Infinitive or base form

THE INFINITIVE

1. Form

The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It may be preceded by 'to' (the to-infinitive) or stand alone (the base or zero infinitive).

2. Infinitive with or without 'to'

The to-infinitive is used:

  • After certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn
  • After the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, & ought to
  • In the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'

FUNCTIONS OF THE ZERO INFINITIVE

THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER AUXILIARIES

EXAMPLES

  • She can't speak to you.
  • He should give her some money.
  • Shall I talk to him?
  • Would you like a cup of coffee?
  • I might stay another night in the hotel.
  • They must leave before 10.00 a.m.

THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER VERBS OF PERCEPTION
With verbs of perception, the pattern is verb + object + zero infinitive.

EXAMPLES

  •     He saw her fall from the cliff.
  •     We heard them close the door.
  •     They saw us walk toward the lake.
  •     She felt the spider crawl up her leg.
 

THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER AUXILIARIES

EXAMPLES

  • Her parents let her stay out late.
  • Let's go to the cinema tonight.
  • You made me come with you.
  • Don't make me study that boring grammar book!
THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER THE EXPRESSION 'HAD BETTER'

EXAMPLES

  • We had better take some warm clothing.
  • She had better ask him not to come.
  • We had better reserve a room in the hotel.
  • You'd better give me your address.
  • They had better work harder on their homework.
THE ZERO INFINITIVE WITH "WHY"

The question word why is followed by the zero infinitive when making suggestions.

EXAMPLES

  • Why wait until tomorrow?
  • Why not ask him now?
  • Why leave before the end of the game?
  • Why walk when we can go in the car?
  • Why not buy a new bed?

 

EXAMPLES

with 'to'

  • The elephant decided to marry the mouse
  • The mouse agreed to marry the elephant
  • You will have to ask her
  • You are to leave immediately
  • He ought to relax
  • She has to go to Berlin next week
  • It's easy to speak English
  • It is hard to change jobs after twenty years
  • It's stupid to believe everything you hear

without 'to'

  • I would rather visit Rome.
  • She would rather live in Italy.
  • Would you rather eat steak or fish?
  • He would rather work in a bank.
  • I'd rather be a forest than a tree.