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I made Peter wait outside.
John lets the dog sleep on the sofa.
But! Peter was made to wait outside.
5. After phrases with but (cannot but, anything but, nothing but).
I could not but congratulate him.
She can do everything but cook.
6. In why-sentences, both affirmative and negative, where it expresses a suggestion.
Why not take advantage of the situation?
Why go there so late?
Why make so much noise?
7. In cases when two Infinitives are joined by ‘and’ or ‘or’, bare Infinitive can be used.
I want to go out and have fun and relax.
Syntactical functions of the infinitive
The Infinitive may be used in a number of syntactical functions in which it may stand alone, form an Infinitive phrase or a predicative construction.
1. Subject
Non-perfect active forms are more widely used in this function.
To speak foreign languages well is an advantage.
To have got the job in the face of such stiff competition was a great achievement.
The subject expressed by the Infinitive may be introduced by the so-called introductory it, which stands at the beginning of the sentence.
It is sometimes difficult to accept the truth.
It may be advisable to consult a specialist.
The Infinitive is a part of a complex subject as a part of the Subjective Infinitive Construction.
He was seen toenter the room.
1. Part of the predicate
The Infinitive is used in predicates of several types, both nominal and verbal.
a) Predicative (part of a compound nominal predicate)
My dream is to travel around the world.
Sometimes doing the right thing is to do nothing at all.
b) Secondary predicative (part of a predicative)
She is easy to deal with.
He is nice to talk to.
The house is comfortable to live in.
In this function the action expressed by the Infinitive is aimed at the subject.
c) Part of a compound verbal predicate
The Infinitive is used in a compound verbal modal predicate after modal verbs, modal expressions, and verbs with modal meaning.
Do you really have to leave so early?
I am willing to go to the theatre with you.
Jane likes to fish.
The Infinitive serves as a part of a compound verbal aspect predicate after verbs denoting beginning, continuation, repetition or cessation of the action. These verbs are to begin, to come, to start, to continue, to go on, etc.
Schoolchildren begin to study at half past eight.
We used to go swimming every evening when in Nice.
At the next lesson the teacher went on to explain the functions of the Infinitive.
The above mentioned verbs can also be used with a Gerund, although with a certain difference in meaning.