THE INFINITIVE

NEGATIVE INFINITIVE

To form the negative infinitive, place not before the to- or zero infinitive:e.g. not to worry:

It's hard not to worry about exams.

Examples

• I decided not to go to London.
• He asked me not to be late.
• Elephants ought not to marry mice.
• You'd better not smile at the crocodile.
• I'd rather not eat meat.

THE INFINITIVE

INFINITIVE AFTER QUESTION WORDS

These verbs: ask, decide, explain, forget, know, show, tell, understand, can be followed by a question word such as where, how, what, who, when or 'whether' + the 'to-infinitive'.

Examples

• She asked me how to use the washing machine.
• Do you understand what to do?
• Tell me when to press the button.
• I've forgotten where to put this little screw.
• I can't decide whether to wear the red dress or the black one.

The question word Why is followed by the zero infinitive in suggestions:

Examples

• Why wait until tomorrow?
• Why not ask him now?
• Why walk when we can go in the car?
• Why not buy a new bed for your bedroom?
• Why leave before the end of the game?
• Why not spend a week in Beirut and a week in Baghdad?

THE ZERO INFINITIVE

The zero infinitive is used:

1. after most auxiliaries (e.g. must, can, should, may, might)
2. after verbs of perception, (e.g. see, hear, feel) with the pattern verb + object + zero infinitive
3. after the verbs 'make' and 'let', with the pattern make/let + object + zero infinitive
4. after the expression 'had better'
5. after the expression 'would rather' when referring to the speaker's own actions

Examples

After auxiliaries:

• 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.

After verbs of perception:

• 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.

After the verbs "make" and "let":

• Her parents let her stay out late.
• Let's go to the cinema tonight.
• You made me love you.
• Don't make me study that boring grammar book!

NOTICE that the to-infinitive is used when make is in the passive voice:

• I am made to sweep the floor every day.
• She was made to eat fish even though she hated it.

After "had better":

• We had better take some warm clothing.
• She had better ask him not to come.
• You'd better not smile at a crocodile!
• We had better reserve a room in the hotel.
• You'd better give me your address.
• They had better work harder on their grammar!

After 'would rather':

Note: this is ONLY when referring to the speaker's own actions - see 'would rather' in section on Unreal past.

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'

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.