WHY PERFECT INFINITIVE?

We understand that in Conditional, Future Perfect,  as well as with modal verbs, Perfect Infinitive cannot be ignored in certain circumstances. Let's try to explore the reasons for using Perfect Infinitive and why its use should not be neglected by those studying English at the B1 level and above: 1. **Emphasis on completion:** - Perfect Infinitive is valuable when you want to emphasize the completion of an action before another action or a specific time. - Example: "I am glad to have found my soul mate." This conveys not only finding a soul mate but also the completion of this action. 2. **Sequence of events:** - It is useful for expressing the sequence of events, especially when telling stories or describing a series of actions. - Example: "She pretended not to have eaten the cake." This shows the sequence of pretending before eating. 3. **Expression of regret or satisfaction:** - Perfect Infinitive is useful for expressing doubt or satisfaction with completed actions. - Example: "He was excited to have tried a new dish at the restaurant." This adds a sense of accomplishment to the experience. 4. **Politeness and formality:** - In formal or written contexts, Perfect Infinitive can add a layer of politeness and formality. - Example: "We hope to have finished the construction works by the end of March." This sounds more formal compared to "We hope to finish..." 5. **Expression of unreal situations:** - In unreal or hypothetical situations, Perfect Infinitive is used in conditional sentences. - Example: "If she had known about the event, she would have attended." This expresses a hypothetical event. 6. **Precision and clarity:** - It adds precision and clarity to the chronology of events, avoiding ambiguity. - Example: "Before I turn 40, I want to have written a book." This clearly sets the goal of completion before a certain time. 7. **Conveying assumptions or conclusions:** - It is useful for expressing assumptions or conclusions about completed actions. - Example: "They must have gone for a walk." This implies a conclusion based on the current situation. 8. **Narrative style:** - In narrative style, especially in written or storytelling environments, Perfect Infinitive enhances the flow of the narrative. - Example: "He claimed to have visited all the major cities in Europe." This adds a narrative accent. 9. **Expression of continuous efforts:** - It can be used to express continuous efforts leading to a specific moment in time. - Example: "I hope to have completed the project by the deadline." This implies ongoing efforts toward completion. **Conclusion:** The use of Perfect Infinitive adds nuances, precision, and expressiveness to the language. While its use may seem unnecessary in everyday conversation (indeed, native speakers often overlook some rules), in formal or structured forms of communication, narratives, and when wanting to convey a specific chronology of events or emotional nuance, it becomes a necessary tool. It is a means for linguistic richness and clarity, enhancing your articulation skills and depth of expressing ideas. But why is it needed with simple verbs like hope, report, pretend, etc., you may ask? Let's examine in more detail: **Claim:** - Example: "He claimed to have met a number of famous people." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "claim" is often used to express statements or assertions about past events. The use of Perfect Infinitive in this context helps emphasize the completion of the action, reinforcing the conviction that the event did indeed occur. **Expect:** - Example: "They are expected to arrive by noon." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "expect" in this case expresses the anticipation of the completion of the action (their arrival) by a specific moment in the future. **Hate:** - Example: "I hate to have missed the opportunity." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "hate" in this context expresses displeasure or regret about a missed opportunity in the past. The use of Perfect Infinitive emphasizes the completion of this action and its impact on the current moment. **Hope:** - Example: "We hope to have finished the construction works by the end of March." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "hope" here expresses the hope for the completion of construction works in the future, by a specific date. The use of Perfect Infinitive adds formality and clarity to this expression of intention. **Like:** - Example: "I would like to have stayed at a small, family-run hotel." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "like" in this case expresses a preference for staying in a small hotel in the past. The use of Perfect Infinitive emphasizes that this preference was not realized. **Love:** - Example: "She loves to have finished her work before dinner." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "love" in this context expresses a preference for completing work before dinner. Perfect Infinitive emphasizes the completion of this preference. **Prefer:** - Example: "I would prefer to have stayed at a small, family-run hotel." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "prefer" in this case expresses a preference for staying in a small hotel in the past. The use of Perfect Infinitive emphasizes that this preference was not realized. **Pretend:** - Example: "He pretended not to have noticed me." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "pretend" describes pretense in the past, and the use of Perfect Infinitive emphasizes that this pretense was completed before he noticed. **Report:** - Example: "The incident is reported to have happened last night." - Why Perfect Infinitive is used: The verb "report" is used to convey information about past events. The use of Perfect Infinitive emphasizes the completion of the event and the formality of the report.

Overall, the use of Perfect Infinitive after these verbs enrich the language, adds clarity and precision to the expression of thoughts and is often used in formal, narrative, and official contexts. We hope you enjoyed our article. If you want to delve into ALL topics and learn how to use them in your English - leave a request for a free lesson!