An ‘infinitive’ is the basic form of a verb that usually goes after ‘to’.
Usually, when we say ‘infinitive’ we mean the most common: present infinitive after ‘TO’ (the basic/base form of verbs that we learn first or find in dictionaries).
The infinitive can also take a perfect, continuous, and passive form or a combination of those.
It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb
A search in the NOW corpus for TAKE * _NN1 _TO _VVI 1 TOOK TO TWITTER TO SHARE 5632 UNLISTED And fans were angry and they took to Twitter with the hashtag #WeWantLeia. TED 2 TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK 5134 B2 We want to take this opportunity to thank you for coming and taking the time to pay your respects. listen 3 TOOK TO TWITTER TO EXPRESS 3331 4 TAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE 2530 5 TAKES A VILLAGE TO […]
TAKE * noun TO infinitive Read More »
Verb patterns with ‘not to be’ generally fall between A2 and B1. If they are also negated, non-finite, passive or ellipted they should be at least B2. A search in the NOW corpus for: not to be * * 1 NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH 10259 Not to be confused with the diary of Anne Hathaway which we stole out of her purse at the Gotham Awards. listen 2 NOT
A search in NOW corpus for: _VB _XX at _NN _TO 1 ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO 260 2 ‘M NOT AT LIBERTY TO 220 Who‘s your client? I‘m not at liberty to say. listen 3 AM NOT AT LIBERTY TO 217 4 IS NOT AT LIBERTY TO 149 5 WAS NOT AT LIBERTY TO 118 6 ‘RE NOT
BE + at + NOUN + to INFINITIVE Read More »
The verb ’cause’ can be followed by a noun phrase and a to-infinitive to express the idea that the noun phrase is the reason why the to-infinitive action happens. For example:
The storm caused the power to go out.
The accident caused him to lose his job.
Her illness caused her to miss work.
CAUSE + noun phrase + TO infinitive Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile, be welcome to do sth B1 used to tell someone that they can certainly do something, if they want to A search NOW corpus for: welcome _TO _V 1 WELCOME TO COMMENT 8459 2 WELCOME TO JOIN 7347 3 WELCOME TO USE 6739 4 WELCOME TO ATTEND 5863 You‘re welcome to attend all meetings.
welcome + to-INFINITIVE Read More »
B2: SAFE TO SAY THAT | IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
adjective + TO infinitive + THAT clause Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile at C1 ‘happen + to-infinitive‘ = do something by chance A search in the NOW corpus for: HAPPEN to _VVI 1 HAPPEN TO KNOW 1453 2 HAPPEN TO LIVE 1430 3 HAPPENED TO SEE 1172 4 HAPPEN TO THINK 1147 5 HAPPENED TO COME 1132 6 HAPPEN TO GET 1104 7
HAPPEN TO infinitive Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile, wish to do sth = B2 FORMAL to want to do something A search in the NOW corpus for: WISH _TO _VVI 1 WISH TO PERSONALISE 74195 2 WISH TO REPORT 30007 3 WISH TO CHANGE 10511 4 WISH TO RECEIVE 10259 5 WISH TO SEE 8383 6 WISH TO
WISH + to-infinitive Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile at B2: to make matters worse = to make a situation more difficult, unpleasant, etc. If the most common example of to-infinitive + noun + comparative is listed at B2, then it would make sense that other less common should also be considered as B2. The closest form which is clearly
to-infinitive + noun phrase + comparative Read More »
At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile: If it is worth your while doing something, it is useful or enjoyable to do it. A search in the NOW corpus for: * * worth _AP while 1 MAKE IT WORTH YOUR WHILE 738 2 MAKE IT WORTH THEIR WHILE 413 Adam Smith was convinced that human beings were by their very natures lazy, and wouldn’t do anything unless you made it worth their while, and the way you made it worth
worth + POSSESSIVE + while Read More »
At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile, is the structure: BE or HAVE + yet + TO-infinitive to express something expected that was not done. For example: This has yet to grow in evidence until it can come to practice. TED A search in the NOW corpus for: _V yet _TO _VVI 1 IS YET TO COME 11897re 2 HAS YET TO MAKE
VERB + yet to INFINITIVE Read More »
There is no entry in the English Grammar Profile for the continuous infinitive passive. Therefore, we say this is a C2 grammar structure. A search in NOW corpus for: * to be being * 1 BELIEVED TO BE BEING HELD 18 The following example has past passive + infinitive + continuous passive: The driver of the lorry was believed to be being held by police.
