Infinitive Subjects: referring to activities

Infinitive as Subject

Shakespeare

"To be, or not to be,
that is the question."

Referring to activities, quotes and definitions

An Infinitive vs. A Gerund Subject

SUBJECT - INFINITIVE CLAUSE			SUBJECT - GERUND 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.			A gerund or gerund clause is more commonly used at the beginning of a sentence than an infinitive or infinitive clause. In most cases, a gerund or infinitive functioning as subject 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.
INFINITIVE CLAUSE 1a.To start a sentence with an infinitive [That a person starts] a sentence with an infinitive	VERB sounds	COMPLEMENT awkward.	GERUND CLAUSE 1b.Starting a sentence with a gerund (means the same as the infinitive)	VERB sounds	COMPLEMENT fine.
2a. To speak five languages well [That a person speaks] five languages well	may be	an advantage.	2b. Speaking five languages well	may be	an advantage.
3a.To be around her all day [That we are to be] around her all day	would be	tiring.	3b. Being around her all day	becomes	tiring.

complement – a word, phrase or clause which is necessary in a sentence to complete its meaning.

Initial vs. Final Placement with "It"

AN INFINITVE CLAUSE AS SUBJECT			IT + BE (ADJ) TO
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.			More commonly, an infinitive is placed at the end of the clause. It, a "dummy pronoun" which has no particular meaning, serves as the subject placeholder while the "heavier content" is placed at the end of the clause. (This emphasizes the speaker's opinion.)
SUBJECT To travel	VERB is	COMPLEMENT exciting. (adjective)	PLACEHOLDER It	VERB + ADJ is exciting	DISPLACED SUBJECT to travel.
To explore the Web	is	entertaining. (adjective)	It	is entertaining	to explore the Web.
To speak five languages well	would be	ideal.	It	would be ideal	to speak five languages well.
To be around her all day	becomes	tiring.	It	is tiring	to be around her all day.
To travel to New York	takes	four hours.	It	takes (four hours)†	to tavel to New York.

Also see It-clause Expressions, It Cleft
†A quantity is used after It takes. See It takes + Infinitive

Including a Subject with Initial vs. Final Placement

AN INFINITVE CLAUSE with a SUBJECT		IT + BE (ADJ) TO
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.		The subject of the infinitive clause is also expressed as [for + noun] when the clause is placed at the end of the sentence.
INFINITIVE CLAUSE WITH A SUBJECT For us to travel	VERB + ADJ COMPLEMENT is exciting. (adjective)	IT + VERB + ADJ It is exciting	INFINITIVE CLAUSE WITH A SUBJECT for us to travel.
For them to browse the Web	is entertaining. (adjective)	It is entertaining	for them to browse the Web.
For me to speak five languages well.	would be ideal.	It would be ideal	for me to speak five languages well.
For him to be around her all day.	becomes tiring.	It is tiring	for him to be around her all day.
For Edward to commute to New York.	takes three hours.	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)

Infinitives in quotes and definitions

QUOTES	DEFINITIONS
Infinitives are commonly used in quotes.	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).
To believe is very dull.	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 .
To doubt is intensely engrossing.
To be on the alert is to live.
To be lulled into security is to die. -Oscar Wilde

Grammar Notes

Traditional Grammar vs. Linguistic Description

(Advanced)

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR	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] 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 Click the diagram to enlarge it.	Parse Tree – Link Detailed diagram

TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR

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] 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

Click the diagram to enlarge it.

Parse Tree – Link

Detailed diagram

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
FUNCTIONS: Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complements: (elements required by verb) Object, Indirect Object, Predicative Complement Adjuncts: (optional modifiers) Adj, Adv

Resources / Works Cited

Practice 1

Sayings and Quotes

Edit the sentence — infinitive subject → gerund subject.

Type your response into the text area.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	ENTER YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
1.	INF: To live is to learn. GER: To live is to learn.
2.	INF: To know is to care. GER: To know is to care.
3.	INF: To know what we know and to know what we do not know – that is understanding. GER: To know what we know and to know what we do not know – that is understanding.
4.	INF: To see is to believe. GER: To see is to believe.
5.	INF: To think something does not cause as much trouble as to say something. GER: To think something does not cause as much trouble as to say something.
6.	INF: To be successful in love, one must know how to begin and when to stop. GER: To be successful in love, one must know how to begin and when to stop.
7.	INF: To give lip service to someone requires little effort. GER: To give lip service to someone requires little effort.
8.	INF: To know all is to forgive all. GER: To know all is to forgive all.
9.	INF: To stumble once is better than to always be tottering. GER: To stumble once is better than to always be tottering.
10.	INF: To forgive is heavenly, to forget is divine. GER: To forgive is heavenly, to forget is divine.
11.	INF: To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything. GER: To know is nothing at all; to imagine is everything.

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

In Context

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.

a sight to behold – an unforgettable experience
exaggeration (n.) – state that something is bigger or grander than it truly is
muted – quieted
nimble – quick, graceful, agile
tremors (n.) – shaking
towering (adj.) – tall, high, large

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.

Select the response that best answers the question.
Read the feedback to your response.

#	SENTENCE & FEEDBACK	YOUR RESPONSE
11.	What is the effect of using an infinitive clause to begin the paragraph? To say that he was a giant among men would not be an exaggeration. Feedback 11	It adds emphasis. It sounds more formal. It sounds awkward (bad)
12.	Which of the following is the best choice in the context of the paragraph? To hear him speak was entertaining. Feedback 12	Hearing him speak was entertaining. It was inspiring entertaining to hear him speak. To hear him speak was entertaining.
13.	Which of the following is the best choice in the context of the paragraph? It difficult for him to perform simple acts because of the tremors. Feedback 13	For him to perform simple acts is difficult because of the tremors. It is difficult for him to perform simple acts because of the tremors.
14.	Who is the subject, person doing the action, in this sentence? To say that he was a giant among men would not be an exaggeration. Feedback 14	him (Muhammed Ali) you (the reader) anyone

Iole, Kevin. "Legendary Ali remains a giant among men." Yahoo! Sports. 16 Jan 2012. Web. Link

Related page It is + Adj + Infinitive

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