3.8 Position of infinitive clause subject

Rule: The subject of an infinitive clause precedes the infinitive.

Examples of errors:

1. I don't want to happen this again.
2. Because of the advertising, there is a temptation to buy certain products for the customer.

The order of elements in a non-finite clause follows the general order for English clauses (subject + verb + object) quite strictly. The subject of the infinitive in a sentence like (2) need not be expressed at all, of course, e.g.:

At Christmas time there is a tendency to buy unnecessary things for close friends and relatives.

Here the unexpressed subject of the infinitive is the indefinite you, one,, or people, which can also be introduced into the clause by for:

At Christmastime there is a tendency for people to buy unnecessary things for close friends and relatives.

The functions of the two for's in this sentence are quite different. The first one is not properly a preposition, but a device to introduce the subject of the infinitive, which--according to Rule 3.8--must precede the infinitive. The second for is a preposition, introducing the indirect object of the infinitive.