The infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier.

1.4.5.1. An adverbial modifier of purpose:

I'm saving money to go to Canada.

To get into university you have to pass a number of examinations.

In the above sentences the infinitive tells us about the purpose of an action. Some verbs, e.g. to bring, buy, need, take, use, want, often introduce an object + an infinitive. The infinitive tells us about the purpose of the object, which is often an indefinite pronoun like something.

Bring me a chair to sit on.

The infinitive in such sentences may be analysed either as an adverbial modifier of purpose or as an attribute:

I need a bottle opener to open this bottle. (=in order to open? with which I could open?)

The President has a team of bodyguards to protect him. (=in order to protect? / who protect him?)

They gave me some money to buy some food. (=what for? / what money?)

1.4.5.2. An adverbial modifier of result or consequence:

He's strong enough to lift it.

He is too weak to lift it.

The use of the infinitive of result mostly depends on the adverbs too, enough, so (as):

I'm too tired to stay up longer.

You should have been woman enough to control yourself.

I'm not so stupid as to put it in writing.

1.4.5.3. An adverbial modifier of subsequent events:

He returned after the war (only) to be told that his wife had left him.

She left home never to return.

The infinitive describes an event which is unexpected, sometimes unwelcome – especially when only is used before the infinitive. As a rule, the action of the infinitive instantly follows the action of the predicate verb and is its result:

She opened her eyes to see the house on fire.

I turned round to find a man pointing a knife at me.

1.4.5.4. An adverbial modifier of comparison:

Miss de Haviland gave me no time to consider her question. She was more inclined to assert than to question.

1.4.5.5. An adverbial modifier of condition:

You'd be well within your rights to take him to court.

I'll thank you to leave me alone.

1.4.5.6. An adverbial modifier of exception:

They do nothing but complain whenever we see them.

1.4.5.7. An adverbial modifier of time:

He was a tough old man. He really looked like living to be a hundred.

1.4.5.8. An adverbial modifier of cause or motivation:

What a fool I was not to have foreseen it!

You are crazy to have gone there alone!

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 2611