Blog about English
For...to, too...to, enough to, object + infinitive and other special structures.
Practice: build the sentences →English uses several special constructions involving infinitives to express purpose, result, degree, expectation, and relationships between participants.
Important patterns include for + object + infinitive, too + adjective + to-infinitive, enough + to-infinitive, object + infinitive, and infinitive clauses with their own understood subjects.
It is important for students to understand the rule.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали правило.
For + object + to-infinitive.
The box is too heavy to carry.
Коробка слишком тяжёлая, чтобы её нести.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive.
She is old enough to drive.
Она достаточно взрослая, чтобы водить машину.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
For + noun or object pronoun + to-infinitive identifies the person or thing understood as the subject of the infinitive.
For example, It is important for students to understand the rule.
It is important for students to understand the rule.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали правило.
For + object + to-infinitive.
It is difficult for me to explain.
Мне сложно объяснить.
For me + to-infinitive.
It is unusual for him to arrive so early.
Странно, что он приходит так рано.
Explicit infinitive subject.
Adjectives describing importance, difficulty, suitability, or other qualities can be followed by for + object + to-infinitive.
For example, It is difficult for me to explain and It is important for everyone to arrive on time.
It is difficult for me to explain.
Мне сложно объяснить.
Difficult + for + object + to-infinitive.
It is important for everyone to arrive on time.
Важно, чтобы все пришли вовремя.
Important + for + object + to-infinitive.
It is unusual for him to be late.
Необычно, что он опаздывает.
Adjective + for + object + to-infinitive.
Certain noun constructions can contain for + object + to-infinitive when the object is the understood subject of the infinitive.
For example, There is no reason for you to worry and It is a good idea for us to leave early.
There is no reason for you to worry.
Нет причин тебе беспокоиться.
Noun + for + object + to-infinitive.
It is a good idea for us to leave early.
Хорошая идея — уйти рано.
Idea + for + object + to-infinitive.
There is no need for them to come.
Нет необходимости им приходить.
Need + for + object + to-infinitive.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive expresses that something has an excessive degree for an action to be possible or appropriate.
For example, The box is too heavy to carry.
The box is too heavy to carry.
Коробка слишком тяжёлая, чтобы её нести.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive.
He is too young to drive.
Он слишком молод, чтобы водить машину.
Too + adjective + to-infinitive.
Too + adverb + to-infinitive can express an excessive degree or manner that prevents an action.
For example, He spoke too quickly to understand.
He spoke too quickly to understand.
Он говорил слишком быстро, чтобы его понять.
Too + adverb + to-infinitive.
She ran too slowly to win the race.
Она бежала слишком медленно, чтобы выиграть гонку.
Too + adverb + to-infinitive.
Too can be followed by for + object + to-infinitive when identifying who is unable to perform the action.
For example, The bag is too heavy for me to carry.
The bag is too heavy for me to carry.
Сумка слишком тяжёлая для меня, чтобы её нести.
Too + adjective + for + object + to-infinitive.
The task is too difficult for him to complete.
Задача слишком сложна для него, чтобы её выполнить.
Too + adjective + for + object + to-infinitive.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive expresses that a quality is sufficient for an action.
For example, The room is large enough to hold fifty people.
The room is large enough to hold fifty people.
Комната достаточно большая, чтобы вместить пятьдесят человек.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
She is old enough to drive.
Она достаточно взрослая, чтобы водить машину.
Adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
Adverb + enough + to-infinitive expresses that an action is performed with sufficient degree or manner for a result.
For example, She spoke clearly enough to be understood.
She spoke clearly enough to be understood.
Она говорила достаточно ясно, чтобы её поняли.
Adverb + enough + to-infinitive.
He ran quickly enough to catch the bus.
Он бежал достаточно быстро, чтобы успеть на автобус.
Adverb + enough + to-infinitive.
Enough can precede a noun followed by a to-infinitive when sufficient quantity is required for an action.
