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动词不定式的语法功能之一是作后置定语修饰名词或代词。正确地使用动词不定式，会使英语句子简洁。
动词不定式作定语常常有以下几种情况：
一、动词不定式作定语有时带有情态意义
1.A good teacher must be the one to put himself in the learner's place.
=A good teacher must be the one who is able to put himself in the learner's place.
好的教师应当能设身处地为学生着想。
2.He has a large family to support=He has a large family that he must support.
他有一大家人要养活。
3.Bob is not a person to be depended upon.
=Bob is not a person who can be depended upon.
鲍勃不是一个可以信任的人。
二、动词不定式作定语有时相当于一个同位语从句
1.She kept her promise tO be on our side.
=She kept her promise that she would be on our side.
她实践了支持我们的诺言。
2.The manager's idea for me to go abroad on business made me pleased.
=The manager's idea that I should go abroad on business made me pleased.
经理让我出差去国外的想法使我非常高兴。
3.You,too,have a chance to work the new machine.
=You,too,have a chance that you can work the new machine.
你也有机会开这台新机器。
三、动词不定式作定语与所修饰名词或代词之间的关系
当动词不定式用作定语修饰前面的名词或代词时，它与该名词或代词之间一般有以下三种关系：
（一）动宾关系（被修饰的名词或代词是动词不定式逻辑意义上的宾语）如：
1.There are ouite a few problems to settle.
=to settle quite a few problems
有很多问题要解决。
2.Little Mary has lots of work to do today.
=to do lots of work
小玛丽今天有很多作业要做。
3.This is a difficult task to fulfill.
=to fulfill a difficult task
这是一件很难完成的任务。
需要注意以下两种情况：
1.属于这种用法的动词不定式应该是及物动词，如果是不及物动词，则需要加上相应的介词。如：
Sorry,but I can't go to the party with you,for I have a lecture to listen to.
很抱歉，我不能和你一起去参加聚会，因为我要听个讲座。
2.动词不定式有主动式和被动式之分，所以我们还要注意不定式的形式。如果句子的主语不是动词不定式的逻辑主语，而被它修饰的名词或代词又是它意义上的宾语，这时的不定式就应采用被动式。如：
Do you have any letters to mail?
(=You will mail the letter.)
你有信要寄吗？
Do you have any letters to be mailed by me?
(=I will mail the letter.)
你有没有信要我替你寄？
但是，在“there be”表存在关系句型中，用作定语修饰主语名词或代词的动词不定式可采用主动式(to do)或被动式(to be done)形式。如：
Tnere is a lot of to say/to be said about the subject.
关于这一课题有很多话要说。
（二）主谓关系（被修饰的名词或代词是动词不定式意义上的主语）如：
1.We are in great need of nurses to take care of these children.
=We are in great need of nurses who can take care of these children.
我们急需保姆来照料这些孩子。
2.China was the first country to use gunpowder.
=China was the first country that used gunpow der.
中国是第一个使用火药的国家。
3.Is there anybody to carry on the work?
=Is there anybody who is willing to carry on the work?
有人继续这项工作吗？
（三）动状关系（被修饰的名词或代词与动词不定式中的介词一起说明动词不定式，相当于状语）如：
1.You once gave me a nickel to make a call with.
=You once gave me a nickel which to make a call with.
你曾给过我一枚镍币打电话用。
2.Please give me a piece of paper to write on.
=Please give me a piece of paper on which to write.
请给我一张纸写字。
3.There are some things to be grateful for.
=There are some things for which to be grateful.
有一些事应该对之感谢。
这时，动词不定式后面的介词不能丢掉，因为无论从语法关系上看，还是从意义上看，被修饰的名词或代词都是介词的宾语。
但是，需要指出的是，当被动词不定式所修饰的名词是place或way等词时，不定式后面的介词常可省略。如：
It was getting dark,and the poor boy was looking for a place to sleep(in).
天渐渐黑了，这个可怜的男孩还在找着栖身的地方。
四、动词不定式短语作定语相当于定语从句 （这类动词不定式短语通常是由介词＋关系代词＋动词不定式构成）
1.They haven't got enough money with which to purchase a new car.
=They haven't got enough money with which they can purchase a new car.
他们没有足够的钱买一辆新车。
2.The Whites planned to rent a house with a garden in which live.
=The Whites planned to rent a house with a garden in which they were able to live.
怀特夫妇打算租一套带花园的房子住下来。
五、动词不定式复合结构（动词不定式复合结构，即for+n./pron.+to do，该结构作定语修饰前面的名词或代词，从意义上讲，结构中的名词或代词是动词不定式的逻辑主语）作定语。如：
1.It's time for Harry to leave.=It's time at which Harry should leave.
亨利该走了。
2.The teacher passed out a vocabulary list for us to learn.
=The teacher passed out a vocabulary list which We should learn.
老师发了一份词汇表供我们学习。
3.There is no reason for her to come to late.
=There is no reason for which she came so late.
她没有理由来这么晚。