1. 6
Infinitives
Home Sweet Home
Focus on Grammar 5
Part VI, Unit 16
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Do You Want to Buy a House?
Do You Want to Buy a House?
When you are ready to purchase a home, it is
essential to know how much you can afford to
spend. Location will be an important factor. People
who choose to buy a larger house in a rural area
can expect to have a longer commute. If you love
to garden, you may prefer to invest in a bigger lot.
Don’t forget to talk with the neighbors to learn
more about the neighborhood. Your goal is to
create a happy home and make the best possible
investment.

3. Form and Function
Form and Function
An infinitive is to + the base form of a verb.
Infinitives function in a variety of ways.
Infinitives
can act
like nouns
in a
sentence.
subject
object
subject
complement

4. Infinitives as Subjects
Infinitives as Subjects
subject
To find the right property takes time.
subject
To buy a house you really love is
important.

5. Infinitives as Objects
Infinitives as Objects
object
People may choose to buy a larger house.
object
You can expect to have a longer commute.

6. Infinitives as Subject Complements
Infinitives as Subject Complements
A subject complement is a phrase that
describes or explains the subject of a sentence.
subject
subject
complement
Your goal is to make the best investment possible.
subject
subject
complement
Their dream was to have a big kitchen.

7. Infinitives Following Adjectives
Infinitives Following Adjectives
Adjectives followed by infinitives often express
feelings about the action in the infinitive.
Examples: afraid, amazed, excited, fortunate, glad, happy,
important, likely, necessary, proud, reluctant, sorry, and willing
adjective
infinitive
They were ready to purchase a home.
adjective
infinitive
It will be necessary to inspect the property.

8. Infinitives vs. Gerunds 1
Infinitives vs. Gerunds 1
Some verbs are followed by infinitives or
gerunds with no change in meaning.
Examples: begin, can’t stand, continue, hate, like,
love, prefer, and start.
infinitive
You may prefer to invest in a bigger lot.
gerund
You may prefer investing in a bigger lot.

9. Infinitives vs. Gerunds 2
Infinitives vs. Gerunds 2
Some verbs are followed by infinitives or
gerunds with a significant change in meaning.
Examples: forget, go on, quit, regret, remember, stop, and try.
You haven’t
done it –
but it’s a
good idea.
You talked
to them –
don’t you
remember?
infinitive
Don’t forget to talk to the neighbors.
gerund
Don’t forget talking to the neighbors.

10. Practice 1
Example:
Complete the sentences with
the infinitive or gerund form
of the verb.
A couple was jogging down the street.
They stopped (talk) __ to the new
to talk
neighbors.
1. The people who just moved in are unfriendly.
talking
We stopped (talk) __ to them.
2. She forgot (buy)__ paint. She has to go back to the
to buy
store.
to __
3. I hope I remember (go)go to the
neighborhood meeting next week.

11. Practice 2
Make sentences using infinitives
and the adjective in
parentheses.
Example: Luckily, they found the perfect property. (fortunate)
They were fortunate to find the perfect property.
1. The owner didn’t want to hand over the keys. (reluctant)
The owner was reluctant to hand over the keys.
2. They found some cracks in the foundation. (shocked)
They were shocked to find some cracks in the foundation.
3. I moved from my first apartment. (sorry)
I was sorry to move from my first apartment.

12. Passive Infinitives
Passive Infinitives
Use to + be or get + past participle to make a
passive infinitive in the present. Use to + have +
been + past participle for the past.
Request to be shown houses in your price range.
infinitive
infinitive
The renovations were to have been done quickly.

13. References
References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.