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Infinitives after nouns and pronouns: my decision to leave

We can use infinitives after some nouns which are related to verbs that can be followed by infinitives (e.g. wish, decide, need).

  • I have no wish to change. (= I do not wish to change.)
  • I told her about my decision to leave. (= I told her that I had decided to leave.)
  • Is there any need to ask Jasmine? (= Do we need to ask Jasmine?)

Not all nouns can be followed by infinitives in this way.

  • I hate the thought of getting old. (not … the thought to get old.)

And note that not all related verbs and nouns are followed by the same structures. Compare:

  • I hope to arrive.
    There’s no hope of arriving.
  • She prefers to live alone.
    I understand her preference for living alone.
  • I do not intend to return.
    I have no intention of returning.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to decide which structures are possible after a particular noun. It is best to check in a good dictionary.

We can also use infinitives after some nouns which are related to adjectives, or which have an adjectival sense.

  • You were a fool to agree. (= You were foolish to agree.)
  • What a nuisance to have to go! (= How annoying to have to go!)
  • It’s a pleasure to see you again. (= It’s pleasant to see you again.)

Purpose: a key to open the door​

An infinitive can be used after a noun, or an indefinite pronoun like something, to explain the purpose of a particular thing: what it does, or what somebody does with it. The noun or pronoun can be like the subject of the infinitive.

  • Have you got a key to open this door? (The key will open the door.)
  • It was a war to end all wars.
  • I’d like something to stop my toothache.

The noun or pronoun can also be like the object of the infinitive.

  • I need some more books to read. (I will read the books.)
  • Is there any milk to put on the cornflakes?
  • Did you tell her which bus to take?
  • Is there anything to drink?

If the noun or pronoun is the object of the infinitive, we do not add an object pronoun after the infinitive.

  • I gave her a paper to read. (not … a paper to read it.)
  • He needs a place to live in. (not … a place to live in it.)

Some/any/nowhere can also be followed by infinitives.

  • The kids want somewhere to practise their music.

enough, too much, etc​

Quantifiers like enough, too much/many/little/few, plenty, etc are often followed by noun + infinitive.

  • There was enough light to see what I was doing.
  • There’s too much snow (for us) to be able to drive.
  • We’ve got plenty of time to see the British Museum.

Enough is often dropped before room and time.

  • There’s hardly (enough) room to breathe in here.
  • Do you think we’ll have (enough) time to do some shopping?

Infinitive with preposition: a friend to play with​

A noun can be followed by infinitive + preposition.

  • Emily needs a friend to play with.
  • They’re looking for a room to meet in.

In a very formal style, another structure is possible: noun + preposition + whom/which + infinitive.

  • Emily needs a friend with whom to play.
  • They’re looking for a room in which to meet.

This is not possible when there is no preposition. One cannot say, for example, I need a book which to read.

the life to come, etc​

In expressions like the life to come (= life after death), the world to come, his wife to be (= his future wife), the infinitive has a future meaning, and is similar to a relative clause with be (= the life/world that is to come, etc).

note

For infinitives used to talk about people’s purposes, (see here).

For passive infinitives (e.g. There’s work to be done), (see here).

For for + object + infinitive (e.g. Is there any need for us to stay?), (see here).

For infinitives after first, next, last or superlative + noun (e.g. the first woman to climb Everest), (see here).

For more about structures with prepositions at the end, (see here).