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The infinitive is used in predicates of several types, both nominal and verbal.
The infinitive as predicative
§ 104. In the function of a predicative the “to”-infinitive is used in compound nominal predicates after the
link verb to be:
His dearest wish was to have a son.
With homogeneous predicatives the use of the particle to varies. If the infinitives are not linked by
conjunctions, the particle is generally used with all of them:
My intention was to see her as soon as possible, to talk to her, to calm her.
If they are linked by the conjunctions and or or the particle to is generally used with the first infinitive only:
Your duty will be to teach him French and play with him.
His plan was to ring her up at once, or even call on her.
The use of the infinitive as a predicative has some peculiarities.
1) In sentences with an infinitive subject the predicative infinitive denotes an action that follows, or results
from, the action of the subject infinitive.
To see her was to admire her.
To come there at this hour was to risk one’s life.
Sentences in which both the infinitives are used without any modifiers are usually of aphoristic meaning:
To hear is to obey.
To see is to believe.
To define is to limit.
The predicative function is generally performed by the common non-perfect active forms of the infinitive.
Still passive forms sometimes occur:
To be born in poverty was to be doomed to humiliation.
2) The set of nouns that can function as the subject of a compound nominal predicate with an infinitive
predicative is very limited. It includes about 50 nouns describing situations:
action
advice
aim
ambition
attempt
business
consequence
custom
desire
difficulty
duty
experience
function
habit
happiness
hope
idea
ideal
instruction
intention
job
method
need
object
order
plan
principle
problem
purpose
reason
risk
role
rule
task
thing
wish, etc.
A predicative infinitive phrase may be introduced by the conjunctive, adverbs and pronouns how, when,