Infinitive as Subject
Referring to activities, quotes and definitions
that is the question."
An Infinitive vs. A Gerund Subject
| SUBJECT - INFINITIVE CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
An infinitive or infinitive clause tends to refer to activities in a more general way. The infinitive is a reduced verbal form that 1) is not marked for— tense, or person and 2) does not commonly have a subject. When in the subject position, it is usually followed by be or a stative verb. (See states of being or emotion. List) An infinitive is less commonly used to begin a sentence than a gerund except in dictionary definitions and quotes. |
||
| INFINITIVE CLAUSE | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
1a.To start a sentence
with an infinitive |
sounds |
awkward.
|
2a. To speak five languages well |
is may be |
an advantage. |
3a.To be around her all day |
¹becomes would be |
tiring. |
| SUBJECT - GERUND CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
A gerund or gerund clause is more commonly used at the beginning of a sentence than an infinitive or infinitive clause. In most cases, gerunds or infinitives functioning as subjects are interchangeable. Sometimes, a slight difference in meaning exists. The infinitive may suggest a future, predicted or imagined activity, while a gerund suggests an ongoing, existing, habitual activity. See 2a. vs. 2b. or 3a. vs. 3b. |
||
| GERUND CLAUSE | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
1b.Starting a sentence with a gerund |
sounds |
fine.
|
2b. Speaking five languages well |
is may be |
an advantage. |
3b. Being around her all day |
becomes would be |
tiring. |
complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning.
¹ To be (imagined situation) sounds awkward with becomes.(existing, changing).
Infinitive Clause
Positioning
Initial vs. Final Placement with "It"
| AN INFINITVE CLAUSE AS SUBJECT | ||
|---|---|---|
An infinitive or an infinitive clause can be the subject of a clause. A similar meaning may be expressed with It as the subject placeholder of the infinitive clause. |
||
| SUBJECT | VERB | COMPLEMENT |
To travel |
is |
exciting. (adjective) |
To explore the Web |
is |
entertaining. (adjective) |
To speak five languages well |
would be |
ideal. |
To be around her all day |
becomes |
tiring. |
To travel to New York |
takes |
four hours. |
| IT + BE (ADJ) TO | ||
|---|---|---|
Placing It at the beginning of the sentence allows us to move the "heavier content" to the end of the sentence. It, a "dummy pronoun" which has no particular meaning, serves as the subject placeholder for the content that has been displaced at the end of the clause. |
||
| PLACEHOLDER | VERB + ADJ | DISPLACED SUBJECT |
It |
is exciting |
to travel. |
It |
is entertaining |
to explore the Web. |
It |
would be ideal |
to speak five languages well. |
It |
is tiring |
to be around her all day. |
It |
takes (four hours)¹ |
to travel to New York. |
It as the subject places emphasis on the content immediately following: the speaker's opinion: exciting, entertaining, ideal, tiring, etc.
¹ Also see "It takes" + Infinitive.
Infinitive Clause
Including a Subject
Including a Subject with Initial vs. Final Placement
| AN INFINITVE CLAUSE with a SUBJECT | |
|---|---|
The subject of an infinitive clause is expressed as [for + noun] (accusative pronoun). The person mentioned after the subordinator for is the "doer" of the activity in the infinitive clause. |
|
| INFIN CLS W / SUBJECT | VERB + ADJ COMP |
For us to travel |
is exciting. (adjective) |
For them to browse the Web |
is entertaining. (adjective) |
For me to speak five languages well. |
would be ideal. |
For him to be around her all day. |
becomes tiring. |
For Edward to commute to New York. |
takes three hours. |
| IT + BE (ADJ) TO | |
|---|---|
The subject of the infinitive clause is also expressed as [for + noun] when the clause is placed at the end of the sentence. |
|
| IT + VERB + ADJ | INFIN CLS W / SUBJECT |
It is exciting |
for us to travel. |
It is entertaining |
for them to browse the Web. |
It would be ideal |
for me to speak five languages well. |
It is tiring |
for him to be around her all day. |
It takes three hours |
for Edward to commune to New York. |
The subject of an infinitive clause is expressed as [for + noun] (accusative pronoun). Also see (CaGEL 1178)
Initial Infinitive Uses
Quotes and Definitions
Infinitives in quotes and definitions
| QUOTES |
|---|
Infinitives are commonly used in quotes. |
To believe is very dull.
