College English Grammar:College English Grammar: Grammar and WritingBy Zhu XiangjunUnit 9Phrases: Infinitive Phrases Grammar: Infinitive PhrasesInfinitive Phrases Writing: Correcting: Double Negatives Rewriting: Important ideas of a sentenceInfinitive Phrases An infinitive is used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Unlike a real verb which functions as a predicate in a sentence, an infinitive is used as a subject, object, attributive, adverbial or complement. (not) to + Verb = infinitive To shop is her greatest love. (as a noun functioning as a subject)Soon there left no water to drink. (as an adjective modifying a noun “water”)The thieves car was badly damaged and easy to recognize.(as an adverb modifying an adjective “easy”)To keep healthy, I do morning exercise. (as an adverb modifying a verb “do”)1. Infinitive forms:1. Infinitive forms: Infinitive forms Infinitive forms Simple: Simple: to do to do Progressive: Progressive: to be doingto be doing Passive: Passive: to be doneto be done Perfect: Perfect: to have doneto have done Passive + progressive: Passive + progressive: to be being doneto be being done Passive + perfect: Passive + perfect: to have been done to have been done Progressive forms = an action is taking place now. Progressive forms = an action is taking place now. Passive forms = the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. Passive forms = the subject of the sentence is being acted upon. Perfect infinitive forms = completion in both the past and the future.Perfect infinitive forms = completion in both the past and the future. 1. My friend happened to be in the next room.1. My friend happened to be in the next room. She was singing there.She was singing there. My friend happened My friend happened to be singingto be singing in the next room. in the next room.2. His bicycle was found.2. His bicycle was found. He never expected so.He never expected so. He never expected the bicycle He never expected the bicycle to be foundto be found. .3. Sailors have seen monsters.3. Sailors have seen monsters. The monsters lived in the sea.The monsters lived in the sea. Sailors sometimes claim so.Sailors sometimes claim so. Sailors sometimes claim Sailors sometimes claim to have seento have seen monsters in the monsters in the sea.sea.2. Functions2. Functions 2.1. As adjectives2.1. As adjectives An infinitive phrase acts as an adjective that describes, limits, An infinitive phrase acts as an adjective that describes, limits, or modifies a noun or pronoun. An adjective infinitive phrase or modifies a noun or pronoun. An adjective infinitive phrase usually comes after the noun or pronoun it modified.usually comes after the noun or pronoun it modified. Arthur was looking for a way.Arthur was looking for a way. By the way he can earn money.By the way he can earn money. Arthur was looking for a way Arthur was looking for a way to earnto earn money. money. The priest has never gotten enough money.The priest has never gotten enough money. With the money he can make people repaired the church clock.With the money he can make people repaired the church clock. The priest has never gotten enough money The priest has never gotten enough money to have the to have the church clock repaired.church clock repaired.2.2. As adverbs2.2. As adverbs An infinitive phrase acts as an adverb that modifies a verb, An infinitive phrase acts as an adverb that modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb. adjective or another adverb. It was half an hour later.It was half an hour later. He went outside. He went outside. He was astonished.He was astonished. He found the little black lamb was almost white.He found the little black lamb was almost white. When he went outside half an hour later, he was When he went outside half an hour later, he was astonishedastonished to find the little black lamb was almost white.to find the little black lamb was almost white. I dropped my suit.I dropped my suit. I dashed downstairs.I dashed downstairs. I wanted to tell George.I wanted to tell George. Dropping my suit, I Dropping my suit, I dasheddashed downstairs downstairs to tell George.to tell George.2.3. As nouns An infinitive phrase can be used as a noun, serving as the subject, the subject complement, the object or the object complement of a sentence.I eat properly.I exercise frequently.This habit keeps my healthy. To eat properly and to exercise frequently keeps my healthy.They protect private property. That is their job. Their job is to protect private property.3. Position3. Position As an adjective, an infinitive is usually placed after As an adjective, an infinitive is usually placed after the word it modifies.the word it modifies.The first man did not have the The first man did not have the opportunityopportunity to writeto write