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6.3 The Infinitive as Adverbial Modifier of Consequence (Result)

The infinitive as an adverbial modifier of consequence (result) depends

a)adjectives and adverbs modified by TOO:

TOO + ADJECTIVE + TO INFINITIVE:

It is too cold to go swimming.

TOO + ADVERB + TO INFINITIVE:

He had gone too far to draw back.

TOO +ADJECTIVE + A + NOUN + INFINITIVE:

He is too experienced a conductor to mind what the critics say. (As a conductor he is too experienced to mind what the critics say.) (The infinitive here always refers to the subject of the sentence. A passive infinitive is also possible here: He was too experienced a conductor to be worried by what the critics said.)

b)adjectives, adverbs and nouns modified by ENOUGH:

ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH + TO INFINITIVE:

She is old enough to go out on her own.

ADVERB + ENOUGH + TO INFINITIVE:

He ran fast enough to win the race.

ENOUGH + NOUN + TO INFINITIVE:

We’ve got enough room to put you up.

c)adjectives modified by SO: SO + ADJECTIVE + AS + TO INFINITIVE:

Would you be so kind as to tell me the time? (This is formal and not very common)

d)nouns modified by SUCH: SUCH + NOUN + AS TO INFINITIVE:

It was such a loud noise as to wake everybody in the house. (This is formal and not very common)

NOTE:

1)If the infinitive refers to the subject of the sentence, it has an active meaning: You are too young to understand. (=You are so young that you cannot understand)

2)If the infinitive does not refer to the subject, it has a passive meaning: The plate was too hot to touch. (too hot to be touched) = (The plate was so hot that we couldn’t touch it)

3)Note that it, the object of “touch” in the second sentence disappears in the phrase “too hot to touch” because the infinitive “touch” here, though active in form, is passive in meaning.

4)Sometimes either an active or a passive infinitive may be used:

This parcel is too heavy to send/to be sent by post.

But this is not always possible, so students are advised to stick to the active infinitive.

Exercise 16. Complete the sentences with too or enough and the adjectives in brackets:

1.Did you go to the beach yesterday? – No. It wasn’t warm enough to go to the beach. (warm)

2.Do her new shoes fit her? - No. They are … .(small)

3.Have you finished your homework? – I can’t. It’s … . (difficult)

4.Did you hear the announcement? – No. It wasn’t … . (loud)

5.Can you open the window, please? – I can’t. I ’m not … to reach it. (tall)

6.It’s … in here. (hot) – Why don’t you take your coat off, then?

7.Did you enjoy the party last night? – No. We were … to enjoy it. (tired)

8.Why don’t you drink your tea? – It’s not … for me to drink. (sweet)

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