Advanced grammar

To-infinitive clauses
• Group 3:
1. Nguyễn Thị Định
2. Trần Thị Hiền
3. Doãn Ngọc Hoa
4. Kiều Thị Nhâm
5. Nguyễn Thị Hải Vũ
6. Tuyết
 To-infinitive as
1. Subject
2. Direct object
3. Subject complement
4. Appositive
5. Wh-infinitive clauses
6. Adjectival complement
 1. Subject
• Sentences with infinitive clauses as subject
use for if the subject is part of the clause
• Example:

 For you to say that is shocking.

 To say that is shocking

 1. Subject
• The infinitive clause functions as S in the
matrix clause, the S in the infinitive clause
must be preceded by for:
• Example:
 For Spook to wash himself is totally unheard
of.
 For you to smoke is bad.
 2.Direct object
• Sentences with for/to clauses as direct objects
are less direct than those with to
• Example:
 She sent him to buy supplies.
 She sent for him to buy supplies.
 2.Direct object
• When the clause is a direct object, the for is
omitted.
• Example:
 She wanted him to shave.
 3. Subject complement
• Example:
 My long-term goal is to get myself elected to
Coucil.
 The best excuse is to say that you have an
exam tomorrow.
 Hemingway’s mission was to write simply.
 4. Appositive
• Infinitive phrase +, + main clause.
• Example:
 To avoid burning another bag of popcorn,
Brendan pressed his nose against the
microwave door, sniffing suspiciously with
every breath.
 4. Appositive
• Start of main clause +, +interrupter +, + end of
main clause.
• Example:
 Those basketball shoes, to be perfectly honest,
do not complement the suit you are planning
to wear to the interview.
 5. Wh-infinitive clauses
• An infinitive Wh-clause can be formed with all
Wh-words except Why
• Example:
 They don’t know what to do.
 He was explaining how to start the motor.
 6. Adjectival complement
• Adjectives used after link verbs are often
followed by ‘to’-infinitive clauses or ‘that’-
clauses.
• Some adjectives are always followed by ‘to’-
infinitive clauses.
• Use ‘to’-infinitive clauses or ‘that’-clauses after
adjectives to express feeling or opinions.
• Use ‘to’-infinitive clauses after adjectives when
the subject is impersonal ‘it’.
 6. Adjectival complement
• Adjectives after link verbs, add possibly a ‘to’-
infinitive clause or a ‘that’-clause
 Adjectives describe such as: afraid, disappointed.
happy, sad, anxious…
 Use ‘to’-infinitive clause if the S in both clauses is
same, use ‘that’-infinitive clause if the S is different.
 Use a ‘to’-infinitive clause when talking about future
time in relation to the main clause.
 6. Adjectival complement
• Use ‘sorry’ with a ‘that’-clause. Note that
‘that’ is often omitted.
• Example:
 I’m very sorry that I can’t join you.
 I’m sorry I’m so late.
 6. Adjectival complement
• Some adjectives have a ‘to’-infinitive clauses
after.
• Adjs: able, due, likely, unlikely, apt, inclined,
prepared, unwilling, bound, liable, ready,
willing
• Examples:
 They were unable to help her.
 They were not likely to forget it.
 6. Adjectival complement
• Use an adj followed by a ‘to’-infinitive clause to
express an opinion.
• Adjs: difficult, easy, impossible, possible, right,
wrong.
• Examples:
 She had been easy to deceive.
 The windows will be almost impossible to open.
 Am I wrong to stay here?
 6. Adjectival complement
• Use a ‘that’-clause to express an opinion.
• Adjs: awful, extraordinary, important, sad,
bad, funny, interesting, true, essential, good,
obvious.
• Examples:
 I was sad that people had reacted in this way.
 It is extraordinary that we should ever have
met!
 6. Adjectival complement

• Use adjs with ‘to’-infinitive clauses after ‘it’ as

the impersonal subject.
• Examples:
 It was easy to find the path.
 It was good of John to help me
 It was difficult for her to find a job.
Thank you for listening !

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