In the English Vocabulary Profile: in order (for sb/sth) to do sth B1 with the purpose of achieving something The most common collocates of ‘in order to’ in COCA: For example: Or is the concept of an afterlife just a lie in order to avoid the terror of obliteration? listen In order for this all to work, you need to completely let me in. listen
in order + to | for Read More »
I just put a range of sentences through the profiler on this website. The ‘infinitive of purpose’ is A2. To feel that you‘re special is crucial to develop a sense of security. The manager gave the staff an extended vacation to test whether they would actually take it, not because he was generous. B1 verb pattern for a request or command. Ask him to find out what she wanted. B2 modality with an adjective + infinitive The principal was happy to learn that his budget would increase next year. I‘m happy to see you. Be sure to remember to turn off the oven.
infinitive clauses Read More »
Here’s the most common vocabulary in the grammar collocation of ‘noun + to-infinitive’: An iWeb search for _NN _TO _VVI 1 WAY TO GET 225421 2 WAY TO GO 139189 3 TIME TO GET 116358 4 WAY TO MAKE 110685 5 YEARS TO COME 102714 This ‘future’ time expression is unlisted in the English Vocabulary
noun TO-infinitive ‘way to get’ Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile, the adjective ‘eager’ and the uncountable noun ‘eagerness’ are listed at B2 with the meanings: wanting to do or have something very much when you are eager to do something They are often followed by TO-infinitive. For example, And his eagerness to leave his mother‘s womb was the very reason he was the one who was selected. listen Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. listen A search for eagerness
eager | eagerness + infinitive Read More »
In the English Vocabulary Profile, the noun ‘determination’ is listed at B2 with the meaning: when someone continues trying to do something, although it is very difficult For example: Fretting arises from our determination to have our own way. listen ‘determination’ is often followed by an infinitive. A search in iWeb corpus for: determination TO _VVI 1 DETERMINATION TO MAKE 1407 2 DETERMINATION TO
The noun ‘ambition’ is often followed by an infinitive. Here’s an EXPERT example: I see the people that do the real work and what’s really said, in a way, is that the people that are the most giving, hardworking and capable of making this world better, usually don’t have the ego and ambition to be a leader. listen Student example from PELIC: I believe that you need to associate with positive people who have an ambition to live a happy life. Korean male level 4 writing class Often, the C1 verb ‘fulfil’ takes ‘ambition’ as an object. PELIC student example: Furthermore, children need an educational environment that is prepared and ready to fulfill their ambitions. Arabic male level 4
fulfil ambition TO infinitive Read More »
This grammar structure is unlisted in the English Grammar Profile. A search in iWeb corpus for _JJ of * TO _VVI 1 UNSURE OF WHAT TO EXPECT 258 2 UNSURE OF WHERE TO START 230 3 NICE OF YOU TO SAY 181 4 UNSURE OF HOW TO PROCEED 152 5 AWARE OF WHAT TO EXPECT
adjective + of + object + to-infinitive Read More »
Let’s look at the most frequent ‘to infinitives’ on the internet in the top 100 verbs. Our research is by doing a search in iWeb for _TO _VVI At A2, ‘keep’ stands out. We have put in bold the most frequent collocations too: I’m trying hard to keep my family out of my life. Cat Run At B1, ‘create’ is the most frequent. The