For example, We have enough time to finish the work.
We have enough time to finish the work.
У нас достаточно времени, чтобы закончить работу.
Enough + noun + to-infinitive.
She has enough experience to manage the team.
У неё достаточно опыта, чтобы руководить командой.
Enough + noun + to-infinitive.
Too much and too many can be followed by a to-infinitive when excessive quantity prevents or makes an action difficult.
For example, There is too much work to finish today and There are too many boxes to carry.
There is too much work to finish today.
Сегодня слишком много работы, чтобы закончить.
Too much + noun + to-infinitive.
There are too many boxes to carry.
Слишком много коробок, чтобы нести.
Too many + noun + to-infinitive.
Some verbs are followed by an object and a to-infinitive, with the object functioning as the understood subject of the infinitive.
For example, I want him to stay and She expected us to arrive early.
I want him to stay.
Я хочу, чтобы он остался.
Want + object + to-infinitive.
She expected us to arrive early.
Она ожидала, что мы приедем рано.
Expect + object + to-infinitive.
Some verbs are followed by an object and a bare infinitive without to.
For example, They made him leave and I saw her cross the road.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
I saw her cross the road.
Я видел, как она перешла дорогу.
See + object + bare infinitive.
Some verbs can be followed by an object and an -ing form when the object is associated with an activity in progress.
For example, I found him sleeping and We caught them stealing.
I found him sleeping.
Я нашёл его спящим.
Find + object + -ing form.
We caught them stealing.
Мы поймали их на краже.
Catch + object + -ing form.
Some constructions contain an object followed by a past participle to describe a resulting state or passive relationship.
For example, I found the door locked and She had her hair cut.
I found the door locked.
Я обнаружил дверь запертой.
Find + object + past participle.
She had her hair cut.
Она подстриглась.
Have + object + past participle.
A to-infinitive can indicate the purpose for which an action is performed.
For example, She went to the shop to buy some bread.
She went to the shop to buy some bread.
Она пошла в магазин, чтобы купить хлеба.
To-infinitive of purpose.
I called to ask a question.
Я позвонил, чтобы задать вопрос.
Infinitive of purpose.
In order to and so as to can express purpose more explicitly, especially when the relationship needs to be clear or formal.
For example, He left early in order to avoid traffic and The system was redesigned so as to improve efficiency.
He left early in order to avoid traffic.
Он вышел рано, чтобы избежать пробок.
In order to + base form.
The system was redesigned so as to improve efficiency.
Система была переработана, чтобы повысить эффективность.
So as to + base form.
A to-infinitive can sometimes describe an unexpected or consequential result rather than purpose.
For example, He returned home to find that the door was open.
He returned home to find that the door was open.
Он вернулся домой и обнаружил, что дверь открыта.
Infinitive of result.
She woke up to discover it was snowing.
Она проснулась и обнаружила, что идёт снег.
Resultative infinitive.
Only to + infinitive can emphasize an unexpected or disappointing result following an earlier action.
For example, She arrived at the station only to discover that the train had left.
She arrived at the station only to discover that the train had left.
Она приехала на вокзал и обнаружила, что поезд ушёл.
Only to + infinitive for unexpected result.
He studied hard only to fail the exam.
Он усердно учился и всё равно провалил экзамен.
Disappointing result.
Ordinal numbers and superlatives can be followed by a to-infinitive to identify an action associated with a position or ranking.
For example, She was the first person to arrive and He was the last to leave.
She was the first person to arrive.
Она была первым человеком, который пришёл.
Ordinal + to-infinitive.
He was the last to leave.
Он был последним, кто ушёл.
Last + to-infinitive.
A superlative adjective can be followed by a to-infinitive to identify the relevant action or experience.
For example, This is the best way to solve the problem and She was the youngest person to win the award.
This is the best way to solve the problem.
Это лучший способ решить проблему.
Superlative + to-infinitive.
She was the youngest person to win the award.
