Ex.72 Various infinitive constructions

Replace the group of words in italics by an infinitive or an infinitive

construction.

It is important that he should understand this. It is important for him to understand this. He was the first man who arrived. He was the first man to arrive.

1 The captain was the last man who left the ship.

2 He got to the top and was very disappointed when he found that someone else had reached it first.

3 The committee have decided to send you to Paris. (You (go) to Paris, omit The committee have decided to send.)

4 Would you be very kind and lend me your umbrella?

5 There are a lot of sheets that need mending.

6 I was astonished when I heard that he had left the country.

7 It is better that he should hear it from you.

8 I was rude to him, which was stupid. (It was stupid . . .)

9 If he had another child with whom he could play he would be happier.

10 It is necessary that everyone should know the truth.

11 There was no place where we could sit.

12 He put his hand into his pocket and was astonished when he found that his wallet wasn't there.

13 He rushed into the burning house, which was very brave of him. (It was very brave . . .)

14 I can't go to the party; I have nothing that I can wear.

15 It is expected that he will broadcast a statement tonight. (He is expected . . .)

16 I want a kitchen where ( = in which) I can cook.

17 He reached the station exhausted and was very disappointed when he learnt that the train had just left.

18 Haven't you anything with which you could open it?

19 It seems that the crime was committed by a left-handed man. (The crime seems . . . Use perfect infinitive passive.)

20 Is it likely that he will arrive before six? (Is he . . .)

21 I was on the point of leaving the house when the phone rang.

22 This is the plan: someone will meet you at the station . . . (You . . . (be met) at the station)

23 She is anxious that they should have every possible advantage.

24 It is said that he was a brilliant scientist. (He is said . . .)

25 The strikers decided that the strike should continue.

26 Would you be very kind and translate this for me?

27 It is advisable that we should leave the house separately.

28 You signed the document without reading it, which was very stupid. (It was stupid . . .)

29 It is said that she has a frightful temper. (She . . .)

30 He was the first man who swam the Channel.

31 They believe that he is honest. (He . . .)

32 It appears that he was killed with a blunt instrument. (He appears . . . Use passive infinitive.)

33 He was the only one who realized the danger.

34 It is said that the earth was originally part of the sun. (The earth . . .)

35 He took out his spare wheel and was very disappointed when he discovered that that tyre was also punctured.

36 It is said that the murderer is hiding in the woods near your house.

Ex.73 Perfect infinitive used with auxiliary verbs

Use the perfect infinitive of the verb in italics with the appropriate auxiliary verb. Phrases in bold type should not be repeated, but their meaning should be expressed by the auxiliary + perfect infinitive.

It is possible that he telephoned while we were out.

He may have telephoned while we were out.

You (thank) him for his present but you didn't

You should have thanked him for his present.

1 I realized that my house was on fire. ~ That (be) a terrible moment.

2 I saw a ghost last night. ~

You (not see} a ghost; there aren't any ghosts. You (dream) it.

3 It is possible that a child broke the window.

4 You carried it yourself, which was not necessary.

5 I've had a toothache for two days. ~ You (go) to the dentist when it started.

6 There (be) motor-cycle races on the sands but as it is so wet they have been cancelled.

7 As I was standing in the hall your dog bit me. ~

It (not be} my dog; he was with me all day. It (be) my brother's dog.

8 I feel terribly ill today. ~

You (not cat) those mushrooms yesterday. Mushrooms don't agree with you.

9 I wonder why he didn't answer? ~

Possibly he didn 't understand the question.

10 I gave him a tip, which was not necessary.

11 The prisoner (escape} this way, for here are his footprints.

12 You lied to him, which was wrong.

13 I didn't recognize the voice at the other end of the line. ~

It (be) my elder sister; she is often at home at that time. It (not be) my youngest sister as she is abroad.

14 Someone (cook) a meal here lately; the stove is still hot.

15 I've brought my own sandwiches. ~

You (not bring) them. I have enough for two.

16 The burglar went straight to the safe although it was hidden behind a picture. ~ Someone (tell) him where it was.

17 The president (unveil) the statue, but he is ill so his wife is doing it instead.

18 The plane is late; I wonder what has happened?~ Possibly it was delayed by fog.

19 I have never met him. ~

You (meet) him; he lives next door to you.

20 I (do) it. (It was my duty to do it, but I didn't.)

21 He (not catch) the 9.20 train because he didn't leave home till 9.25.

22 I opened it, which was unnecessary.

23 The police were here while we were out. ~ Someone (betray) us.

24 I drove at 80 miles an hour, which was wrong.

25 When I was your age I (climb) that mountain, (but I didn't).

26 If a policeman had seen me climbing through your window he (ask) me what I was doing.

27 He said that censorship of news was ridiculous and it (abolish) years ago. (passive verb)

28 You boiled so many eggs; but there are only four of us.

29 She (play) the chief part in the film, but she quarrelled with the director, so he engaged someone else.

30 This poem (be) written by Keats, but I am not certain.

31 He (take) off his hat in the theatre, (but he didn't).

32 People used to walk twenty miles to do their shopping. ~ They (have) a lot of energy in those days.

33 One day he went for a walk up a mountain and never came back. ~ He (fall) over a precipice.

34 I just pressed lightly on the pane and my hand went through. ~ The glass (be) very thin.

35 You translated it into French, which wasn't necessary.

36 You looked at the new moon through glass. It is most unlucky.