INFINITIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES
(A Supplement to English 11, Basic Course)
Look at this pattern with an adjective and a to-infinitive.
- Which was the first country to win the World Cup at rugby?
(= the first country which won the World Cup)
- The last person to leave will have to turn out the lights.
(= the last person who leaves)
- Maxicorp were the only company to reply to my letter.
- William Pitt was the youngest person to become Prime Minister.
We can use a to-infinitive after an ordinal number (first, second etc), after next and last, after only, and after
superlative adjectives (youngest).
NOTE
a. We can also use a passive to-infinitive.
- The first British monarch to be filmed was Queen Victoria.
b. For I've got some letters to write.
NOUN PHRASE + TO-INFINITIVE
1. The pattern the need to write
a. We can use a to-infinitive clause after some verbs and adjectives.
- I need to write a letter. We are determined to succeed.
We can also use an infinitive after a related noun.
- Is there really any need to write a letter?
- We shall never lose our determination to succeed.
- Our decision to oppose the scheme was the right one.
- Everyone laughed at Jerry's attempt to impress the girls.
Some nouns in this pattern are:
ability decision intention proposal agreement demand need refusal ambition desire offer reluctance
anxiety determination plan request arrangement eagerness preparations willingness attempt failure
promise wish choice
b. Some other nouns with similar meanings can take a to-infinitive, e.g. chance, effort, opportunity, scheme,
time.
- There will be an opportunity to inspect the plans.

- This machine isn't safe to use.
- The piano is too heavy to move.
- That box isn't strong enough to sit on.
If we use a phrase with by and the agent, then the infinitive is passive.
- The piano is too heavy to be moved by one person.
(= The piano is too heavy for one person to move.)
NOTE
a. Compare ready and due.
- The meal was ready to serve/to be served at eight.
- The meal was due to be served at eight.
b. Compare these sentences.
- I have some work to do. (= I have/There is some work that I need to do.)
- I have to do some work. (= I must do/I need to do some work.)
OTHER PATTERNS WITH A NOUN PHRASE + TO-INFINITIVE
FOR AND OF WITH A TO-INFINITIVE
1. The pattern I'll wait for you to finish
- I'll wait for you to finish your breakfast.
- We've arranged for a photographer to take some photos.
We can use apply for, arrange for, ask for, call for (= demand), long for, prepare for, wait for.
2. The pattern It's important for you to finish
- It's important for you to finish the course and get a qualification.
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- It can be difficult for young people to buy their own home.
- I'm anxious for the matter to be settled.
We can use many adjectives in this pattern, for example:
anxious eager marvellous silly awful easy necessary stupid better/best essential nice terrible cheap expensive
ready willing convenient important reluctant wonderful dangerous keen safe wrong difficult
3. Patterns with too and enough
Before the for pattern, we can use too or enough with a quantifier, adjective or adverb.
- There's too much work for you to finish today.