Она была самым молодым человеком, получившим награду.
Superlative + to-infinitive.
Expressions such as first, last, next, and only can be followed by a to-infinitive when identifying a participant in a sequence or unique position.
For example, He was the first to arrive, the next to speak, and the only one to complain.
He was the first to arrive.
Он пришёл первым.
First + to-infinitive.
She was the next to speak.
Она была следующей, кто говорил.
Next + to-infinitive.
He was the only one to complain.
Он был единственным, кто пожаловался.
Only + to-infinitive.
A split infinitive places an adverb or other element between to and the base verb.
For example, to carefully consider the evidence. Split infinitives are grammatical in standard English when they give the clearest or most natural wording.
She decided to carefully consider the evidence.
Она решила тщательно рассмотреть доказательства.
Split infinitive: to carefully consider.
He wants to quickly finish the report.
Он хочет быстро закончить отчёт.
Split infinitive.
Adverbs can occur before the infinitive, between to and the verb, or after the infinitive depending on emphasis, clarity, and style.
For example, She quickly decided to leave and She decided to quickly leave are both possible, although style and rhythm may affect the preferred position.
She quickly decided to leave.
Она быстро решила уйти.
Adverb before infinitive.
She decided to quickly leave.
Она решила быстро уйти.
Adverb between to and verb.
She decided to leave quickly.
Она решила уйти быстро.
Adverb after infinitive.
Negative infinitive structures normally place not before the infinitive clause.
For example, He decided not to go and It is important for us not to make the same mistake.
He decided not to go.
Он решил не идти.
Negative infinitive: not to go.
It is important for us not to make the same mistake.
Важно, чтобы мы не совершили ту же ошибку.
Negative infinitive with for + object.
A non-finite infinitive can have an explicitly expressed subject through for + noun or pronoun + to-infinitive.
For example, It is unusual for him to arrive so early.
It is unusual for him to arrive so early.
Необычно, что он приходит так рано.
For + object as subject of infinitive.
It is important for students to understand the rule.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали правило.
Explicit infinitive subject.
Adjectives such as easy, difficult, hard, and impossible can occur in constructions where the logical object of the infinitive corresponds to the subject.
For example, This book is easy to read means that it is easy for someone to read this book.
This book is easy to read.
Эту книгу легко читать.
Tough construction: logical object as subject.
The problem is difficult to solve.
Эту проблему сложно решить.
Tough construction.
The instructions are impossible to understand.
Инструкции невозможно понять.
Tough construction.
Some adjective + infinitive constructions have a passive interpretation even though the infinitive itself is formally active.
For example, The problem is difficult to solve has approximately the meaning The problem is difficult to be solved.
The problem is difficult to solve.
Проблему сложно решить.
Passive meaning: the problem is difficult to be solved.
This book is easy to read.
Эту книгу легко читать.
Passive interpretation.
Use special infinitive constructions according to their structural pattern and intended meaning.
Common mistakes include omitting for before an explicit infinitive subject, confusing purpose and result, using the wrong position of enough, adding to after a bare infinitive structure, and treating every split infinitive as grammatically incorrect.
It is important for students to understand.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали.
Correct: for + object + to-infinitive.
It is important students to understand.
Важно, чтобы студенты понимали.
Incorrect: missing "for".
The box is too heavy to carry.
Коробка слишком тяжёлая, чтобы её нести.
Correct: too + adjective + to-infinitive.
The box is enough heavy to carry.
Коробка достаточно тяжёлая, чтобы её нести.
Incorrect: enough comes after adjective.
She is old enough to drive.
Она достаточно взрослая, чтобы водить машину.
Correct: adjective + enough + to-infinitive.
She is enough old to drive.
Она достаточно взрослая, чтобы водить машину.
Incorrect: enough after adjective.
He made her to leave.
Он заставил её уйти.
Incorrect: no "to" after "make" in active.
He made her leave.
Он заставил её уйти.
Correct: make + object + bare infinitive.