General Information

The Infinitive is the base form of the verb and thus it has some features of the verb: aspect and voice distinctions (to play, to be playing, to have played, to have been playing, to be played). (see § 3)

At the same time the Infinitive has nominal character which is revealed in its functions (a Subject, Predicative, Object, etc.) as you will see later in § 4.

§ 2 The Use of Particle TO with the Infinitive

The Infinitive is usually used with the particle to:

They decided to getmarried.

She failed to attracthis attention.

I promised not to belate.

The structure Verb + to-Infinitive is consistent with the verbs in the box:

offer, ask, hope, decide, learn, manage, tell, promise, invite, attempt, plan, forget, fail, order, threaten, agree, aim, arrange, deserve, remind, refuse, want, urge, like, instruct, would like, expect, intend, force

Yet the Infinitive can be used without the particle to and is called the bare Infinitive:

Ann must belate

Why not solvethis problem?

So the Infinitive is divided into two types: to-Infinitiveand bare Infinitive.

The bare Infinitiveis used:

1)aftermodal verbs (except'ought to’):

She can’t go now.

We might goto the cinema.

2) after the verbs let, have/make (in the meaning of 'compel'):

The teacher didn’t letthe boysleave.

Shemade them stay in after school.

I had themtake my luggage.

3) after the verbs of sense perception: see, hear, feel, know (in the meaning of 'see', 'observe'):

I neversaw youlookso before.

Ifelt my heartjump.

I have often known a change of medicine work wonders.

Note: after the verbshear, see, make, know in the Passive Voice the to-Infinitiveis used.

He was made to work twenty hours a day.

They were seen to leave the house early.

4)after the expressions: had better, would rather, would sooner, cannot but, nothing but, why not: