Infinitive Clauses and Phrases

Infinitive clauses and phrases use “to” + verb to express purpose, opinion, or result. In discussions about global problems, infinitives help describe solutions, responsibilities, and actions that should be taken.

1. When do we use infinitive clauses and phrases?

We use infinitives to:

Express purpose (why something is done):

Many organizations take action to reduce carbon emissions.
Efforts are being made to improve air quality in major cities.

Describe solutions and recommendations:

One way to fight climate change is to use renewable energy.
A key solution to reduce waste is to recycle more efficiently.

Explain responsibility and necessity:

It is important to educate people about sustainable practices.
Governments need to create stricter environmental laws.

Show consequences or results:

Factories must adopt cleaner energy policies to avoid heavy fines.
Many organizations work with local communities to increase awareness.

2. How to form infinitive clauses and phrases?

Infinitives are formed with:

“to” + base verb

They can be used:

After certain verbs (want, need, try, decide, etc.):

We need to act now to prevent further damage.
Many companies have decided to invest in renewable energy.

After adjectives (important, necessary, difficult, easy, etc.):

It is essential to develop new strategies for sustainability.
Many people find it hard to change their consumption habits.

At the beginning of a sentence to express general ideas:

To fight climate change, we must reduce our carbon footprint.
To protect endangered species, stricter laws should be enforced.

As the subject or complement of a sentence:

One way to reduce pollution is to use electric vehicles.
The best solution is to invest in clean energy.

3. Tips

Always use “to” before the base verb (to reduce, to protect, to improve).

If the subject is missing, use “It is important to…” or “One way to…”.

When expressing purpose, use “to” + verb instead of “for” + verb.

4. Examples

Talking about environmental solutions:

A simple way to reduce waste is to ban single-use plastics.
To protect rainforests, we must stop illegal logging.
The government needs to implement stronger regulations.

Discussing social and economic issues:

More jobs need to be created to support struggling communities.
To reduce poverty, education and job opportunities must be improved.
A key strategy to promote social equality is to invest in public services.

Addressing global health concerns:

It is crucial to provide access to clean water in developing regions.
To prevent future pandemics, investment in healthcare infrastructure is needed.
One way to improve public health is to reduce air pollution.