An infinitive of result is an infinitive (in English necessarily a to-infinitive) used to express result. For example:
"She opened the curtain to see the world blanketed in snow."
The to-infinitive phrase "to see the world blanketed in snow" could theoretically express either purpose or result, so how do we determine which one it is?
Key Distinctions Between "Purpose" and "Result"
Purpose: If the to-infinitive expresses the intended reason for doing something, then it shows purpose.
Example: "She opened the curtain to let fresh air in."
→ She opened the curtain because she wanted fresh air. (Intentional action)
Result: If the to-infinitive expresses what happened as a consequence, then it shows result.
Example: "She opened the curtain to see the world blanketed in snow."
→ She did not necessarily open the curtain with the goal of seeing the snow; instead, seeing the snow was the outcome of her action.
How Do We Know "to see" Expresses Result Here?
Lack of Intent: If her goal was to see the snow, it would mean she already knew about the snow before opening the curtain. But the sentence implies that she discovered it after opening the curtain.
Common Usage: In English, verbs like "open, wake up, look up, turn around" are often followed by a to-infinitive of result, because the second action is not the purpose but rather the outcome.
"He woke up to find his phone missing." (Not his intention—it's what happened next)
"She turned around to see him standing there." (Not her reason for turning—it's what she saw afterward)