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The Infinitives
1. Introduction
Infinitives (dạng nguyên thể) are forms like (to) write and (to) read. Infinitives are generally used with the
marker to.
Note that this to is not a preposition; after the preposition to we use –ing forms.
Negative forms
Negative Infinitives are normally formed by putting not before the infinitive.
You were silly not to have locked the car. (NOT You were silly to not have locked the car.)
2. Infinitives: forms
Besides simple infinitives like (to) write, there are also progressive, perfect and passive infinitives.
The progressive infinitive is used to suggest that actions and events are/were/will be continuing around the
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time we are talking about.
Form:
Perfect infinitives can have the same kind of meaning as perfect tenses or past tenses.
Form:
You seem to have annoyed him. (= It seems that you have annoyed him.)
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We often use perfect infinitives to talk about ‘unreal’ past events – Type 3 conditional sentences.
Passive infinitives have the same kind of meaning as other passive forms.
Form:
Form:
Form:
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3. Infinitives: without to
Infinitives are generally used with the marker to. But we use the infinitive without to in some cases.
After the modal auxiliary verbs will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might and must, we use the
infinitive without to.
The infinitive without to can also be used after need and dare in some cases.
b. After do
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After do, we use the infinitive without to.
After certain verbs like bid, watch, see, let, make and hear, infinitives are used without to.
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After rather, better and had better, we use the infinitive without to.
When two infinitive structures are joined by and, or, except, but, than, as or like, the second is often without
to.
We can introduce questions and suggestions with why (not) + infinitive without to.
Why not arrange a party in his honour? (NOT Why not we arrange a party in his honour?)
4. To-infinitives
The marker to is normally used before infinitives. Note that this to is not a preposition; after the preposition to
we use –ing forms.
The to-infinitive has many functions.
a. Infinitive as subject
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An infinitive can be the subject of a sentence. This was fairly common in older English.
In modern English, this is unusual. We more often use it as a ‘preparatory subject’ (chủ ngữ mở đầu), and
put the infinitive clause later.
It is human to err.
b. Infinitive as object
Many verbs can be followed by an infinitive clause in the place of the direct object.
An infinitive clause can be used after be as a subject complement (bổ ngữ cho chủ ngữ).
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The best thing to do now is to vanish.
It is time to go.
An infinitive can have its own subject. The subject of the infinitive is normally introduced by for.
Compare:
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I will be happy for him to help you. (He will help you.)
My idea was for him to study medicine. (= I wanted him to study medicine.)
Note that we use object pronouns (e.g. him, them, her etc.) after for.
It isn't easy for me to let him go. (NOT It isn't easy for I...)
Uses
The structure for + object + infinitive is common after adjectives, nouns and verbs. It is used when we are
referring to possibility (khả năng), necessity (cần thiết) or frequency (thường xuyên), when we are
expressing wishes (mong ước), suggestions (gợi ý) or plans for the future (kế hoạch cho tương lai), and
when we are giving personal reactions to situations.
Instead of the for-structure, a that-clause with should or a subjunctive (thể giả định) is often possible.
He rose to speak.
So as to and in order to are more common before verbs like be, have, know etc.
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He agreed to come.
afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, begin, care, choose, consent, continue, dare, decide,
except, fail, forget, happen, hate, help, hope, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, neglect, offer, prefer,
prepare, pretend, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, start, swear, trouble, try, want, wish
Common examples are: advise, allow, ask, beg, cause, command, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force,
get, hate, help, instruct, intend, invite, leave, like, love, mean, need, oblige, order, permit, persuade, prefer,
recommend, remind, request, teach, tell, trouble, want, warn
Points to be noted
1. Some verbs (let, make, see, feel, watch, notice, have, and sometimes know and help) are followed by
object + infinitive without to.
Let me explain.
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2. Some verbs cannot be followed by object + infinitive. Suggest, for example, is followed by a that-clause.
I suggested that he should consult a doctor. (NOT I suggested him to consult a doctor.)
3. Many of the verbs listed above can also be followed by an -ing form or a that-clause.
4. Many of the verbs given above can be used in passive structures with infinitives.
She likes people to be happy. (NOT People are liked to be happy by her.)
Infinitives are often used after adjectives which express people’s reactions and feelings. Common examples
are: pleased, glad, surprised, happy, anxious, shocked, afraid etc.
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Other adjectives that can be followed by infinitives include: right, wrong, stupid, certain, welcome, careful, due,
fit, able, likely and lucky.
This structure is also common with first, second, third etc., next, last and only.
An infinitive can be used after a noun, or an indefinite pronoun such as something, anything, to explain the
purpose of a particular thing.
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