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Infinitive clauses - English lesson
The infinitive clause is a construction which isn't "natural", or normal
for a French speaker and more generally speaking for a "non-native".
It's also one of the most frequent mistakes in exams, especially in Essays
or Free Expressions.
Yet, this construction is not difficult, once it is understood.
I) Construction of the INFINITIVE CLAUSE:
I (subject1) want (Verb1) Patricia(subject2) to work (infinitive) with you.
Subject2 becomes a Complement and verb2 must be in the infinitive.
I want Patricia to work with you.
Subject1 subject2 + verb2
complement form in the infinitive complements.
You must have noticed that verb2 must be in the infinitive. You should never give a
simple translation of the French "que" ["that"], or use verb2 in another mode: only
use COMPLETE INFINITIVE.
There you are! That's it! 
Then, you'll tell me: "but that isn't said in French!" 
:
It's true! This construction isn't French... 
It's British! It has a right to be... 
You might as well get used to it! 
II) WHEN TO USE the INFINITIVE CLAUSE:
1) In English, the infinitive clause MUST be used after TO WANT, to expect,
need, and to hate, like, love, prefer, wish in the conditional. Never use any
conjunctive clauses introduced by "that".
- He wants us to come with him.
- I would like my parents to agree to let me go to the USA.
2) It is also used after a great number of impersonal forms:
It's difficult for someone to do something, it's [not] important for someone to...,
it's easy to..., it's unbelievable for someone to...
- It'll be really easy for you to do this exercise when you have studied the lesson.
- It's important for Lily to pass her exam in June.
BE CAREFUL! 
this exercise will be a little more tricky than usual!
The right answer will be given to you among others, but in order to find it, you might first have to make
a few elementary changes. [For instance, you may have to change the tense of Verb1 if the context
demands it. ] Normal, isn't it?
IN ANY CASE, you must pay great attention to subject2, and give it the FORM of a COMPLEMENT,
and by convention [with me! ] you'll always start our sentences with Subject1.
("I" will become "me" etc. You might have to add "for", 'to'... )
Let's tone all this down with an example!
I/ she/ would like /learn Italian. =>* = I would like her to learn Italian
It's not as difficult as it looked! Go for it! 
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