Infinitive & Relative Clauses

INFINITIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES
(A Supplement to English 11, Basic Course)
Look at this pattern with an adjective and a to-infinitive.
- Which was the first country to win the World Cup at rugby?
(= the first country which won the World Cup)
- The last person to leave will have to turn out the lights.
(= the last person who leaves)
- Maxicorp were the only company to reply to my letter.
- William Pitt was the youngest person to become Prime Minister.
We can use a to-infinitive after an ordinal number (first, second etc), after next and last, after only, and after
superlative adjectives (youngest).
NOTE
a. We can also use a passive to-infinitive.
- The first British monarch to be filmed was Queen Victoria.
b. For I've got some letters to write.
NOUN PHRASE + TO-INFINITIVE
1. The pattern the need to write
a. We can use a to-infinitive clause after some verbs and adjectives.
- I need to write a letter. We are determined to succeed.
We can also use an infinitive after a related noun.
- Is there really any need to write a letter?
- We shall never lose our determination to succeed.
- Our decision to oppose the scheme was the right one.
- Everyone laughed at Jerry's attempt to impress the girls.
Some nouns in this pattern are:
ability decision intention proposal agreement demand need refusal ambition desire offer reluctance
anxiety determination plan request arrangement eagerness preparations willingness attempt failure
promise wish choice
b. Some other nouns with similar meanings can take a to-infinitive, e.g. chance, effort, opportunity, scheme,
time.
- There will be an opportunity to inspect the plans.

c. But some nouns take a preposition + ing-form, not an infinitive.
- There's no hope of getting there in time.
2. The pattern letters to write
In this pattern the to-infinitive expresses necessity or possibility.
- I've got some letters to write. (= letters that I have to write)
- Take something to read on the train. (= something that you can read)
- The doctor had a number of patients to see.
The to-infinitive clause here is shorter and neater than the finite clause with have to or can.
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ACTIVE FORMS WITH A PASSIVE MEANING
1. Gerund
The active gerund after need, want (= need), require and deserve has a passive meaning.
- These windows need painting. The cupboard wants tidying out.
We cannot use the passive gerund here.
2. To-infinitive
a. We sometimes use an active to-infinitive to talk about jobs we have to do.
- We've got these windows to paint.
- I had some homework to do.
When the subject of the sentence is the agent, the person who has to do the job, then we use the active
infinitive, not the passive.
If the subject of the sentence is not the agent, then we use the passive infinitive.
- These windows have to be painted.
- The homework was to be done by the next day.
- After the subject there, we can use either an active or a passive infinitive.
- There are a lot of windows to paint/to be painted.
- There was some homework to do/to be done.
NOTE
We do not normally use the passive infinitive for leisure activities.
- There are lots of exciting things to do here.
b. After an adjective phrase, the infinitive is usually active.

- This machine isn't safe to use.
- The piano is too heavy to move.
- That box isn't strong enough to sit on.
If we use a phrase with by and the agent, then the infinitive is passive.
- The piano is too heavy to be moved by one person.
(= The piano is too heavy for one person to move.)
NOTE
a. Compare ready and due.
- The meal was ready to serve/to be served at eight.
- The meal was due to be served at eight.
b. Compare these sentences.
- I have some work to do. (= I have/There is some work that I need to do.)
- I have to do some work. (= I must do/I need to do some work.)
OTHER PATTERNS WITH A NOUN PHRASE + TO-INFINITIVE
FOR AND OF WITH A TO-INFINITIVE
1. The pattern I'll wait for you to finish
- I'll wait for you to finish your breakfast.
- We've arranged for a photographer to take some photos.
We can use apply for, arrange for, ask for, call for (= demand), long for, prepare for, wait for.
2. The pattern It's important for you to finish
- It's important for you to finish the course and get a qualification.
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- It can be difficult for young people to buy their own home.
- I'm anxious for the matter to be settled.
We can use many adjectives in this pattern, for example:
anxious eager marvellous silly awful easy necessary stupid better/best essential nice terrible cheap expensive
ready willing convenient important reluctant wonderful dangerous keen safe wrong difficult
3. Patterns with too and enough
Before the for pattern, we can use too or enough with a quantifier, adjective or adverb.
- There's too much work for you to finish today.

- The kitchen is too small for the whole family to eat in.
- The light wasn't shining brightly enough for anyone to notice it.
4. The pattern It's a good idea for you to finish
- It's a good idea for you to finish the course and get a qualification.
- It's a nuisance for tourists to have to get visas.
We can use some nouns, e.g. advantage, demand, disadvantage, disaster, idea, mistake, nuisance, plan.
NOTE
We can also use some nouns related to the verbs and adjectives in Patterns 1 and 2 above.
- I've made arrangements for someone to take photos.
- He couldn't hide his anxiety for the matter to be settled.
5. The pattern It's nice of you to finish
- It's nice of you to finish the job for me.
- It was rude of your friend not to shake hands.
- It was clever of Tina to find that out.
We can use adjectives expressing personal qualities, e.g. brave, careless, clever, foolish, generous, good,
helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, rude, sensible, silly, stupid, wrong.
NOTE
Compare these sentences.
- It was nice of Tom to take the dog for a walk.
(Nice expressing a personal quality: it was a kind action by Tom.)
- It was nice for Tom to take the dog for a walk.
(It was a pleasant experience for Tom.)
6. For expressing purpose
- There are telephones for drivers to call for help if they break down.
- For plants to grow properly, you have to water them regularly.
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