Page 293 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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Is there any need to ask Joyce? (= Do we need to ask Joyce?) Not all nouns can be followed by infinitives in this way.
I hate the thought ofgetting old. (NOT ••• the thtJttght t-8 get "ltl) And note that not all related verbs and nouns are followed by the same structures. Compare:
- I hope to arrive. - I do not intend to return.
There's no hope ofarriving. I have no intention ofreturning.
- She prefers to live alone.
I understand her preference for living alone.
Unfortunately there is no easy way to decide which structures are possible after a particular noun. It is best to check in a good dictionary.
nouns related to adjectives: You were a fool to agree
We can also use infinitives after some nouns which are related to adjectives, or which have an adjectival sense.
You were a fool to agree. (= You were foolish to agree.)
What a nuisance to have to go! (= How annoying to have to go!) It's a pleasure to see you again. (= It's pleasant to see you again.)
purpose: a key to open the door
An infinitive can be used after a noun, or an indefinite pronoun like something, to explain the purpose of a particular thing: what it does, or what somebody does with it. The noun or pronoun can be the subject of the infinitive.
Have you got a key to open this door? (The key will open the door.) It was a war to end all wars.
I'd like something to stop my toothache.
The noun or pronoun can also be the object of the infinitive.
I need some more books to read. (l will read the books.)
Is there any milk to put on the cornflakes?
Did you tell her which bus to take? Is there anything to drink?
If the noun or pronoun is the object of the infinitive, we do not add an object pronoun after the infinitive.
I gave her a paper to read. (NOT •.• a paper t-8 read it.)
He needs a place to live in. (NOT ••• a plaee t6 li~ in it.) Some/any/nowhere can also be followed by infinitives.
The kids want somewhere to practise their music.
enough, too much etc
Quantifiers like enough, too much/many/little/few, plenty etc are often followed by noun + infinitive.
There was enough light to see what I was doing. There's too much snow (for us) to be able to drive. We've got plenty o f time to see the British Museum.
Enough is often dropped before room and time. There's hardly (enough) room to breathe tn here.
Do you think we'll have (enough) time to do some shopping?
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