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!

Important Note: Because an infinitive is not a verb, you

cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. Ever!