Infinitive Complements

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BenJCMil

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I want to ask about Infinitive Complements.

Like this example:
What should you do for a cold?
It's important to.....
It's sometimes helpful...
It's a good idea....

What are the purpose and definition of Infinitive Complements?
And what is the formula?

Thank you
 

Soup

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I want to ask about Infinitive Complements.

Like this example:
What should you do for a cold?
It's important to.....
It's sometimes helpful...
It's a good idea....

What are the purpose and definition of Infinitive Complements?
And what is the formula?

Thank you

The verb To Be (e.g., am, is, was, were) takes a complement:

Ex: It is important to drink fluids.

Infinitive verbs do not have tense; they are in their base form (e.g., walked (tense), walk (infinitive). The infinitive has two forms: the base infinitive (e.g., walk) and the to-infinitive (e.g., to walk).

The formula:

expletive subject (It) + adjective or noun (important, helpful, a good idea)

Ex: What should you do for a cold?

  • It's important to drink fluids.
  • It's important that you drink fluids.
  • That you drink fluids is important.
  • Drinking fluids is important.
 

Soup

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Joined
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Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
China
Isn't drinking fluids a gerund?
Yes, and it's also a part of the infinitive complement formula:

It's important to drink fluids => Drinking fluids is important => That you drink fluids is important.
 
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