concept wrote:I came across a problem, which had an explantion that confused me, when I was doing my OG 12. It said that infinitives cannot follow a noun. I managed to get a few counter examples, which I am posting below as well. Please provide me an explanation on this.
eg: I asked a diffiuclt question to snub him.
Also someone please explain what are all the things that infinitives can follow.
Hi,
As you know, infinitive can be formed by using word TO + VERB.
However, infinitive can be used as
1. Noun
2. Adjective
3 Adverb
Rules:-
As a NOUN:
1. When infinitive is used as a SUBJECT of the sentence:
To play basketball after the swimming is the thing I like to do in the morning.
Here TO PLAY is subject of the sentence and it is an infinitive. Since, you can place noun after noun in the sentence, so surely after infinitive noun can appear.
2. When infinitive is used as a DIRECT OBJECT (of course noun) in the sentence:
I like
to work with Bill Gates.
Here TO WORK is the direct object.
As an ADJECTIVE:
In the meetings, I often bring a chocolate
to quench my hunger during the breaks.
Here TO QUENCH is used as an ADJECTIVE to modify a chocolate .
REMEMBER: Adjective can modify only adjectives or noun.
So, 100% you can place NOUN (in the above sentence, ME is pronoun used after to quench) after infinitive when it is used as an adjective in the sentence.
As an ADVERB:
For example:-
He came
to confess his sin.
Here,
CAME - Verb
TO CONFESS - Infinitive used as Adverb modifying the verb CAME.
Remember: ADVERB cannot modify NOUN. However, normally when infinitive used as an ADVERB, it is placed after the verb. So, you can easily place the NOUN even when INFINITIVE is used as an ADVERB.
Probably you have misread the OG12 explanation. Can you come with the question number.
