Episode 24 — to부정사: 동사를 명사·형용사·부사로 만드는 법

MisoEnglish Grammar Series

Episode 24 — to부정사

동사를 명사·형용사·부사로 만드는 법

"문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라" Don't memorize grammar. Feel it.

---

🧭 들어가며 | Introduction

to + 동사원형 — 이 단순한 구조가 영어 문장 안에서 세 가지 역할을 동시에 할 수 있다.

to + base verb — this simple structure can play three different roles inside an English sentence.

명사: I want to travel. 나는 여행하고 싶다.
형용사: I have a place to visit. 나는 방문할 장소가 있다.
부사: I came to see you. 나는 너를 보러 왔다.

같은 구조, 세 가지 얼굴. 이것이 to부정사의 핵심이다.

Same structure, three faces. That's the core of the infinitive.

---

1. to부정사의 세 가지 역할 | Three Roles of the Infinitive

① 명사적 용법 — 주어·목적어·보어 | Nominal Use

주어로:

To learn English takes time.
영어를 배우는 것은 시간이 걸린다.
To give up is not an option.
포기하는 것은 선택지가 아니다.

실제로는 It ~ to 구문을 더 자주 쓴다. In practice, the It ~ to structure is more common.

It takes time to learn English. ✅
It is not easy to give up. ✅

목적어로 (동사 뒤):

I want to travel. 나는 여행하고 싶다.
She decided to quit. 그녀는 그만두기로 결정했다.
He promised to come. 그는 오겠다고 약속했다.
We hope to see you soon. 우리는 곧 만나길 바란다.

보어로:

My goal is to become a writer.
나의 목표는 작가가 되는 것이다.
His dream was to travel the world.
그의 꿈은 세계를 여행하는 것이었다.

② 형용사적 용법 — 명사 수식 | Adjectival Use

명사 바로 뒤에서 그 명사를 수식한다. "~할, ~하기 위한"의 의미.

Placed right after a noun, modifying it. Meaning: "to ~", "for ~ing"

I have something to tell you. 나는 너에게 말할 것이 있다. S
he needs a place to stay. 그녀는 머물 장소가 필요하다.
Give me a chance to explain. 나에게 설명할 기회를 줘.
There's no time to waste. 낭비할 시간이 없다.
He has a lot of work to do. 그는 해야 할 일이 많다.

③ 부사적 용법 — 목적·결과·원인 | Adverbial Use

동사나 형용사를 수식하며 목적, 결과, 원인을 표현한다.

Modifying a verb or adjective — expressing purpose, result, or cause.

목적 (위해서):

I came to see you.
나는 너를 보러 왔다.
She studies hard to pass the exam.
그녀는 시험에 합격하기 위해 열심히 공부한다.
He went to the store to buy milk.
그는 우유를 사러 가게에 갔다.

결과 (~해서 ~하다):

She grew up to be a doctor.
그녀는 자라서 의사가 됐다.
He lived to be 100.
그는 100세까지 살았다.

원인 (감정의 이유):

I'm happy to see you.
너를 만나서 행복하다.
She was sad to hear the news.
그 소식을 듣고 그녀는 슬펐다.
I'm surprised to learn this.
이것을 알게 되어 놀랍다.

---

2. to부정사를 목적어로 취하는 동사들 | Verbs Followed by Infinitives

이 동사들 뒤에는 to부정사가 온다. 패턴으로 느끼면서 익히자.

These verbs are followed by infinitives. Learn them by feeling the pattern.

미래 지향적 동사들 | Future-oriented verbs:

want, hope, wish, plan, decide, choose, agree, promise, refuse, expect, intend, manage, fail, afford, offer

I want to go. / She decided to quit. / He promised to come. We agreed to meet. / She refused to answer.

---

3. to부정사의 부정 | Negative Infinitive

to부정사를 부정할 때는 to 앞에 not을 붙인다.

To negate an infinitive, put not before "to".

She decided not to go. 그녀는 가지 않기로 결정했다.
I chose not to say anything. 나는 아무 말도 하지 않기로 했다.
He promised not to be late. 그는 늦지 않겠다고 약속했다.

---

4. 의미상의 주어 | The Logical Subject of the Infinitive

to부정사의 행위자가 문장의 주어와 다를 때, for + 목적격으로 to부정사의 주어를 표시한다.

When the doer of the infinitive is different from the sentence subject, use for + object pronoun to mark the infinitive's subject.

It is important for you to understand this.
이것을 이해하는 것은 너에게 중요하다.

