: Sometimes the introductory object it is used.
He found it difficult to spot her in the crowd.
4. Attribute
The Infinitive in this function may modify nouns, substantivized adjectives, pronouns, numerals.
This is much to ask.
England, once «the workshop of the world», was the first to become a highly developed industrial country.
Hope is the last to die.
When we go out, he’s always the one to pay.
5. Adverbial modifier
The Infinitive can be used as an adverbial modifier of purpose, subsequent events, consequence, attendant circumstances, comparison, condition, exception, time, cause, or motivation [Кобрина, Корнеева, 2009].
Adverbial modifier of purpose. Indefinite forms of the Infinitive (both active and passive) are used in this function. The Infinitive may be preceded by the conjunction in order, so as or by limiting particle (just, only):
We all need stress in order to achieve and do our best work.
They never parked the big van in front of the house so as not to upset the neighbours.
Adverbial modifier of subsequent events or attendant circumstances. In this function the Infinitive denotes an action that follows the one denoted by the predicate. The Infinitive may be preceded by the particles only, merely, simply [Н. А. Кобрина, Е. А. Корнеева и др., 2009].
He left his home town, never to come back.
I tore open the box, only to discover that some of the parts were missing. I went to see the doctor, only to find him absent.
Adverbial modifier of result. In this function the Infinitive is used after adjectives and adverbs modified by too; enough; so …. as, and nouns modified by such.… as.
I was too afraid to try bungee jumping.
No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does.
Would you be so kind as to send to me those documents?
Trade policy needed to be organized in such a way as to contribute to sustainable economic development.
Adverbial modifier of comparison or manner. In this function the Infinitive is introduced by the conjunctions as if, as though or than.
The cat looked up at me as if to say “I’m hungry.”
He nodded his head slowly as though to agree with everything she said.
He knows better than to marry her.
Adverbial modifier of condition denotes an action which pre-conditions the action expressed by the predicate. In this function the Infinitive is used but seldom.