Understanding and Using Infinitives in English Grammar

 Infinitives are an essential part of English grammar. They allow speakers to express purpose, provide explanations, and share opinions or advice. This guide will help you learn how to use infinitives effectively in everyday communication by providing clear explanations, practical examples, and tips for usage.

Infinitives for Expressing Purpose

We can use to + infinitive to explain the reason for an action. It tells others why something is done. To use this structure, we need a main verb to describe the action, followed by the infinitive to show the purpose.

Examples:

• I went on holiday to relax. (The main action is "went on holiday," and the purpose is "to relax.")
• She studies hard to get good marks.
• He gave up cakes to lose weight.
• I’m calling you to ask for your help.

Formal Alternatives

We can also use in order to + infinitive and so as to + infinitive to express purpose. These are more formal but have the same meaning as to + infinitive.

Examples:

• I went on holiday in order to relax.
• I went on holiday so as to relax.

Negative Infinitives

To express a negative purpose, we can add not before the infinitive. This is often used with in order not to or so as not to.

Examples:

• I drank coffee in order not to fall asleep.
• He got up very quietly so as not to wake the children.

Important Note on Subject Consistency

The infinitive of purpose can only be used if the subject of the main action and the subject of the infinitive are the same. If the subjects differ, use a so that clause with modal verbs like may, can, will, might, could, or would.

Examples:

• Jerry works hard so that his family has everything they need.
• I’ll leave the door open so that you can come in.
• Tina gave me a shopping list so that I wouldn’t forget anything.

Practice Activity: Alan’s Actions

Alan works for Zedco and wants to succeed in business. The table below shows his actions and their purposes:

Action	Purpose
Study the market	Be more successful
Get to work earlier	Impress the boss
Work harder	Achieve more
Take risks	Be a winner
Think positively	Not miss opportunities

Examples of Usage:

• He’s going to study the market in order to be more successful.
• He’s going to get to work earlier so as to impress the boss.
• He’s going to think positively in order not to miss opportunities.

Infinitives for Opinions and Advice

We use It + adjective + infinitive to share opinions, give advice, or make recommendations. This structure emphasizes the speaker’s perspective on an activity.

Common Adjectives Followed by Infinitives:

• Clever, crazy, difficult, easy, funny, happy, hard, impossible, nice, ridiculous, rude, sad, silly, strange, stupid.

Examples:

• Going to a new city is exciting. = It is exciting to go to a new city.
• Taking a tour is especially convenient for travelers. = It’s especially convenient for travelers to take a tour.
• Finding a good place to stay is not so hard. = It’s not so hard to find a good place to stay.
• Bargaining for a good price is fun. = It is fun to bargain for a good price.

Practical Application for Travelers

When traveling, infinitives can help express advice and observations:

1. Comfort and Fashion:
• Taking an extra pair of shoes with you is smart. = It’s smart to carry an extra pair of shoes with you.
2. Exploring Markets:
• Bargaining for a good price is fun. = It is fun to bargain for a good price.
3. Memorable Experiences:
• Having a memorable vacation is essential. = It is essential to have a memorable vacation.

Conclusion

Using infinitives effectively enhances communication by clearly expressing purpose, sharing advice, and describing experiences. Practice using these structures in your daily interactions, and you will find your English skills improving. Reliable resources, such as grammar guides and language learning tools, can further support your understanding of these concepts.