English grammar for CEF-Level C1: Using to-Infinitive clauses as subject/object

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, September 7th, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C1 
ENGLISH GRAMMAR FOR CEF – LEVEL C1 
USING TO-INFINITIVE CLAUSES AS SUBJECT/OBJECT 
 In this lesson, we will learn to use to-infinitive clauses as subject or object. 
 You can place a to-infinitive clause after nouns in order to show what the thing 
referred to is intended to do. 
 - The government set up a programme to develop new varieties of corn. 
 - We need employees to work in the new call centre. 
 - They gave me a call to check if I would consider rejoining the team. 
 - He was looking for someone to organize the tennis tournament. 
 You can refer to something or someone that should or can have something done to 
them by using a clause containing a to-infinitive after a noun or indefinite pronoun. 
 - I make lists in the front of my diary of things to be bought. 
 - She recruited local people to be trained in Hong Kong. 
 - There were fences to be mended and tiles to be repaired. 
You can use a clause consisting of a to-infinitive followed by a preposition. 
 - There wasn’t even a chair to sit on. 
 - He had nothing to write with. 
 - Leila was glad to have someone to talk to. 
 - At least we now have a goal to aim at. 
 - She had everything in the world to live for. 
 A to-infinitive clause can be used when you want to say what you are talking about, 
for example, the first, oldest, or only person who did something. For example: 
 - Maureen Stuart was the first woman to be elected to the council. 
 - Reagan had become, at seventy-four, the oldest man ever to hold the presidency. 
 - Of the seven children born to the Gibbons, Edward was the only one to survive to 
adulthood. 
 A clause containing a to-infinitive is used after some abstract nouns to show what 
action they relate to. 
 - Adults who didn’t have the chance to go to school when they were children can go to 
night school. 
 - She resisted the desire to let her eyes close again. 
 - Idoia welcomed any opportunity to practise her English. 
PRACTICE 
I. Match the sentence halves. 
1. Javier is happy with his life; he wants..... 
2. John likes horses but doesn't know..... 
3. Elsa hasn't booked a holiday yet because she hasn't 
 decided..... 
4. There's a party at a club in town tonight and I've 
 invited..... 
5. The sports centre also provides..... 
6. Flat-hunting is hard work, but if I don't hurry I'll 
 never find...... 
a. where to go. 
b. nothing about it to change. 
c. somewhere to eat and drink. 
d. a place to live. 
e. how to ride. 
f. loads of friends from college 
to come. 
II. Decide if the pairs of sentences have the same meaning. 
1. A. For Jim to be so friendly was a rare event. 
 B. Jim is not often so friendly.  
2. A. The desire to go surfing suddenly left him. 
 B. He suddenly lost the desire to go surfing.  
3. A. She felt a sudden need to laugh, despite the serious situation. 
 B. The situation was so serious that she couldn't laugh.  
4. A. All the children left of the meal was a mess to clear up. 
 B. Every child helped clear up the mess after the meal  
III. Write the simple past form of the verb in brackets to complete each sentence. 
1. The only thing I need now is something.................... (drink). 
2. Books to read on the beach.................... (be) selling well at the moment. 
3. It must be hard to find a place.................... (stay) when you're in the jungle. 
4. The plan to build a skate park in Morley Park.................... (be) announced a few 
hours ago by the city council. 
5. I live a long way from my mum and I miss having her.................... (talk) to. 
6. On the first day of the course, Selma.................... (not know) where to go for classes 
but she soon found out. 
IV. Put each sentence into the correct order. 
1. dolphins / in their/To see / . / natural environment / magical / was 
 ................................................................................................... 
2. is on / page 205 / The text / to read for homework /. 
 ................................................................................................... 
3. to look after / sick / . / The hospital / needs / two nurses / children 
 ................................................................................................... 
4. anyone / doesn't / Stefan / to sit / in his seat / . / like 
 ................................................................................................... 
5. so much /To win / make / would / happy / . / anyone / money 
 ................................................................................................... 
6. was what / this moment / . / he / Something tasty / wanted most at / to eat 
 ................................................................................................... 
V. For each sentence, tick the correct ending. 
1. I need to go clothes shopping because I haven't got anything........... 
 wearing. 
 wear. 
 to wear. 
2. To swim in the Norwegian sea in winter........... 
 is madness! 
 being madness! 
 and it's madness! 
3. What I'm looking for is a good film........... 
 to watch. 
 do you watch? 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, September 7th, 2018 GRAMMAR POINTS CEF – LEVEL C1 
 like watching. 
4. A tent we could carry on our bikes........... 
 is the whole trip. 
 were very light. 
 was difficult to find. 
5. To be so beautiful........... 
 is being wonderful. 
 must be great. 
 she is happy 
VI. For each sentence, tick the correct ending. 
1. Harriet is........... 
 the first girl at our school to win a scholarship. 
 the first girl at our school who wins a scholarship. 
2. Mario enjoys being outdoors and loves........... 
 an opportunity of playing sport. 
 any chance to play sport. 
3. They all did well at school, ........... 
 but Rita was the only one to go to university. 
 but Rita was only one who went to university. 
4. We've sold our house, but ........... 
 we haven't found a house that we can move yet. 
 we haven't found a house to move into yet. 
5. The company often sends employees on courses........... 
 to learn new skills. 
 for learn new skills. 
6. You must be thirsty - Would you........... 
 want to drink of anything? 
 like anything to drink? 
VII. . Decide if the pairs of sentences have the same meaning. 
1.A. They are looking for a person to answer the phone and deal with all the 
 correspondence. 
 B. They are hoping to employ someone who will answer the phone and deal with all 
 the correspondence.  
2. A. Giuseppe gave Manda a call to check if she was coming to the party.  
 B. Giuseppe phoned Manda because he wanted to know if she was coming to the 
 party. 
3. A. My boss presented me with a list of things to be done.  
 B. My boss showed me all that he had to do. 
4. A. On the school trip, Tanja was given six children to look after.  
 B. Six children went on the school trip with Tanja. 
5. A. To come first in the race would be a great achievement for Youssef.  
 B. Youssef achieved a great thing by coming first in the race. 
6. A. There's lots to be done in preparation for the wedding.  
 B. There are lots of jobs to do to prepare for the wedding. 
VIII. Put the correct word or words in each gap. 
save - consider - to save - do - to do - to help - help - to consider 
 Do you think you could start your own business one day? If so, then 
1
.................what 
people will want to buy is a good starting point in the process. For example, ideas 
2
.................people money are always popular, so 
3
.................selling a product that can 
do this. Similarly, products which 
4
.................people time are likely to be good sellers. 
Most people are also keen to learn how
5
.................new things, so products that enable 
this are likely to succeed. Finally, customers are very interested in products that can 
improve their health: creating something 
6
.................people sleep or feel more 
relaxed may be your first step to making yourself a fortune! 
ANSWER KEY 
I 
1. b 2. e 3. a 4. f 5. c 6. d 
II. 
1. Yes 2. Yes 3. No 4. No 
III. 
1. to drink 2. are 3. to stay 4. was 5. to talk 6. didn't know or did not know 
IV. 
1. To see dolphins in their natural environment was magical. 
2. The text to read for homework is on page 205. 
3. The hospital needs two nurses to look after sick children. 
4. Stefan doesn't like anyone to sit in his seat. 
5. To win so much money would make anyone happy. 
6. Something tasty to eat was what hewanted most at this moment. 
V. 
1. to wear. 2. is madness! 3. to watch 4. was difficult to find. 5. must be great. 
VI. 
1. the first girl at our school to win a scholarship. 
2. any chance to play sport. 
3. but Rita was the only one to go to unive rsity. 
4. we haven't found a house to move into yet. 
5. to learn new skills. 
6. like anything to drink? 
VII. 
1. Yes 2. Yes 3. No 4. No 5. No 6. Yes 
VIII. 
1. to consider 2. to save 3. consider 4. save 5. to do 6. to help