It is difficult for me to explain.
나에게 설명하는 것은 어렵다.

It was impossible for them to finish on time.
그들이 제시간에 끝내는 것은 불가능했다.

---

5. too ~ to / ~ enough to | 너무 ~해서 / 충분히 ~해서

too + 형용사/부사 + to부정사 | Too ... to ...

"너무 ~해서 ~할 수 없다"

"So ~ that it's impossible to ~"

He is too tired to work.
그는 너무 피곤해서 일할 수 없다.
The box is too heavy to carry.
그 상자는 너무 무거워서 들 수 없다.
It's too cold to go outside.
밖에 나가기엔 너무 춥다.

형용사/부사 + enough + to부정사 | Enough to ...

"~할 만큼 충분히 ~하다"

"Sufficiently ~ to be able to ~"

She is tall enough to reach the top shelf.
그녀는 맨 위 선반에 닿을 만큼 충분히 키가 크다.

He is old enough to drive.
그는 운전할 만큼 충분히 나이가 들었다.

The coffee is hot enough to warm your hands.
그 커피는 손을 따뜻하게 할 만큼 충분히 뜨겁다.

---

6. 원형부정사 — to 없이 쓰이는 경우 | Bare Infinitive

일부 동사들은 to 없이 동사원형만 쓴다. 이것을 원형부정사라고 한다.

Some verbs take the base verb without "to". This is called the bare infinitive.

사역동사 | Causative Verbs

make, let, have + 목적어 + 동사원형

She made me cry. 그녀는 나를 울게 만들었다.
He let me use his car. 그는 내가 그의 차를 쓰게 해줬다.
I'll have him fix it. 내가 그에게 고치게 할게.

⚠️ help는 to부정사와 원형부정사 둘 다 가능

She helped me (to) carry the bags. ✅

지각동사 | Perception Verbs

see, hear, feel, watch, notice + 목적어 + 동사원형 (완료된 행동) 또는 -ing (진행 중인 행동)

I saw him leave.
나는 그가 떠나는 것을 봤다. (완료)
I saw him leaving.
나는 그가 떠나고 있는 것을 봤다. (진행 중)
She heard someone knock at the door.
그녀는 누군가 문을 두드리는 소리를 들었다.

---

📌 이번 편 요약 | Episode Summary

1. 명사적 용법 — 주어·목적어·보어 역할 / It ~ to 구문이 더 자연스러움 Nominal — subject, object, complement / It ~ to structure is more natural.
2. 형용사적 용법 — 명사 바로 뒤, "~할" 의미 Adjectival — right after a noun, meaning "to ~" or "for ~ing".
3. 부사적 용법 — 목적(~위해서), 결과(~해서~하다), 원인(감정의 이유) Adverbial — purpose, result, cause (emotion).
4. to부정사 부정 — not to (to 앞에 not) Negative infinitive — not to (not goes before "to").
5. 의미상 주어 — for + 목적격 + to부정사 Logical subject — for + object pronoun + infinitive.
6. too ~ to / enough to — 너무 ~해서 / 충분히 ~해서 too ~ to / enough to — too ~ to do / ~ enough to do.
7. 원형부정사 — make/let/have + 동사원형 / see/hear + 동사원형 or -ing Bare infinitive — make/let/have + base / see/hear + base or -ing.

---

🔜 다음 편 예고 | Coming Up Next

Episode 25 — 동명사 : 동사를 명사로 만드는 또 다른 방법 Gerunds: Another Way to Turn a Verb into a Noun

to부정사도 명사 역할을 하고, 동명사(-ing)도 명사 역할을 한다. 그렇다면 둘은 같은가? 아니다. enjoy, finish, avoid, consider — 이 동사들이 동명사만 원하는 이유가 있다.

Infinitives can be nouns. Gerunds (-ing) can be nouns too. Are they the same? No. enjoy, finish, avoid, consider — there's a reason these verbs demand gerunds, not infinitives.

---

© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 24 "문법을 외우지 말고, 느껴라" | "Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

---

---

Infinitives: Turning Verbs into Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

Three Faces of "to + Verb" — The Complete Picture

MisoEnglish Grammar Series — Episode 24

"Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

---

Introduction

to + base verb. This simple structure is one of the most versatile in English. Depending on where it sits in a sentence, it functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb — sometimes all three in the same paragraph.

This episode maps all three faces of the infinitive, along with the patterns that trip up learners most.

---

1. Three Roles of the Infinitive

Nominal — as a noun

As subject (uncommon in everyday speech):

To learn English takes time.
To give up is not an option.

