11 Answered Questions for the topic infinitives

Infinitives History Grammar Split

08/03/19

Split infinitives—did Old English have them?
I've read a few articles as well as questions on this site about splitting infinitives. In the Wikipedia article, it claims: > In Old English, infinitives were single words ending in -n or -an... more
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Infinitives Grammar Bare Infinitive

07/30/19

What is an "infinitive"?
I've heard that a verb usually follows the 'infinitive' but how does one define an 'infinitive'?
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07/29/19

When is "seems to be" used instead of "seems"?
1. The baby seems happy/comfortable. 2. The baby seems to be happy/comfortable.Are these both correct? If both are correct, what are the differences between them?
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Infinitives Grammar Verbs

06/24/19

“Be” as an action rather than a state?
I’ve heard, on rare occasion, a subtle differentiation between *be* as a state (to passively embody) and *be* as an action (to actively embody). The latter form often occurs in parallel with *do*... more
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06/23/19

When should a verb be followed by a gerund instead of an infinitive?
Some verbs are followed by _ing_, e.g. _I enjoy swimming_. We can't say _I enjoy to swim_. Likewise, some verbs are followed by _to_, e.g. _I decided to make a plan_. Which particular verbs are... more
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Infinitives Grammar Verbs Be

06/21/19

I think him to be about 50 or "I think he is about 50"?
I have two options. Which one is correct? >a) I think him to be about 50. b) I think he is about 50. If both are correct, should I avoid one or the other?
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Infinitives Grammar Clauses

05/25/19

Can all transitive verbs take to-infinitive clauses?
> Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it > is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is **your fate to be > required to bear**. — *Jane Eyre* It seems... more
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05/06/19

When should a verb be followed by a gerund instead of an infinitive?
Some verbs are followed by _ing_, e.g. _I enjoy swimming_. We can't say _I enjoy to swim_. Likewise, some verbs are followed by _to_, e.g. _I decided to make a plan_. Which particular verbs are... more
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Infinitives Esl/esol Esl Emotions

03/30/19

Why does "I was happy to do my homework" work, but "I was tired to do my homework" doesn't?
I'm teaching ESL, and I came across a question from one of my students that I don't know how to answer. Using the form "{subject} {verb} {adjective} {infinitive phrase}" we've been going over... more
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Infinitives Grammar Linguistics Syntax

03/19/19

How do you assign Case to sentences with an infinitival clause?
Look at this example: For the butler to attack the robber would be surprising. Here, the butler and the robber are assigned accusative case. Is 'for' assigning case to the butler and 'to attack'... more
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Infinitives Esl/esol Speech Compounds

03/15/19

Try and get some rest OR "Try to get some rest"?
Which sentence is grammatically correct? >Try **and** get some rest (or) Try **to** get some rest
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