|
To doubt is intensely engrossing. |
To be on the alert is to live. |
To be lulled into security is to die. -Oscar Wilde |
| DEFINITIONS |
|---|
Infinitives are commonly used in dictionary definitions. This is believed to date back to a time when grammarians likened the English infinitive (to + base form) to Latin and French language infinitives (one inflected word). |
KNOW – 1. To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty. 2. To regard as true beyond doubt: "I know she won't fail." 3. To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in: "knows how to cook." 4. To have fixed in the mind: "knows her Latin verbs." 5. To have experience of: "a black stubble that had known no razor"-- ;William Faulkner 6. To be acquainted with: "He doesn't know his neighbors." 7. To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct: "knows right from wrong." 8. To discern the character or nature of: "knew him for a liar." 9. Archaic To have sexual intercourse with. |
Grammar Notes
Traditional and Linguistic Description
Advanced
| TRADITIONAL DESCRIPTION | LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
In traditional grammar, the infinitive is described as a verbal-noun. The infinitive form is to + verb. In formal usage, one never spits an infinitive, nor does one leave "to" at the end of a sentence — an issue with this two-word verbal form. This origin of this description dates back to a time when grammarians likened English verbs to French and Latin verbs. To the Infinitival Marker "Traditional grammar treats [to give] as a form of of the lexeme give, as if it were an inflectional prefix, comparable to the inflectional suffix that marks the infinitive in such languages as Latin and French. This is quite inappropriate for English. The evidence [below right ] shows that to is not syntactically in construction with the verb base, let alone morphologically bound to it."— (CaGEL 1183-4) |
In current grammar, the infinitive is the "plain form" (base verb form). The subordinator to often, but not always, occurs with the plain form, with some exceptions being: dare, need, help, can, may, will, should, would, etc. In modern linguistics, the particle to is described as a subordinator. The infinitive includes to + "plain form" (base verb form). "It is important that to enters into construction with a VP [verb phrase] not just a verb."(CaGEL 1183-7) Also see the note on "Split-infinitives". (There's nothing to split!) Also see "A Student's Introduction to English Grammar" (31 – 37; 206; 212) Link Also see (Swan 279-281) |
Reed-Kellog System – Link |
Parse Tree – Link |
Categories: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective; Subord – Subordinator; Coord – Coordinator; Interj – Interjection
Functions: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complement: elements required by the verb: object, indirect object, predicative complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv, clause
Clause; Subject / Predicate; Finite / Nonfinite;
Resources
Practice 1
Sayings and Quotes
Decide whether the quote can be restated with gerunds.
- Edit the sentence..
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 1-10" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.
lip service (n.) – to say what others
want to hear
stumble (v.) – lose one's balance
and fall
tottering (adj.) – being about to fall; being unsteady on one's feet
divine (adj.) – coming from or relating to God or a god
Practice 2
Muhammad Ali at Age 70
Read for Errors
To say that he was a giant among men would not be an exaggeration. The former heavyweight champion, Muhammed Ali, is still one of the most revered figures on Earth, inspiring passionate feelings more than 30 years after his final appearance in the boxing ring, and more than 50 years after winning an Olympic gold medal. To hear him speak was entertaining. To watch his lightening fast punches and nimble foot work was a sight to behold. To see him fight the effects of Parkinson's disease is inspiring.
The disease has muted his voice and causes him to move slowly. It is difficult for him to perform simple acts because of the tremors. His days are spent mostly in a chair. His once-dazzling smile is just a memory. And yet, he remains a hero to many, still an inspirational icon. Muhammad Ali means different things to different people, though he's a towering figure to nearly all. "Muhammad Ali is the proof that once there were giants in this land," declared former heavyweight champion George Foreman.
a sight to behold – an unforgettable experience
effects (n.) – results, symptoms of the disease
exaggeration (n.) – state that something is bigger or grander than it truly is
muted – quieted
nimble – quick, graceful, agile
revered (adj.) – highly regarded
tremors (n.) – shaking
towering (adj.) – tall, high, large
Answer the questions regarding wording (phrasing).
- Select a response correct or incorrect.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "Check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.