We will organize frequently used constructions with infinitives, such as too...to / enough to / only to V.
Basic Rules
① too + adjective/adverb + to V: “too ... to ...” = so ~ that S can't V
“He is too tired to work.” Logical subject: “The box is too heavy for me to lift.”
② adjective/adverb + enough + to V: “sufficiently ... to do something” (enough follows the adjective)
“She is old enough to vote.” = so old that she can vote
③ only to V: “did something, but eventually ...” (an unexpected result)
“He studied hard, only to fail the exam.”
④ never to V: “did something and never ... again” (a result)
“She left home never to return.”
The water is too cold for me to swim in.（The water is so cold that I cannot swim in it）
He was clever enough to solve the puzzle.（He was sufficiently clever to solve the puzzle）
She went to the station only to find the train had left.（She went to the station, but the train had already left）
Points to Remember
① Position of enough: It must follow the adjective or adverb. “× enough old → ○ old enough”
② Negative meaning of too...to: “too ~ to V” itself includes the negative meaning “cannot.”
③ in order not to V / so as not to V: negative purpose. “He left early so as not to miss the train.”
- too ~ to V: too ... to ... ( = so ~ that S can't V)
- ~ enough to V: sufficiently ... to ... (enough follows the adjective!)
- only to V: did something, but eventually (an unexpected result)
- never to V: did something and never ... again (a result)
Practice
- Translate “She was clever enough to solve the problem by herself” using enough to.
- Translate “The stone is too heavy for me to move” using too...to and for.
- Rewrite the following using so...that: He was too shy to speak in public.