The Infinitive as an Adverbial Modifier

 

The infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of: purpose, subsequent events, consequence, attendant circumstances, com­parison, condition, exception, time, motivation. In all these functions but that of the adverbial modifier of exception, the infinitive is used with the particle to.

 

1. The adverbial modifier of purpose. In this function the action denoted by the infinitive is always a hypothetical action following the action denoted by the predicate.- As such it can be expressed only by non-perfect common aspect forms of the infinitive, (both active and passive):

I think I will go to England to improve my English. We stood in the rain and were taken out one at a time to be questioned and shot.

 

In this function the infinitive is used with the particle to but if there are two or more homogeneous adverbials of purpose joined by and, usually, though not necessarily, only the first of them has the particle to. Compare the following sentences:

Mary, looking pale and worried, left him to go down to the kitchen
and start breakfast. -

Then I went upstairs to say how-do-you-do to Emily, and into the kitchen to shake hands with Mary-Ann, and out into the garden to see the gardener.

The position of the infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of purpose varies. It usually stands after the predicate, though the position at the beginning of the sentence is also possible;

To occupy her mind , however, she took the job given her.

In both positions the infinitive may be preceded by the conjunction in order:

I keep a diary in order to enter the wonderful secrets of my life.

In order to see her better he had to turn his head.

The infinitive of purpose may also be introduced by the conjunctions so as, as if, as though, and the preposition except, in which case it acquires the additional meanings of manner (so as), comparison (as if, as though) and exception (except):

He turned away so as to conceal his tears.

Sherbent down as if to look at the flowers.

He stretched out his hand as though to shield his face.

In weeks of fog I would curl up in a corner of the cabin and read, hardly lifting my eyes except to eat.

Lastly, the infinitive of purpose may be modified by limiting particles:

I'm here just to see you off.

He came down only to say good-night to you.

 

2. The adverbial modifier of subsequent events. In this function the infinitive denotes an action that actually takes place after the action denoted by the predicate.

The position of this adverbial in the sentence is fixed-it always follows the predicate. The only forms of the infinitive occurring in this function are those of the non-perfect common aspect usually active:

He arrived at three o'clock to hear that Fleur had gone out with the car at ten. (He arrived and heard...)

I came down one morning, to find Papa excited to the point of apoplexy. (I came down and found...)

In this function the infinitive may be preceded by the particles only, merely, simply, which change the meaning of the whole sentence: the action denoted by the infinitive preceded by these particles makes the action denoted by the predicate pointless or irrelevant.

 

She returned to London in a few days, only to learn mat Bess had gone to the continent. (She returned..., but learnt...)

The men had tried a rush simply to be swept out of existence, (had tried a rush, but were swept...)

3. As an adverbial modifier of consequence the infinitive depends on adjectives and adverbs modified by too, adjectives, adverbs and nouns modified by enough, adjectives modified by so, and nouns modified by such. In the last two cases the infinitive is introduced bv as-

a) He was too tired to argue.

The story was too interesting to be passed over lightly.

He had gone too far to draw back.

b) He's old enough to learn this.

I thought I liked Letty well enough to marry her.

He was fool enough to enjoy the game.

c) He had seen enough blasted, burned out tanks to have no illusions.

d) Just the pressure of his hand was enough to upset her.

e) She was so kind as to accept my proposal.

f) Do you think I am such a fool as to let it out of my hands?

In all these cases the infinitive denotes an action, which became possible (enough, so, such) or impossible (too) due" to the degree of the quality (examples a, b, e, f) or quantity (examples c, d) expressed in the words it refers to.

The position of the infinitive is fixed, it always follows the words
it modifies. The form of the infinitive is non-perfect, common aspect,
usually active.

 

4. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances shows what other actions take place at the same time as theaction of the predicate.

He did not wake, but her voice floated out, to swell the night's uneasiness, (her voice floated out, swelling the night's uneasiness)

The fog oozed in ungeniallv to smear sooty fingers over the two elegant young people who sat inside, (the fog oozed in..., smearing sooty finger's...)

The infinitive thus used always follows the predicate verb it modifies. As to its form, it is a non-perfect, common aspect, active voice form.

 

5. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of comparison refersto predicate groups including adjectives or adverbs in the comparativedegree. The infinitive itself is introduced by than:

To give is more blessed than to receive.

Soon she realized, that it was much more pleasant to give than to be given.

He knew better than to rely on her.

Note: Although the infinitive of comparison is generally used with to, it may also occur without it:

I was more inclined to see her safely married than go on watching over her.

 

6. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of condition denotesan action the realization of which pre-conditions the realization of theaction of the predicate. The condtional meaning is often, althoughnot necessarily, supported by the subjunctive mood form of the predicatede noting the consequence of this condition:

To look at Montmorency you would imagine that he was an angel sent upon earth... (If you looked..., you would imagine...)

To touch it one would believe that it was the best of furs. (If one touched it, one would believe...)

I'll thank- you to take your hands off me. (I'll thank you, if you take…)

The position of this infinitive varies; it may either precede or follow the predicate verb it modifies. The only possible form of the infinitive is the non-perfect, common aspect, active voice form. The range of verbs thus used is semantically limited; they are all verbs of sense perception (to see, to hear, to feel) and those provoking sense perception (to look, to listen, to touch, to watch, etc.). The range of predicate verbs modified by the adverbial of condition expressed by the-infinitive is-also limited semantically: they are all of mental activity (to think, to believe, to imagine, etc.).

7. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of exception denotesthe action which is the only possible one in the, situation. The infinitive is generally used without to and is introduced by the prepositions but and except. It is found in negative and interrogative sentences:

I had nothing to do but wait.

What could I do but submit?

There is nothing to do except turn back.

8. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of time denotes anaction which marks out the moment of time up to which or at whichthe action of the predicate is performed:

His father lived to be ninety. (lived till he was...)

I may not live to reach the airstrip this afternoon. (may not livetill I reach...)

He means well; but you shrug your shoulders to hear him talk? (you shrug... when you hear...)

Go away! I shudder to see you here. (I shudder when I see...)

The position of the infinitive is fixed, it always follows the predicate it modifies. Its form is non-perfect, common aspect, active.

 

9. The infinitive used as an adverbial modifier of motivation refersto a compound nominal predicate with the predicative expressed by anadjective, a noun or a prepositional phrase denoting some kind ofassessment of someone's intellectual faculties, morals or other qualities.

 

The infinitive denotes an action which serves as a motivation on which this or that assessment is based. The assessment itself is a temporary one:

What an idiot I was not to have thought of it before! (I had not thought of it before, therefore I can justly be called an idiot.)
She had been silly to come here. (She came here, and it was silly of her.)

They're out of their mind to have sent you here! (They have sent you here, so one can think them out of their mind.)

The infinitive in this function follows the predicate. All the forms of the infinitive are possible.

 

Of all the adverbials described above, only adverbial modifiers of purpose and consequence are widely used in both formal and informal style. The adverbials of subsequent events, attending circumstances, com­parison and exception are confined to formal style; those of motivation, time and condition are characteristic of colloquial style.