18. Infinitive Phrases

Change from full subject-predicate form
In this type of verbal construction, the verb is reduced to to infinitive form. The subject of the infinitive phrase may be implied or it may be found elsewhere in the sentence, often in a preceding prepositional phrase. The object is also sometimes found in a structure before the infinitive phrase.
By means of these changes in the subject-verb-complement core, the infinitive phrase may function, not as the main verb of a clause, but as another part of speech-either as a noun, adjective or adverb.

Subjects in infinitive phrases
In most cases, the subject of the infinitive phrases denotes an animate being, especially a person. In some sentences, however the subject may represent a thing oe an idea.