
Let’s practice!
1. I can ________ English.

Speak / to speak
2. We have ________ our homework.
Do / to do
3. You must _______ at home.
Stay / to stay
4. I will ________ you.
Help / to help
5. He cannot ________ us.
See / to see
6. My little sister learns ________.
Speak / to speak
7. They want ________ to the cinema.
Go / to go
8. You should ________ your parents.
Ask / to ask
9. I'd like ________a dog.
Have / to have
10. May we ________ in?
Come / to come

Infinitive Usage: Shopping Alone!

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DIALOGUE PRACTICE

An Arm and a Leg

The present infinitive has two forms:

 the to-infinitive = to + base

To- Zero infinitive

 I decided not to go to London.

Functions of the to-infinitive

The to-infinitive is used in many sentence constructions, often expressing the

The to-infinitive to indicate the purpose or intention of an action

 She came to collect her pay cheque.

The to-infinitive as the subject of the sentence

 To be or not to be, that is the question.

The to-infinitive to indicate what something can or will be used for

 The children need a garden to play in.

The to-infinitive after adjectives

Subject + to + (+ for/of + to- (+ rest of

It is good of you to talk to me.

It is important for Jake to be patient with his little

The is naughty to destroy our couch.

The to-infinitive to make a comment or judgement

It was a stupid place to park.

That is a dangerous way to behave.

What you was a rude thing to say.

This is the right thing to do.

Those were the wrong kind of to buy.

Jim is the best person to hire.

The to-infinitive with adverbs

 There's too much sugar to put in this bowl.

The to-infinitive with question words

 She asked me how to use the washing machine.

Functions of the zero infinitive

The zero infinitive after auxiliaries

 She can't speak to you.

The zero infinitive after verbs of perception

 He saw her fall from the cliff.

 Her parents let her stay out late.

The zero infinitive after the expression "had better"

 We had better take some warm clothing.

The zero infinitive with "why"

 Why wait until tomorrow?

1. I can ________ English.

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