their ideas on paper. their ideas on paper. as an adjective modifying a noun “opportunity”as an adjective modifying a noun “opportunity”His teacher was His teacher was unableunable to find outto find out why he was so why he was so troubled. troubled. as an adverb modifying an adjective “unable”as an adverb modifying an adjective “unable” As an adverb to modify a verb, its position in a sentence is As an adverb to modify a verb, its position in a sentence is flexible. It may appear at the beginning, at the end or in the flexible. It may appear at the beginning, at the end or in the middle of a sentence.middle of a sentence. To tell you the truth,To tell you the truth, I have no idea what this really means. I have no idea what this really means. I have no idea, I have no idea, to tell you the truth,to tell you the truth, what this really means. what this really means. I have no idea what this really means, I have no idea what this really means, to tell you the truth.to tell you the truth.4. Punctuation4.1. At the beginning4.1. At the beginning When an infinitive phrase introduces a sentence, we set it off from When an infinitive phrase introduces a sentence, we set it off from the rest of the sentence with a comma. The pattern looks like this: the rest of the sentence with a comma. The pattern looks like this: infinitive phrase,infinitive phrase, + main clause. + main clause. You want to arrive there on time.You want to arrive there on time. You must leave now.You must leave now. To arrive there on time, To arrive there on time, you must leave now.you must leave now. Chinese department wanted to attract new majors.Chinese department wanted to attract new majors. It made curriculum changes.It made curriculum changes. These curriculum changes are imaginative.These curriculum changes are imaginative. To attract new majors,To attract new majors, Chinese department made imaginative Chinese department made imaginative curriculum changes.curriculum changes.4.2. In the middle4.2. In the middle When an infinitive phrase occurs in the middle of the sentence, we When an infinitive phrase occurs in the middle of the sentence, we use two commas around it to set it off from the rest of the sentence, use two commas around it to set it off from the rest of the sentence, to creating the effect of an important afterthought or add special to creating the effect of an important afterthought or add special emphasis to the following words by forcing the reader to pause emphasis to the following words by forcing the reader to pause before them. before them. start of main clause +start of main clause +, infinitive phrase, infinitive phrase,+ end of main clause.+ end of main clause. We wanted to save our lives.We wanted to save our lives. We would give everything we possess.We would give everything we possess. We would be willing to do so.We would be willing to do so. We We, to save our lives, to save our lives, would willingly give everything we would willingly give everything we possess.possess. The man wanted to prove that the diamonds were real.The man wanted to prove that the diamonds were real. He went to great lengths.He went to great lengths. The man The man, to prove that the diamonds were real, to prove that the diamonds were real, went to great went to great lengths.lengths.4.3. At the end4.3. At the end When an infinitive phrase concludes a main clause, you need When an infinitive phrase concludes a main clause, you need no punctuation to connect the two sentence parts. no punctuation to connect the two sentence parts. main clause + + main clause + + infinitive phrase.infinitive phrase. He invited a number of critics. He invited a number of critics. They were important.They were important. He wanted them to see his collection of paintings.He wanted them to see his collection of paintings. The collection was his private.The collection was his private. The paintings were modern.The paintings were modern. He invited a number of important critics He invited a number of important critics to see his private to see his private collection of modern paintingscollection of modern paintings. . For most of them, fifty pence is a small price.For most of them, fifty pence is a small price. They pay the price for a bar of chocolate.They pay the price for a bar of chocolate. The bar of chocolate is big.The bar of chocolate is big. The bar of chocolate is nice.The bar of chocolate is nice. For most of them, fifty pence is a small price For most of them, fifty pence is a small price to pay for a nice to pay for a nice big bar of chocolate.big bar of chocolate.Double Negatives A double negative occurs when two terms of negation are used in the same clause. It is usually produced by combining the negative form of verb (cannot, didnt, havent) with a negative pronoun, a negative adverb or a negative conjunction. The following list contains words that are regarded as negative. If you use them in your sentences once, your statements will be negative.Negative pronoun: no, not, none, nothing, nobody, no one, no where;Negative adverb: never, hardly, scarcely, barely; Negative conjunction: neither, nor. On some occasions, mostly when speaking, the use of double On some occasions, mostly when speaking, the use of double negatives is accepted. For instance:negatives is accepted. For instance: I cannot disagree with you on these points.I cannot disagree with you on these points. (= I agree with you on these points.)