Infinitives

Question

1  Is it possible to use the present infinitive passsive as the subject of a sentence?2  Is it possible to use the present continuous infinitive as the subject of a sentence?3  Is it possible to use the perfect infinitive passive as the subject of a sentence?4  Is it possible to use the perfect continuous infinitive as the object of a sentence?5  Is it posible to use the present continuous infinitive passive as the subject of a sentence?

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

Anonymous1 Is it possible to use the present infinitive passsive as the subject of a sentence?
2 Is it possible to use the present continuous infinitive as the subject of a sentence?
3 Is it possible to use the perfect infinitive passive as the subject of a sentence?
4 Is it possible to use the perfect continuous infinitive as the object of a sentence?
5 Is it posible to use the present continuous infinitive passive as the subject of a sentence?

Anon,

For the above questions, Can you show the forum a few examples? "Is it possible....." is a very vauge and broad question.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Anon, it is pointless to waste your time with futile questions. Anyone who has the vaguest knowledge of English grammar will know that there are no continuous infinitives. All infinitives can be used as subjects and objects in a sentence.

CB

CalifJim · Answer

Cool Breezethere are no continuous infinitives.

I thought those were of the formto be thinking, to be doing, etc. Where have I gone wrong?

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

CalifJimI thought those were of the form to be thinking, to be doing, etc. Where have I gone wrong?

Jim, you haven't gone wrong anywhere if you call those forms infinitives. This is just another case of a difference in terminology. Had I known that to be thinkingis called an infinitive somewhere, I certainly wouldn't have expressed my opinion about the non-existence of continuous infinitives so bluntly. My apologies to all concerned.

In the grammatical analysis I am used to, to be is an infinitive all right, but thinking isn't a part of the infinitive. It's a present participle that follows the infinitive. As far as I know, this view is very common on this side of the Atlantic. The following extract from Otto Jespersen's Essentials of English Grammar illustrates my point:

"Tenses of the Infinitive

In the infinitive we have only two tenses, the present infinitive, (to) take, and the perfect infinitive, (to) have taken. The former refers not only to the present time, but generally to the same time as is indicated by the main verb, thus:"

A list of sentences follows, but they are irrelevant here. Jespersen goes on and on with further ways and examples of the infinitive but continuous examples like yours are nowhere to be found in his book - or any other grammar book that I have.

CalifJim · Answer

Cool BreezeMy apologies to all concerned.

No apologies, please! I was just going by instinct to interpret what 'continuous infinitive' might mean.

It turns out that R. F. Palmer (The English Verb) mentions eight 'infinitivals'. (I suppose one may quibble over whether they are 'infinitives'.) They parallel the usual aspects of the verb: to take, to be taking, to have taken, to have been taking, to be taken, to be being taken, to have been taken, ?to have been being taken.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

please give me some examples regarding present infinitive passsive as the subject of a sentence.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Anonymousplease give me some examples regarding present infinitive passsive as the subject of a sentence.

To be seen in the company of strangers may not be a good idea.

CB

Infinitives

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