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CHAPTER 9

Infinitive of purpose

Gerunds (verb + ing) and infinitives are a part of English grammar that many English learners

find challenging. In this post, I will help you understand when to use a gerund or infinitive to describe

the purpose of someone or something.

In English, both gerunds and infinitives can be used to talk about the reason why we use or do

something.

Lets begin with an example.

This is a hair dryer

There are two ways you can talk about the purpose of the hair

dryer. Compare these two sentences

A hair dryer is for drying hair.

I use a hair dryer to dry my hair.

Can you see the difference between the two sentences above?

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Gerunds

A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. To form a gerund, add ing to the end of the verb.

To describe the purpose of something, use for + gerund:

What is a hair dryer for?

A hair dryer is for drying hair.

What is this program for?

This computer program is for editing videos.

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*Notice that in the above sentences, the thing being described is the subject of the sentence.

More example sentences:

My lips are for kissing!

Be quiet! A library is for studying, not for socializing!

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Infinitives

An infinitive is the to + verb form. To describe the purpose of someone, use an infinitive.

What do you use a hair dryer for?

I use a hair dryer to dry my hair.

Why did you go to the store?

I went to the store to buy some milk.

Why are you going to Toronto?

Im going to Toronto to learn English

More example sentences:

I use my lips to kiss!

Be quiet! I come to the library to study, not to socialize!

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Heres where it gets confusing:

You can still use for + noun to talk about the purpose of someone, but the noun CANNOT be

a gerund:

Why did you buy a box of chocolates?

I bought a box of chocolates for my husband.

I bought a box of chocolates to give my husband.

NOT: I bought a box of chocolates for give my husband.

NOT: I bought a box of chocolates for giving my husband.

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HOW OFTEN: Asking for frequencies.

How often do you ......?

..... every day.

..... once a day.

..... twice a day.

..... three times a day.

.... never ....

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Infinitives to express purpose

A Grammar Worksheet from Anna GrammarWhen we want to say why wedid something, we can use an infinitive (to + base form of a verb).Here are examples:

These statements using an infinitive of purpose answer the question, "Why?"Often when we are speaking and someone asks us why we are doing something, we shorten our answer andstart the sentence with the infinitive.

Why are you taking that apple to school?I am going to give it to the teacher?

Why are you going to the shopping mall?We're going to buy some groceries.

(We could also say "I am going to the supermarket to buy some milk and some bread."But we say "To buy some milk and some bread." because it is shorter.

Why are you going to the supermarket?To buy some milk and some bread.

English does NOT use for in these statements. e.g.I went to the airport to catch my flight to London.NOT I went to the airport for catch my flight to London.I turned on the radio to listen to the news.NOT I turned on the radio for to listen to the news.I go the gym every day to do an aerobics class.NOT I go to the gym every day for do an aerobics class.

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Exercise 1:

Answer Key:Exercise 1: Answersa. To buy some new clothes., b. To answer a question., c. To clean the basin., d. To find her way home.Exercise 2: Answersb. I am going to Brisbane to visit my grandmother., c. I am going to post office to buy some stamps., d. I am waiting here to catch a bus.Exercise 3: Answersb. I am going to the museum to see the dinosaurs., c. I am going to the library to look for some books about space., d. I am waiting to get a taxi to the airport.

Exercise 2:

Use the words in brackets to answer these questions. One is done for you as an example.a. Why are you going to the city? (Have lunch with a friend.)Answer: I am going to the city to have lunch with a friend.

b. Why are you going to the museum? (See the dinosaurs.)Answer: I am going

c. Why are you going to the library? (Look for some books about space.)Answer: I am going

d. Why are you waiting? (Get a taxi to the airport.)Answer: I am

Look at the photos. Put the words in the correct order to answer a question about each photo.a. Why are they going to the mall?some / new / To / buy / clothes /

b. Why is the little boy lifting his hand in the air?To / answer / question / a

c. Why is she wearing gloves?To / the / basin / clean

d. Why is she looking at a map?find / To / her way home /

Answer these questions using the words below. Add an infinitive to each word prompt.(One is done for you as an example.)

a. Why are you going to evening classes?I am going to classes... Answer: I am going to classes to learn English.

to buy some stamps, to visit my grandmother, to learn English, to catch a bus

b. Why are you going to Brisbane next week? Answer: I am going to Brisbane...c. Why are you going to the post office? Answer: I am going to the post office...d. Why are you waiting here? Answer: I am waiting here...

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Exercises

REWRITE THESE SENTENCES USING THE INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE.

Example:

I'M GOING TO THE BANK BECAUSE I WANT TO GET SOME MONEY.

I'M GOING TO THE BANK TO GET SOME MONEY.

1. I went to the beach because I wanted to sunbathe.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. She went to the South because she wanted to visit her grandchildren.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. They're going to study hard because they don't want to fail again.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. The dog did all the tricks because it wanted to get the rewards.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Francis is going to Africa because he wants to go on a safari.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Complete with TO or NOT TO:

1. Trees were planted________________ (reduce) traffic noise.

2. This is good________________ (get) rid of headaches.

3. We crept up the stairs________________ (not wake) granny.

4. A mouse is a devise________________ (move) the cursor around the computer screen

5. I swept the broken glass________________ (prevent) an accident.

6. The new paint is excellent________________ (cover) walls with cracks in.

7. We will write Claires name in the calendar________________ (not forget) her birthday.

8. We spent the summer in London________________ (improve) our English.

9. I didnt say anything about Claudes hair________________ (not embarrass) her.

10. She bought a cage________________ (keep) her hamster in.

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Join each pair of sentences

Example:

She is buying nail-polish. She wants to paint her fingernails.

