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Infinitives 'to'

When  a verb takes "to" before it. then we called it infinitive.
Infinites are of two kinds:
1. Simple or Noun infinitive
2. Gerundial or  Qualifying  Infinitive
Simple or Noun Infinitive is used as :
i. Subject of a verb: To err is human.
ii. Object of a verb: She likes to swim. I taught him to read.
iii. Object of a preposition: He is about to die. He is about to go.
iv. Complement to verb: He seems to be an honest man.He appears to be a rich man.
v. Objective Complement: We take him to be a fool.
Gerundial Infinitive is  used to:
i. Modify an adjective:
   The old man  is too weak to walk. I am  glad to receive  your  letter. He  is ready to go.
ii. Modify a verb:
   The children went to play. We eat to live.
iii. Modify a noun:
    It is a chair to sit on. This is a house to let.
iv. Modify an adverb:
    We went to the field  to see the game. I walked fast to avail the bus.
v. Qualify a sentence:
    To speak  the truth, he  is an  honest  man. To be brief, I am ruined.
Omission of  Infinitives:  After certain verbs( let, make, need, hear, watch, see, dare) the  infinitive is omitted
As: i. I saw him go home. ii. Let him come. iii. He need not go there. iv. He made me do it.
     v. I heard him say this. vi.  We watched him go. vii. We did not let him go. viii. You dare not do it.
But the passive voice of these  verbs (except let) infinitive  'to' is used.
As: i. He was seen to go. ii. He was made to do it. iii. He was heard to say this. iv. Rahim was not  let go.
(Note :  Had rather, had better, would rather, cannot but etc.  take bare infinitive.)

  • Perfect infinitives and Split infinitives: 

Perfect infinitive is  formed by using 'to have' before a principal verb.
i. I wished to  have gone there. ii. He seems to have seen better days.iii. They are reported to have done this.
 Note : Perfect infinitive is used after past tense of verbs wish, desire, hope, intend, command etc.

  • Split infinitive: 

Sometimes  adverb  or  adverb phrase is used  in between infinitive and the verb  in the sentence, in that case it is a split infinitive. 
i. I request you to help me kindly. ii. I request you to do this quickly.
Data  source: Md. Moheb Ullah  +8801911011247, with the help of NCTB.

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