2015-08-21
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We can refer to the future with verbs like hope, intend, mean and
(would) like to. A perfect infinitive is often used after a past verb, but it
is not usually necessary. Compare:
/ would like to see that film (now, or in the future)
/ would like to have seen it (before now, so I did not see it)
/ would have liked to see it (but didn't have a chance then)
/ would have liked to have seen it (interchangeable with ' would
have liked to see it; to have seen is unnecessary)
16.13 The to-infinitive as the object of a verb [> 16.19]
A great many verbs are strongly linked with the to-infinitive, e.g.
decide, need wish [> App 46]:
/ want to leave I want to be left alone.
In such cases the infinitive serves as the object of the verb. However,
some verbs like think require it + adjective + infinitive: ' think it best
to go (Not */ think to go is best*) [compare > 1.14, 4.15, 16.22], A few
verbs like appear, seem[> 1023] can also be followed by more
complex infinitive forms: He seems to be leaving/to have left/to have
been leaving, etc.
16.14 Contrasting negatives [compare > 1.23.5,13.10,16.12.1]
We form the negative of a to-infinitive by putting not before to. I soon learnt not to/never to swim near coral reefs.
Compare ordinary negatives:
/ didn't learn/never learnt to swim when I was a child.
With many verbs (e.g. advise, ask, instruct remind, tell, warn) the
placing of the negative seriously affects the meaning [> 15.24.1]: He told me not to feed the animals. (He said, 'Don't feed...') He didn't tell me to feed the animals (He didn't say anything.) Don't ask Rex to phone I'll ring him myself Ask Rex not to phone. I don't want to be disturbed
The placing of the negative has a similar effect on meaning with
adjectives and nouns + infinitive: / wasn't sorry to go (= | went) / was sorry not to go (= | didn't go) It wasn't a surprise to hear from him (| heard from him) It was a surprise not to hear from him. (| didn't hear from him)
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Negatives are sometimes possible in both parts of a sentence: / can't promise not to be late. My car is very unreliable
but this would generally be expressed more simply: e.g. / can't promise to be on time
