LONG AND SHORT INFINITIVES IN ENGLISH

© 1999, 2004 by Orchid Land Publications

[19990508, 20041203]

     The long infinitive is markered by to; this short word is absent in the short infinitive. The difference is a bit complicated; in cleft sentences--those in which the subject or object is foregrounded and the rest subordinated in a that-clause--to is optional, being rather more formal:  What we wanted to do was (to) leave at once.

     The short infinitive is used after modal verbs.   Note that the following are sometimes modal, but only in negative and/or interrogative environments:  need, dare, and ought.   Contrast need(n't) they do it? with do they need to do it?; ought(n't) they do that? with ought they to do that?  The modal forms of such transvestite modals have a more subjective, volitional import than their non-modal forms. When will literally refers to an exercise of the will, it is non-modal, as in She willed it to be on time.   The sense of be willing differs between "consent" and "leave in a will or testament"; both are non-modal and take the long infinitive, though it would seldom follow will in the latter sense. Help and posterior will can be a modal in any environment, though help can more formally take to, as in They helped us (to) get ready for that.  Let is treated in contemporary English like a modal in taking a short infinitive.  Note that  be, have, and have got take the long infinitive, as in they are to leave soon.  
     Otherwise, the long infinitive is expected when it used as a noun, adjective,  or adverb--including its being the object of the prepositions, than, like, but, except.  Contrast:

    (For them) to leave now would be ridiculous.
    It would be ridiculous (for them) to leave now.
    The newcomers asked (for their names) to be announced at once.
    It would be good (for us) to leave now.
    It was ready (for them) to get on board.

    That's what it was to serve as and to be better than.
    This is what to live forever would be like.
    We had no choice but (except) to leave.

The use of for before an infinitive having a subject is a bit more complicated.  Note that, while wish can have or omit for (e.g. ...) unless it is an appositive (e.g. Their wish for everyone to be present proved difficult).  With non-passive want and wish, for is used is never used immediately after these verbs, but always in cleft-sentences; contrast They wanted (wished) us to be on time with What they wanted (wished) was for us to be on time.
     In contrast with some European languages, English does not easily use an infinitive with say but allows a long infinitive with believe, deem, call, consider, etc.; e.g. We believed/deemed/considered it (to be) appropriate.  Say allows the (long) infinitive in English only when it is passivized, as in That was said to be in all of the newspapers yesterday.

SEE ALSO HERE & HERE & HERE

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