Daily Quick Fix – 6 (Perfect Infinitive)
Perfect Infinitive
In the past
It often indicates an action that occurred before the time of the main verb. For example, "I am glad to have finished the project" suggests the completion of the project happened before the feeling of gladness.
The perfect infinitive is used after verbs such as: claim, expect, hate, hope, like, love, prefer, pretend, seem, and to be adjective. The verb in the perfect infinitive tense happens earlier than the verb in the present / past simple tense.
- You seem to have annoyed him.
- She was sad to have missed the concert.
- I'm grateful to have met such a kind and loving person.
In the future
The perfect infinitive can also refer to something that will be completed at a point in the future.
- We hope to have finished the project by the end of August.
- My plan is to have found a new apartment by summer.
- By this time next year, Sarah intends to have passed her driver's license.
What is the Perfect Infinitive, and How to Use it in Sentences?
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ChatGPT said:
Great question! Let’s look closely at both sentences, step by step, because the meaning and the time reference are slightly different.
✅ 1. She was sorry to have hurt his feelings.
✔️ Grammar:
-
“to have hurt” = a perfect infinitive (to + have + past participle).
-
It refers to something that happened before the feeling of being sorry.
✔️ Meaning:
She already hurt his feelings in the past, and now (after that) she feels sorry about it.
👉 Time order:
(hurt his feelings) → (she feels sorry afterward)
✔️ Example:
She said something rude yesterday. Today she regrets it.
She was sorry to have hurt his feelings.
✅ 2. She was sorry to hurt his feelings.
✔️ Grammar:
-
“to hurt” = a simple infinitive.
-
It refers to something at the same time as the feeling, often about a situation that is happening or about to happen.
✔️ Meaning:
She feels sorry because what she is doing (or is about to do) is going to hurt his feelings.
But she still does it—maybe because it’s necessary.
👉 Time order:
(feeling sorry) happens at the same time as (hurting his feelings).
✔️ Example:
She has to tell him some bad news right now. She knows it will hurt him, but she must say it.
She was sorry to hurt his feelings, but she told him the truth.
🔑 Key difference in meaning:
| Sentence | Time focus | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ She was sorry to have hurt his feelings. | Past action, regret afterwards | She already hurt him before and regrets it now. |
| ✅ She was sorry to hurt his feelings. | Present/future action, regret during | She feels sorry that what she’s doing (or about to do) will hurt him. |
💡 Extra examples
To have hurt (past, regret afterward):
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He was sorry to have lied to her.
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I’m sorry to have missed your party.
To hurt (present/future, regret while doing):
-
I’m sorry to tell you this, but your application was rejected.
-
She was sorry to disappoint her parents, but she chose a different career.
"Beneath the surface" refers to the hidden, less obvious, or deeper aspects of something, whether it's a person's emotions, a situation, or even a piece of writing. It suggests looking beyond the superficial or apparent to find a more profound or truthful understanding
// She seems happy, but beneath the surface, she's struggling.
// The novel explores the hidden motives and desires beneath the characters' actions.
// No one would have suspected that their marriage had so much discord beneath the surface.
euphoric - extremely happy and excited
// Scientists are euphoric at the success of the test.
// It made me laugh; and I have to admit that my laughter was euphoric.
// Reports about the successful vaccine took on a euphoric cast.
"Adrenaline junkie" is a term used to refer to someone who favors high-risk activities for the rush that accompanies them. The term was first popularly used in the 1991 movie "Point Break." Related to this phenomenon, many people seek out high-sensation experiences for the neurophysiological effects.
// Ben's always been an adrenaline junkie, so good luck getting him to stop drag racing.
// I don't understand why people do terrifying things like bungee jumping. Clearly, I'm no adrenaline junkie!
drag racing is a sport or competition in which specially built or modified cars race over a short distance as a test of acceleration.
heighten - усиливать; to increase or make something increase, especially an emotion or effect
Story written by deepai.org
Beneath the Surface
Emma had always believed she had done everything she could to understand her grandfather’s past. She had read his journals, visited his hometown, and spoken to relatives. Yet, she felt there was something more—something she had failed to uncover. She wondered if she had missed the chance to truly know him.
One afternoon, Emma found an old box in the attic, filled with faded photographs and letters. As she sifted through them, she realized she should have explored these memories earlier. She wished she had listened more carefully to his stories; perhaps she would have understood what lay beneath the surface of his quiet demeanor.
Her curiosity grew as she discovered a letter describing a secret that he had kept hidden for decades. Emma believed she should have asked him about it before he passed away. She knew she had to piece together the clues to uncover what had been concealed beneath the surface of his silence.
In that moment, Emma understood that she had been searching for answers she was meant to find. She had always wanted to feel closer to him, to grasp the truth behind his guarded exterior. She realized she hadn’t missed her chance; instead, she had to accept what she might never fully understand, knowing that some mysteries are meant to stay beneath the surface forever.