Professional Communication Multiple Choice Questions on “Forms of Infinitives”.
1. Which of these words is not used in the bare infinitive?
a) to
b) that
c) is
d) are
Answer: a
Clarification: The infinitive can broadly be classified into two types : Bare infinitive and split infinitive. There are certain verbs and expression where to is not used. These are called the bare infinitive.
2. To which infinitive does the following phrase belong?
‘To be done’
a) Perfect infinitive
b) Present infinitive
c) Perfect infinitive passive
d) Present infinitive passive
Answer: d
Clarification: The phrase ‘to be done’ belongs to present infinitive passive. Example for perfect infinitive passive is ‘to have been done’ and for perfect infinitive is ‘to have done’.
3. Normally, no words are used between to and the verb. The only exception is the split infinitive.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. Normally, no words are used between to and the verb. The only exception is the split infinitive. The other type is bare infinitive.
4. Choose the correct statement:
a) Because he failed, the school may cancel his admission.
b) Because he had failed, the school may cancel his admission.
c) Because he is failed, the school may cancel his admission.
d) Because he have failed, the school may cancel his admission.
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: Because he had failed, the school may cancel his admission. When we refer to something that happened or was expected to happen before now, we use a perfect infinitive, not a present infinitive.
5. After which of these nouns, an infinitive can’t be used?
a) Failure
b) Ambition
c) Desire
d) Escape
Answer: d
Clarification: The infinitive can also be used after certain nouns. These nouns include ability, ambition, demand, desire, effort, failure, promise, refusal, scheme, wish.
6. The infinitive can also be used with too/enough after certain adjective and adverbs.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The statement is true. The infinitive can also be used with too/enough after certain adjective and adverbs. For example: The spoon was too hot to touch.
7. Fill in the blank with bare infinitive:
He made me ____ my motorcycle.
a) to move
b) move
c) move to
d) moving
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct statement is: He made me move my motorcycle. Other examples of bare infinitive are: I could read it tomorrow, Live and let live.
8. For which of these cases do but/except not take the bare infinitive?
a) do + anything
b) do + nothing
c) do + everything
d) do + something
Answer: d
Clarification: But and except take the bare infinitive when they follow do+ anything/ nothing/ everything. For example, Aahna does nothing but smile.
9. In which of these cases, the continuous infinitive is not used?
a) After auxiliary verbs
b) With certain verbs like appear, happen, seem.
c) After hope and promise.
d) At the beginning of a sentence.
Answer: d
Clarification: The form of a continuous infinitive is to be + present participle. For example, My mother must be wondering what is wrong with me. Initial infinitive phrases are placed at the beginning of a sentence.
10. Which of these forms represent the perfect infinitive continuous?
a) to + have + past participle
b) to + have been + present participle
c) to be + present participle
d) to + present participle
Answer: b
Clarification: The perfect infinitive continuous has the form of to + have been + present participle. For example, Pinki seems to have been studying in a haphazard fashion.