More natural: It ~ to structure:

It takes time to learn English.
It is not easy to give up.

As object (after certain verbs):

I want to travel. She decided to quit.
He promised to come.

As complement:

My goal is to become a writer.
His dream was to travel the world.

Adjectival — modifying a noun

Placed immediately after the noun it modifies. Meaning: "to ~", "for ~ing."

I have something to tell you.
She needs a place to stay.
Give me a chance to explain.
There's no time to waste.
He has a lot of work to do.

Adverbial — modifying a verb or adjective

Purpose ("in order to"):

I came to see you.
She studies hard to pass the exam.

Result ("grew up to be"):

She grew up to be a doctor.
He lived to be 100.

Cause (emotion):

I'm happy to see you.
She was sad to hear the news.
I'm surprised to learn this.

---

2. Verbs Followed by Infinitives

These verbs take an infinitive as their object:

want, hope, wish, plan, decide, choose, agree, promise, refuse, expect, intend, manage, fail, afford, offer

I want to go. / She decided to quit. / He promised to come. We agreed to meet. / She refused to answer.

---

3. Negative Infinitive

Put not before "to" — never between "to" and the verb:

She decided not to go. ✅ ~~She decided to not go.~~ ← less standard I chose not to say anything. He promised not to be late.

---

4. The Logical Subject of the Infinitive

When the doer of the infinitive is different from the main subject, use for + object pronoun:

It is important for you to understand this. I
t is difficult for me to explain.
It was impossible for them to finish on time.

---

5. too ~ to / enough to

too + adjective/adverb + to = so ~ that it's impossible:

He is too tired to work.
The box is too heavy to carry.
It's too cold to go outside.

adjective/adverb + enough + to = sufficiently ~ to be able to:

She is tall enough to reach the top shelf.
He is old enough to drive.
The coffee is hot enough to warm your hands.

---

6. Bare Infinitive — Without "to"

Some verbs take the base verb without "to."

Causative verbs: make, let, have

She made me cry.
He let me use his car.
I'll have him fix it.

⚠️ help can take either:

She helped me (to) carry the bags. ✅

Perception verbs: see, hear, feel, watch, notice

Base verb = completed action. -ing = action in progress.

I saw him leave. (He left — completed)
I saw him leaving. (He was in the process of leaving)
She heard someone knock at the door.

---

Episode Summary

1. Nominal — subject, object, complement / It ~ to is more natural.
2. Adjectival — right after a noun, meaning "to ~".
3. Adverbial — purpose, result, cause (emotion).
4. Negative — not to (not goes before "to").
5. Logical subject — for + object pronoun + infinitive.
6. too ~ to / enough to — two key patterns.
7. Bare infinitive — make/let/have + base / see/hear + base or -ing.

---

Coming Up Next

Episode 25 — Gerunds: Another Way to Turn a Verb into a Noun

Infinitives work as nouns. Gerunds (-ing) work as nouns too. Are they interchangeable? No — and the difference matters. enjoy, finish, avoid, consider demand gerunds for a reason. We find out why.

---

© MisoEnglish Grammar Series | Level 4 — Episode 24 "Don't memorize grammar. Feel it."

 

⚠️ 저작권 안내

본 블로그(MisoEnglish · slowblooms.tistory.com)의 모든 콘텐츠는 저작권법의 보호를 받습니다. 글, 예시 문장, 분석 내용 등 블로그에 게시된 모든 창작물은 저작자의 동의 없이 무단으로 복사, 복제, 배포, 2차 가공하는 행위를 금지합니다. 출처를 밝히지 않은 전재, SNS·커뮤니티·타 블로그 등에의 무단 게시, 상업적 이용은 모두 금지되며, 무단 불펌 적발 시 저작권법에 따라 법적 조치가 취해질 수 있습니다. 콘텐츠 사용 문의는 slowblooms.tistory.com으로 연락 주세요.

© MisoEnglish · slowblooms.tistory.com. All rights reserved.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⚠️ Copyright Notice

All content published on this blog (MisoEnglish · slowblooms.tistory.com) is protected by copyright law. Copying, reproducing, distributing, or adapting any written posts, example sentences, or analyses without the explicit consent of the author is strictly prohibited. Unauthorised reposting on other blogs, social media, online communities, or any public platform — with or without modification — is not permitted, and may result in legal action under applicable copyright law. For content licensing enquiries, please contact us via slowblooms.tistory.com.

© MisoEnglish · slowblooms.tistory.com. All rights reserved.