use
(1) as the subject-when the infinitive is used as the subject, it is often placed after the predicate and used as the formal subject.
Talking with her is a great pleasure. It is a great pleasure to talk with her.
It is a great pleasure to talk with her.
It would be foolish to do that. It would be foolish to do that.
It is right to give up smoking. It is right to give up smoking.
It is right to give up smoking.
Mastering a language is not an easy task. Mastering a language is not an easy task. Learning a language well is not easy.
To love and be loved is the greatest happiness a person can get. To love and be loved is a person's greatest happiness. To love others and be loved by others is the greatest happiness in life.
* In many cases, especially in oral English, it is often used as a formal subject, and the infinitive is put after the sentence to make the sentence knot.
The structure is relatively stable.
It's good not to rely on them. Just don't rely on them.
Second time around is very difficult.
It's embarrassing to say that. It's shameful to talk like that.
It is foolish to believe him. It is foolish to believe him.
It seems a pity to refuse.
It feels good to stay outside for a while. It is quite comfortable to come out and stay here for a while.
If you want to explain who did the action indicated by the infinitive, you can add a phrase caused by for before the infinitive.
It is not difficult for a person to do something good. It is not difficult for a person to do good deeds.
It would be a mistake for us not to help them. It is a mistake for us not to help them.
It is not easy for him to admit his mistake. It is not easy for him to admit his mistake.
For me, learning English is the right choice. Learning English is the right choice for me.
It is impossible for him to find a good job. It is impossible for him to find a good job.
* In some adjectives (kind, good, wise, unwise, good, smart, stupid, wrong, right,
Stupid, stupid, careless, considerate, rude, naughty, polite, rude, and so on. )
When used as a predicative, an infinitive can usually be preceded by a phrase caused by of to explain the person the infinitive refers to.
It's very kind of you to care about us so much. It's hard for you to think of us like this.
It is unwise of you to do so. It is unwise of you to do so.
It's very kind of them to help us with our English. It's very kind of them to help us with our English.
It was careless of you to leave your wallet on the table.
* the difference between infinitive and gerund as subject and predicative;
Sometimes you can use both, there is not much difference.
I'll believe that when I see it. = Seeing is believing. I'll believe that when I see it. I'll believe that when I see it.
The infinitive subject of verb b indicates a specific action and an unfinished thing or purpose.
Studying abroad is my long-cherished dream. Studying abroad is my long-cherished dream. (List an unfinished job)
Gerund as the subject indicates abstract actions and known things or experiences.
Mountain climbing is very interesting. Mountain climbing is very interesting. (expressing experience)
(2) As an object
Mary begged to go with us.
I can't afford a car.
Some people can't bear to watch bullfighting.
They will teach us how to repair farm tools.
He refused to be photographed. He refused to be photographed.
She is eager for praise. She deserves praise.
I can't bear to look back.
* in some compound objects, it is often used to express infinitive, and infinitive is put behind.
They found it impossible to get everything ready in time.
They found it impossible to get everything ready on time.
She thought it impossible to argue with him. She thought it unnecessary to argue with him.
I think it's best not to go. I think it's better not to go.
I find learning English very interesting. I find learning English very interesting.
* The following verbs and infinitives are used as objects.
Agree, agree, decide to refuse to provide commitment, choose to try to manage failure, hope, expect, long-awaited desire, tend to ask for a claim plan, and prepare for learning. Volunteers pretend to dare to undertake arrangements, beg for care, start asking for disgust, be afraid of hesitation, ignore commitments, give priority to proposals, solve threats, undertake adventure plans, condescend to contract, be eager to accelerate plans, inform exhibitions, prove purposes and swear …
(3) As a predicative, it means specific actions, especially future actions.
The problem is to find a solution. The problem is to find a solution.
Her wish is to be an artist. Her wish is to be an artist.
His job is to get in touch with the local people. His task is to contact the local people.
Living is doing something at the same time. To live is to do something valuable.
One is to fight for survival. People should fight for their own survival.
The purpose of education is to cultivate children's good personality.
The purpose of education is to cultivate children's perfect character.
The next step is to make sure that you know exactly what you need.
The next step is to really figure out what you need.
(4) as an attribute-when an infinitive is used as an attribute, it should be placed after the noun it modifies. Many of these infinitives have verb-object relations with the words they modify. If this infinitive is an intransitive verb, it should be followed by the necessary preposition.
He wants the water to get cold. He wants water to drink.
He is a very easy person to work with. He is a very nice person.
She bought a bookshelf to put her books. She bought a bookcase to put books on.
He has a child to take care of. He has a child to take care of.
She can't find anyone to make friends with. She can't find anyone to make friends with.
He lent me a book to kill time. He lent me a book to kill time.
She gave me a cup of coffee to refresh myself. She brought me a cup of coffee to refresh myself.
Do you have anything else to say? Do you have anything else to say?
That will be the only thing that can be done now. I'm afraid this is the only feasible way at present.
The following nouns can usually be expressed in infinitives: ability, ambition, attempt, opportunity, courage, time, decision, effort, failure, commitment, correct way, wish …
He promised to help me, which excited me.
He realized his ambition of becoming a writer.
Nouns modified only by first last next and ordinal numbers or superlative adjectives are usually used as attributives of infinitives.
He is always the last to leave the office.