She is buying nail-polish to paint her fingernails.

Pointers: A 'to'-infinitive is used to show purpose: He was sent to france to learn French.

1. The lion-tamer opened the lians' cage. He intended to fee the lions.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

2. We were given a money-box each. We are to keep our savings in it. (Omit 'it')

__________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The farmer put a scarecrow in the middle of the field. He wanted to frighten the crows away.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

4. I took off my shoes. I wanted to clean and polish them.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Their mother called them. She wanted to tell them the good news.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

6. The workmen left the red light on the road. They wanted to make motorists aware of the hole.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. They evacuated everybody from the danger zone. They wanted to reduce the risk.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

8. His parents are sending him to the United States. They want him to study medicine there.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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9. The thief changed his address constantly. He wanted to elude the police.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

10. My teacher left the classroom. she wanted to discuss a problem with the principal.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

11. They covered the floor with newspaper. They wanted to prevent it from getting paint on it.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

12. The scouts are collecting firewood. They intend to put it on the fire.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

13. He coughed loudly. He wanted to warn them that their father was coming to their room.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

14. The women had their hair dyed at the hairdressing salon. They wanted to look younger than their actual age.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

15. He keeps his hens in an area surrounded by wire-netting. he wants to protect them against wild animals.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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A cooling swim

Two young women were out walking in the country on a hot

summers day when they saw a beautiful lake close to the road.

Its so hot! Lets go for a swim in that lake to cool down!

suggested the first woman.

But we havent got any swimming things to put on, said the

other, We cant swim naked!

Oh, dont worry about that! reassured the first woman, Theres nobody here to see us.

So they took off all their clothes and got into the lovely cool water for a swim.

After only a few minutes they noticed a farmer walking towards the lake carrying a large bucket.

Are you here to ask us to get out of the lake? the first woman asked.

I think hes here to look at us! said the second woman.

The old farmer frowned and held up the bucket for them to see.

No, Im not here to tell you to get out of the lake and I didnt come here to watch you ladies swim naked.

he replied. Im just here to feed the alligator.

Grammar: infinitive of purpose

You can explain why you do something with to + verb.

Why did you leave the meeting? To make a phone call.

Im writing to thank you for your help.

I phoned Harry to invite him to dinner.

Match the action with the purpose.

1. I bought a dictionary A. to buy some stamps.

2. We went to the art gallery B. to ask about the train times.

3. I sent an email to Helen C. to pass my exams next month.

4. I went to the information desk D. to look at the pictures.

5. I want to buy a swimming costume E. to help with my vocabulary.

6. Im studying very hard at the moment F. to fill up with petrol and to buy some cigarettes.

7. He stopped the car at the petrol station G. to take with me on my beach holiday next week.

8. I went to the post office H. to ask about her holiday in Mexico.

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Vocabulary exercises

Match the words with the definitions.

alligator farmer pool feed naked

1. a person who owns or manages a farm _________________________

2. without any clothes _________________________

3. to give food to _________________________

4. a large reptile, similar to a crocodile _________________________

5. a small area of water _________________________

Choose the correct preposition to complete these sentences.

6. We had a cold drink to help us cool over / down / from.

7. Its cold outside so put out / around / on something warm.

8. When are you going to get out / from / away of that bathroom?

9. The children were very noisy so I told them to go off / away / from.

10. Dont worry for / about / with everything! You need to relax more.

Match the broken sentences.

11. The students spent the lesson A. to cool down this afternoon.

12. I asked Karen to feed B. the answers to these exercises for me, please?

13. We can swim in the pool C. the men to get out of the building.

14. The security guard asked D. watching the clock on the classroom wall.

15. Could you look at E. my pet cat for me when I went away.

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Complete the sentences using the infinitive of the verbs from the box.

Examples:

a. Sara is going to the shop to buy a new CD. (because she wants to buy a new CD.)

b. Im going to Africa to have a vacation. (because I want to have a vacation)

(NOTE: DO NOT USE "for" before the infinitive of purpose!)

Exercise:

Fill in the blank using this following words

watch take send meet listen learn find

1. We use a camera _________________ photographs.

2. We looked at the map _________________ the way.

3. I turned on the radio _________________ to some music.

4. They went to the airport _________________ Bens sister.

5. Tomek used the computer _________________ an email.

6. Jack and Carol went to the cinema _________________ a film.

7. They went to the Natural History museum _________________ about the natural world.

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Complete the sentences using "Infinitive of Purpose"

Example:

this button / turn on the computer.

You use this button to turn on the computer.

1. A camera / take photographs.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. A watch / tell the time.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. A microwave / heat up food.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. A knife / cut things.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. An alarm clock / wake up in the morning.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

6. A pen / write things.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Answer the questions so they are true for you

1. How often do you brush your teeth?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How often do you use computer?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How often does she visit her grandma?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How often do you go to the beach?

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How often do you eat crocodile?

___________________________________________________________________________________________