Infinitive (use of to)

Infinitive (use of to)

The infinitive is the base of a verb. It is used with or without to. The infinitive with to, known as the “to-infinitive”, is the more usual form.

                     

Theto-infinitive is often used after verbs.

                                John hopes to geta first class.

                                Chaitanya wants to becomea collector.

                                We agreed to leaveat once.

                                It began to rain.

                                I forgot to post the letter.

Ø  Common verbs followed by theto-infinitive include:

Arrange                                                Forget

Attempt                               Hate

Begin                                     Help

Continue                             Hope

Decide                                  Intend

Determine                          Learn

Expect                                  Like

Fail                                         Love

Plan                                       Pretend

Promise                               Refuse

Remember                         Seem

Start                                      Try

Want                                     Wish

Ø  There can be an object between the verb and theto-infinitive.

               

                I asked him to comeearly.

                She told the boy to washhimself.

                They invited me to dinewith them.

                No one expect him to win.

Ø  Common verbs followed by object+to-infinitive include.

Advise                                  Order

Allow                                     Remind

Ask                                         Tell

Compel                                                Want

Command                           Wish

Encourage

Expect

Force

Invite

Ø  Theto-infinitive can also be used to express purpose.

                I have come to seemy aunt.

                He got up to aska question.

                Children go to school to learnthings.

                They ran to helpher.

Ø  The to-infinitive is often used after adjectives expressing feeling or desire, such as glad,happy,pleased,delighted,afraid,surprised,sad,anxious,willing,unwilling,impatient, and a few other adjectives like easy,difficult,hard,impossible,likely,sure,certain.

                I am very pleased to seeyou.

                We were sorry to hearof his illness.

                She wants afraid to goalone.

                He was anxious to pleasehis guest.

                He is willing to helpme.

                This book is easy to read.

Ø  The infinitive without to, known as the  “bare infinitive”, is used after the modals will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must. It is also used after need when it is used without do in question and negatives.

               

                Tomorrow will be Saturday.

                You can use my place.

                It might rain this afternoon.

                Need I come again?

                You needn’t see him.

Ø  The verbs make and let are followed by object + bare infinitive.

               

                I made himgive me the money back.

                She made me do the whole work.

                She let us use her phone.

Note: however, that the verbs force or compel and allow take the to-infinitive.

               

                I forced him to giveme the money back.

                She allowed us to useher phone.

Ø  The verbs feel, hear, see, and watchcan be used with object + bare infinitive.

                I felt sometimes touchmy foot.

                We heard somebody open the door.

                I saw John goout.

                They watched the sun set behind the trees.