Want (you) to speak to him

There are two possible structures after these words: want, ex­pect, hate, like, dislike, love, cannot bear, prefer, wish, would like, would prefer.

verb + to-infinitive I want to help her. We expected to be late. He would like to come. I'd prefer to stay at home. I hate to be punished.

verb + object + to-infinitive I want him to help her. We expected her to be late. He would like me to come. I'd prefer you to stay at home. I hate him to be punished.

I cannot bear to read in bed.

I cannot bear him to read in bed.

Know him to be an honest man

We can use that or to-infinitive after these verbs to refer to people or things: believe, consider, find, imagine, know, suppose, think.

Instead of: People know (that) he is an honest man. We can say: People know him to be an honest man. Instead of: I thought that the lecture was useful. We can say: I thought the lecture to be useful.

It is said that he.../He is said to... etc.

1. When we talk about what other people say, believe, etc. we can use two possible passive forms. Compare:

Active: People say that Mr Ross is a millionaire.

Passive (I): It + passive + that-clause

It is said that Mr Ross is a millionaire. Passive (2): Subject + passive + to-infinitive

Mr Ross is said to be a millionaire.

We often use these passive forms in a formal style and with verbs such as: say, think, believe, consider, know, report, expect

— It is believed that they own a lot of land in the north. They are believed to own a lot of land in the north.

— It is reported that the president is seriously ill. The president is reported to be seriously ill.

— It is expected that a new law will be introduced next year.

A new law is expected to be introduced next year.

When the belief, etc refers to an earlier action, we use the perfect infinitive. Compare:

— It is believed that the fire started late last night. The fire is believed to have started late last night.

— It was thought that two prisoners had escaped. Two prisoners were thought to have escaped.

Be supposed to

We can use supposed to to mean "said to ".

— I'd like to read that book. It's supposed to be very good. (= It is said to be very good.)

— He's supposed to have been married before. (= He is said to have been married before.)

Supposed to sometimes suggests some doubt about whether something is true or not.

Note that we also use supposed to to say what people are expected to do because of an arrangement, a rule, or a duty eg I'm supposed to see Maria this afternoon.

Infinitive of purpose

Jill: Hi, Sally. I've come to show you my new records. I went to buy a sweater, but then I heard this record playing...

Sally: I suppose when you go to buy records you usually come out of the shop with clothes!

a) The infinitive with to frequently expresses purpose, indicating that one action will follow another:

— I have come to apologise.

— I sent Mrs Bacon a bunch of flowers to thank her for the party.

— We shouted to warn everyone of the danger.

You can also use in orderor so as+ to-mfinitive:

— We shouted in order to warn everyone of the danger.

(so as)

— Some speakers hesitate so as to choose the right word.

(in order)

In orderand so as+ to-infinitive are more formal than the infinitive of purpose with to.

I am going to England to improve my English.

I am going to England in order (so as) to improve my

English.

Note: You can never express purpose with/or plus an infinitive. You cannot say: I am going to England for to learn English, b) So (that)

So (that)is used to express purpose in the following situations: (i) with can or could

I'd like to work in the afternoons so (that) I can study in the mornings.

We moved to London so (that) we could visit our friends more often.

(ii) when the purpose is negative:

You'd better take a map so (that) you won't get lost. I hurried so that I wouldn't be late. (= because I didn't want' to be late)

(iii) when the subject of the main clause is different from the subject of the purpose clause:

I gave him my address so that he could contact me. He wore glasses and a false beard so that nobody would recognize him.