60 min
The Infinitive 1
1 topic
1 task
1.
The Infinitive
We already mentioned that in one of the previous missions but it wouldn’t hurt to recap.
There are four infinitives called 'aspects', each of which serves as the basis for its corresponding finite forms.
There are four infinitives called 'aspects', each of which serves as the basis for its corresponding finite forms.
2.
Now things get trickier
Here’s the correlation between infinitives used with modal verbs and the so-called tenses.
Note that the Past Simple meaning is expressed by a perfect infinitive, and Past Continuous turns into a perfect continuous infinitive.
Study these examples.
Note that the Past Simple meaning is expressed by a perfect infinitive, and Past Continuous turns into a perfect continuous infinitive.
Study these examples.
3.
Infinitives can be passive:
to be watched
- It was watched yesterday.
- It is regularly watched.
- It will be watched.
to be being watched
- It was being watched at 3 yesterday.
- It is being watched right now.
- It will be being watched when you arrive. (awkward but possible)
to have been watched
- It had been watched by 3 yesterday.
- It has just been watched.
- It will have been watched by then.
4.
To-infinitives can be split – usually by an adverb. Some people may consider it incorrect, but that happens a lot.
- I'd like to really understand English.
5.
To-infinitives are used in newspaper headlines to indicate the future:
- PM To Visit Australia = Prime Minister is going to visit Australia.
- Hospitals To Take On Fewer Patients = Hospitals are going to take on fewer patients.
6.
BARE INFINITIVE
Sometimes infinitives are used without 'to'. In such cases, they are called 'bare infinitives'.
Here are the instances in which that occurs.
Here are the instances in which that occurs.
1
When using the auxiliaries do, does and did (questions, negatives and emphasis in affirmative sentences)
- Do you speak Albanian?
- He’s so dumb he doesn’t know his ass from his elbow.
- I did do my homework but I had to burn it to keep the house warm.
2
After modals (except have to/ought to/need to)
- Shut your face, you freaking idiot! Now, if I may be excused…
- You can start looking for work. That’s how most people pay their bills.
3
After had better (= should) and would rather (= would prefer to)
- I’d better tell her I love her or there will be hell to pay.
- Would you rather get lost now or should I call the cops?
4
In the "Why (not)???" construction
- Why bother? Problems always take care of themselves.
- Why not call him again? He may not have heard the phone the first fifty times.
5
After make, let, have and (optionally) help
- Voices in my head make me act like a jerk.
- Let me go and I promise I’ll kill you last.
- Let’s (= let us) get drunk and make a baby.
- He’s afraid to burgle homes so he has his wife do it for him.
- Can you help me (to) take out the rubbish? The eleventh bag is already outside.
6
After hear, see, watch, notice, feel, know. Russian teachers like to refer to that as the Complex Object.
- But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. (Johnny Cash)
- I didn’t even notice her steal my watch.
7
In subjunctive sentences, when should is omitted.
- It’s imperative he (should) see me right now.
- They kindly insisted that she (should) shut her big mouth.
8
When two infinitives are separated by and, or, but, except, other than, than, as or like (using 'to' is also possible).
- I’m ready to do anything but (to) work in an office.
- We had nothing to do except (to) watch kittens on YouTube.
- I can do anything other than get up the moment the alarm goes off.
- It’s way easier to do it yourself than (to) explain it to him.
- For me, it’s as pleasant to eat as (to) sleep.
- Why don’t you do something useful like get out of here?
9
In the construction ...DO IS/WAS…
- All I wanna do is have some fun. (Sheryl Crow)
- What we did was lock him out of his own house.
7.
Infinitives can be used as subjects in a sentence, especially to avoid multiple -ing forms:
- To watch you eating really gets on my nerves.
8.
To-infinitives are normally used after the following verbs:
- fail
- forget
- go on
- happen
- hate
- help
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- like
- love
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prefer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- propose
- refuse
- regret
- remember
- seem
- start
- swear
- trouble
- try
- want
- wish
- (can't) bear
- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- ask
- attempt
- beg
- begin
- care
- choose
- consent
- continue
- dare
- decide
- expect
- We can't afford to buy a mini-fridge as it costs more than a full-size one.
- She decided to move away from all the noisy birds and closer to a peaceful highway.
9.
To-infinitives are normally used after the following verbs:
- (can't) bear
- advise
- allow
- ask
- beg
- cause
- command
- compel
- encourage
- expect
- forbid
- force
- get
- hate
- help
- instruct
- intend
- invite
- leave
- like
- love
- mean
- need
- oblige
- order
- permit
- persuade
- prefer
- recommend
- remind
- request
- teach
- tell
- tempt
- trouble
- want
- warn
- wish
- The doctor advised me to try eating something other than chips, but I'm not sure.
- They want us to take down our Christmas tree before the 4th of July celebrations.
END OF GUIDE
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Hit the test to reinforce what you’ve learned.
Hit the test to reinforce what you’ve learned.