This is the fifth anthrax case in new york this year.
C infinitive can also be used as an attribute in the following sentences, which is equivalent to an attributive clause, indicating the upcoming action.
We will have more such activities in the next few weeks.
We will have more such activities in the next few weeks. )
The meeting to be held in Shanghai next week is very important.
The meeting to be held in Shanghai next week is very important. )
D. If the infinitive used as an attribute is an intransitive verb, or the noun or pronoun modified by the infinitive is the place and tool of the infinitive action, then the infinitive should have a corresponding preposition, but the noun modified by the infinitive is time, place and way, and it is customary to omit the preposition after the infinitive.
He is looking for a room to live in.
There is nothing to worry about.
Please give me a knife to cut things.
He has no money and no place to live.
When the noun or pronoun modified by e as the attributive infinitive is the receiver of infinitive action, infinitive can be used in active voice or passive voice, which has different meanings.
Do you have anything to send? Do you have anything to send? (The executor of infinitive is you)
Do you have anything to send?
Do you have anything to send (to me or others)? (Am I the executor of the infinitive or someone else?)
5] As an adverbial-
① Indicating the purpose: The infinitive of the verb indicating the purpose is usually placed at the end of the sentence, and it can also be placed at the beginning of the sentence when emphasizing the mood. In spoken English, the to in front of the infinitive of the objective adverbial can be replaced by and, and the infinitive can be combined with the following phrases to form the objective adverbial. For ... for ...; In order to ... make ... in order to ...)
He traveled around the world to collect little-known facts about the disease.
He traveled all over the world, collecting little-known information about eclectic diseases.
He gave his life to save the child. He gave his life to save the child.
Let's hurry so as not to be late for the meeting. Let's hurry so as not to be late for the meeting.
They came running to welcome the delegation.
They study hard in order to catch up with others. They study hard in order to catch up with others.
He went into the restaurant to look for some food. He went into the restaurant to find something to eat.
② indicates the result: sometimes enough … (enough) is used; So … as for … (so … that …);
Too … want … (too … can't …) this structure.
What did she do to make you so happy? What did she do to make you so happy?
He is old enough to join the army. He is old enough to join the army.
The fisherman's wife is very greedy and asks him for things again and again.
The fisherman's wife is very greedy and asks for things again and again.
She lived to 100. She lived to be 00 years old.
This room is too small for all of us. This room is too small for all of us.
He studied hard and failed. He studied hard, but failed.
He made a lot of money, but let his son squander it. He made a lot of money, but it was squandered by his son.
She became a diplomat when she grew up.
He shot himself in the foot. He lifted a stone, but it hit his own foot.
(3) Expressing the reason: when the infinitive is used as an adverbial of reason, it is usually placed at the end of the sentence. The infinitive is often followed by adjectives or past participles to explain the reasons for this emotion. The structure of "be+ adjective/participle+infinitive" is commonly used.
* commonly used such words are:
Lucky, lucky, unfortunate, painful, ashamed, surprised, shocked, sorry, happy, happy, eager, disappointed, anxious, ready, smart, unwise, quick, stupid, rude, considerate, cruel, wrong, annoyed, surprised, interested, delighted, confused, relieved, worried, capable, unwilling, unwilling, proud, impatient, suitable for naughty, slow tips and so on.
He was glad to find the gold ring in the box.
We are sorry to hear the news.
I'm glad to meet you.
We are proud to be young people in China.
She was ashamed of her daughter's lying.
Hearing her words, he burst into tears.
They laughed at the joke.
It was rude of her to behave like that.
You believe that he is stupid.
[6] as an object complement-some verbs can use infinitives as object complements. Such verbs include: consider, think, believe, know, guess, declare, prove, command, allow, tell and imagine.
Suppose you find expectations ...
It's no use ordering me to rest while the wounded are waiting.
There are wounded people waiting for my treatment. It's no use ordering me to rest.
He doesn't allow ships to leave the dock.
The teacher asked us not to read books first. The teacher told us not to read books first.
They think he is the best person for the job. They think he is the most suitable person for the job.
We think he is a capable leader. We consider him a talented leader.
I never knew he was so busy. I never knew he was so busy.
(7) As the subject complement, the infinitive of the verb must take to as the subject complement.
They were invited to the Great Wall. Tourists invite them to the Great Wall.
You can't open your safe without your signature.
You can't open the safe without your signature.
We require that all expenses be paid once a month. You must pay the due amount once a month.
John was forced to work day and night. John was forced to work day and night.
The little boy was heard to enter the room. The little boy was heard to enter the room.
As an independent component-indicating the speaker's attitude
To tell you the truth.
Tell the truth, tell the truth
To be honest.
Frankly speaking, to be honest
To put it bluntly, let's get things straight.
In short.
In short, make a long story short.
Back to my topic.
Change the subject. Change the subject.
Say his own words in his own words.
To make matters worse.
To be fair.
Strange to say.
Strange to say, strange to say.
In short, in short
To be exact, to be exact
Frankly speaking, to tell you the truth
Let alone let's not talk about it.
The most important thing is better (worse)
To be honest.
Let's get this straight.
make/cut a long story short
first
first
to sum up in a word
Back to my story. Go ahead.
To say the least.
To be fair.
Of course it's true
Sadness is sadness when you say it.