NON-FINITE FORMS OF THE VERB (TO UNITS SEVEN — NINE) The Infinitive Ex. 85, p. 483 1. The Perfect Active Infinitive is used in the second sentence. The perfect form
is used because the action of the infinitive precedes that of the predicate verb in the
first sentence. 2. The Continuous Active Infinitive is used to emphasize the idea of
the duration of the action simultaneous with the predicate verb. 3. The infinitive is
used in its simple form because it expresses an action following the predicate verb.
The passive form is chosen because the action is directed not from but to the subject
of the sentence. 4. The action of the infinitive is prior to that of the predicate verb
which though not mentioned can be easily guessed at: I am glad... Hence the use of
the Perfect Infinitive. 5. The Continuous Infinitive serves merely to make the
statement more expressive. One might just as well have used the Simple Infinitive in
this sentence. 6. Priority of action: the action of the infinitive is prior to that of the
predicate verb, therefore the Perfect Infinitive is used. It is passive because its action
is directed not from but towards the subject of the sentence. 7. The action of the finite
verb (are) and the infinitive (to be taken) are simultaneous, so the Simple Infinitive is
used. It is passive because the action is directed not from but towards the subject. 8.
The perfect continuous form of the infinitive is used to show the priority and to
express the duration of the action. 9. The Simple Active Infinitive (to take off) is
used because its action follows that of the finite verb (told) and the other infinitive
used in the sentence (be heard) is in the simple form because it is used in a
subordinate clause of purpose. The passive form shows that the subject (footsteps)
was the object of the action and not its doer. 10. The action of the infinitive is prior to
that of the finite verb, hence the use the Perfect Infinitive. 11. The action of the
infinitive follows that of the finite verb, so the Simple Infinitive is used. The
infinitive is part of a Complex Object. 12. The Perfect Continuous Active Infinitive
is used to show that its action began in the past and instill in progress at the moment
of speaking. 13. The Continuous Active Infinitive is used to show that the action,
expressed by it, is going on at the moment of speaking. 14. The Perfect Active
Infinitives are used to express prior actions. The finite verb can be found in the wider
context from which the sentence has been taken. 15. The infinitives are used in the
simple form because their action is simultaneous with that of the finite verb. The first
infinitive (to be done) is passive because its action is directed to its subject. The
second infinitive is active because its action is directed from the subject of the whole
sentence which though not mentioned in it can be found in the wider context from
which the sentence is taken.