(= I agree with you on these points.) I wont ask you not to do that.I wont ask you not to do that. (= I will ask you to do that.)(= I will ask you to do that.) Im not sure that he didnt say that.Im not sure that he didnt say that. (I am sure that he said that.)(I am sure that he said that.) However, double negatives are generally not used in formal However, double negatives are generally not used in formal speech or written varieties of standard English. speech or written varieties of standard English. Exercises: Exercises: Correct the following double negativesCorrect the following double negatives . .1.The desert had scarcely no rain last summer.2.I think the new political reform will not last barely a month.3.She can not find nowhere to park her car.4.Do not coin terms that are unintelligible to nobody.5.Nobody knows why he didnt shout for so long.6.A proverb comes not from nothing.7.Neither of them did not remember their instructions.8.He doesnt have neither talent nor the desire to learn.9.The old lady was so weak she could not hardly climb stairs. 10.After being replaced, the pipes did not run no water as expected.Correcting:1. scarcely no 2. not last barely 3. not find 1. scarcely no 2. not last barely 3. not find nowhere nowhere 4. unintelligible intelligible 5. didnt shout 4. unintelligible intelligible 5. didnt shout shouted 6. not from nothingshouted 6. not from nothing7. did not remember remembered 8. doesnt 7. did not remember remembered 8. doesnt have hashave has9. could not hardly 10. did not run no water 9. could not hardly 10. did not run no water The exercise in this section is to create effective passages by combining The exercise in this section is to create effective passages by combining the short sentences which you think is related into longer, more complex the short sentences which you think is related into longer, more complex ones. If there are some mistakes, correct them.ones. If there are some mistakes, correct them.Passage 1Passage 1(Adapted from Lesson 96, (Adapted from Lesson 96, New Concept English II New Concept English II byby L.GL.G. .AlexanderAlexander) ) In Japan, people hold a festival for the Dead. They have it In Japan, people hold a festival for the Dead. They have it one time each year. It is a cheerful occasion. On this day, one time each year. It is a cheerful occasion. On this day, people say the dead will return back to his home. The living people say the dead will return back to his home. The living welcomes them. They take a long journey, people expect they welcomes them. They take a long journey, people expect they are hungry. They lie out food for them. People make special are hungry. They lie out food for them. People make special lanterns. People hang these lanterns outside each house, they lanterns. People hang these lanterns outside each house, they do this help the dead find their way. People dance and sing a do this help the dead find their way. People dance and sing a whole night.whole night. On the early morning, people throw the food into the river and On the early morning, people throw the food into the river and into the sea, these food is they laid out for the dead. People into the sea, these food is they laid out for the dead. People think these food is think these food is unluckunluck for any living one eat. In those near for any living one eat. In those near the sea towns, after the festive is over, people place the tiny the sea towns, after the festive is over, people place the tiny lanterns into the water, these lanterns are they hanged in the lanterns into the water, these lanterns are they hanged in the streets the before night. Thousands lanterns slow drift out to streets the before night. Thousands lanterns slow drift out to sea, they guide the dead on their return journey to the other sea, they guide the dead on their return journey to the other world. This is a moving spectacle. Crowds of people stand on world. This is a moving spectacle. Crowds of people stand on the shore, they watch the lanterns drift away, at last they can be the shore, they watch the lanterns drift away, at last they can be seen no more.seen no more.