Passive Infinitive

In a normal sentence, the subject does something. In a passive sentence, something happens to the subject. The passive infinitive works the same way. It follows verbs that usually take an infinitive. Verbs like want, expect, need, or hope are common. Instead of using to + verb, you use to be + past participle. This small change flips the logic of the sentence. It is like looking at a photo from a different angle. You are not looking at the photographer anymore. You are looking at the beautiful scenery they captured. This structure is very common in C1 level English. It helps you avoid repetitive sentences starting with people or they.

1. 1Creating this structure is like following a simple recipe. You only need three main ingredients. Follow these steps to build it perfectly every time:
2. 2Start with your main verb (like expect or want).
3. 3Add the word to.
4. 4Add the auxiliary verb be.
5. 5Finish with the past participle of your main action.
6. 6For example, take the active phrase to clean. To make it passive, it becomes to be cleaned. If you are at a job interview, you might say, 'I expect to be given clear instructions.' Here, expect is the main verb. To be given is your passive infinitive. It sounds much more professional than 'I expect you to give me instructions.' Yes, even native speakers find this structure cleaner and more direct in formal settings.

You should use the passive infinitive in several scenarios. First, use it when the 'doer' is unknown. If your car is broken, you say, 'The engine needs to be fixed.' You don't know which mechanic will do it. Second, use it for formal rules or expectations. In a contract, you might read, 'The fee is to be paid monthly.' It sounds official and binding. Third, use it to sound more polite. Instead of saying 'You need to finish this report,' try 'This report needs to be finished.' It removes the finger-pointing. It focuses on the task, not the person failing to do it. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It helps the flow of information stay smooth and polite.

Don't use this structure if you want to be very direct. If you are teaching a friend to cook, don't say, 'The onions are to be chopped.' That sounds like a robot is talking! Just say 'Chop the onions.' Also, avoid it if the 'doer' is the most important part. If your favorite celebrity sent you a letter, don't say, 'A letter was hoped to be received.' Say, 'I hoped to receive a letter from them!' Using the passive here kills the excitement. It makes the sentence feel cold and distant. Use it for tasks and formal situations, not for personal, high-energy stories. Grammar is about mood, and this mood is 'cool and professional.'

The most common mistake is forgetting the be. You might accidentally say, 'This needs to cleaned.' That sounds like a toddler speaking! Always remember the be. Another mistake is using the wrong form of the verb. You must use the past participle. Don't say 'to be saw' when you mean to be seen. It is a small detail, but it matters at the C1 level. Some people also mix up the active and passive meanings. 'I want to invite' means I am the host. 'I want to be invited' means I want someone to ask me to the party. Mixing these up might lead to a very lonely Friday night! Double-check your logic before you speak.

How does this differ from the standard passive voice? The standard passive uses a conjugated be. For example: 'The cake is eaten.' The passive infinitive is part of a larger sentence structure. For example: 'The cake is ready to be eaten.' See the difference? One is a full statement. The other is an infinitive phrase describing a noun or following a verb. It also differs from the passive gerund (being + past participle). You use the gerund after verbs like enjoy or hate. You say, 'I hate being told what to do.' You use the infinitive after verbs like refuse. You say, 'I refuse to be told what to do.' Choosing between them depends entirely on the verb that comes before.