alytical practical grammar - Toronto Public Library

188 ENGLISH GRAMMAR.
875. RULE 4.-The infinitive i·$ used as a predicate nominative after any
verb a, a copula (59'1'); a~, " You are to blame" (397).
876. Wheu used a~ a predicate uominati ve aftet· the verb to be, tbe infinitive
,Ienotcs-
1. All equivalent expression; as, "To obey is to enjoy."
~. Wbat IS possible or obligatory; as, "Gold is to be found in California
"-" The laws are to be observed."
3. What is settled and determined upon, and, of course, future; as,
,'Tbe sbip is to sail to morrow."
877. HULE 5.-1'0, the sign of the infinit;,'e, is 1Iot Ilsed after the verbs
BID, DARE, NEED, MAKE, EEE, HEAR, FEEL, and LET, in the activ6 voice, nor
after LET in the pas.~ive; as, "I saw him do it "-" You need not go "­
" He was let go."
878. To this rule there nre some exceptions. As it relates only to
euphony and usage, to ma'y be inserlerl when harshness will not thereby
be produceu; thus, " Conscious that his opinions need to be disguised."­
McKc71:ie.
879. For the same reason, to is sometimes omitted after the verbs peraive,
behold, observe, have, and know.
880. When several infinitives come tg"ther in the same construction,
the sign to expressed wit.h the first, is sometimes omitted befure those
that follow; thus, ,. It is better to be a king and die, than to live and be
a prince." 'ruis should never be done wben either harsbuess or obscurity
woule! be the result.
881. To, the sign of the infiuiti I'e, shoull never be used for tbe infinitil'e
itself. Thu-," I have not written. and I do not intend to," is a colloquial
vulgarism for, "I have not written, ane! I do not intend to write."
882. RULE 6.-The infinitive is used to expre!s the PURPOSE, END, or,
DESIGN of the preceding act; as, "Some who came to scoff, remained to
pray." Here, to scoff and to pray are not governed by came and remained;
but Rre put without a governing word, to express the end for which they
came and remained.
883. This construction of the intiniti ve is sometimes preceded by the
phrase, " in order;" and formerly was pre('eded by for; as, "What wen t
yc out for to see? " This is now obsolete.
884. RULE 7.-In comparisons, the infinitive mood is put after so AS, TOO
or TIIA"; as, '. Be so good as to read this lettet' "-" Too old to learn "­
.. Wiser than to undertake it." Some consider this construction as ellipticalo
and tbat the i"finitive depends on a word understood.
885. The infinitive is sometimes used to aS13igll, in an abridged form
the reason of that which goes before; a3, "Base cOlVard that thou art I
to flee! "-' Ungrateful man! to waste my fortune, rob me of my peace! "
&c._ u lIust not one sigb, to reflect on so grave a subject."