2. Infinitive with or without 'to'.

The to-infinitive is used:

a.after certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn b. after the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, and ought to c. in the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'

Infinitive without to: a. after had better and would rather b. after let or make with the pattern make/let + object + zero infinitive c. after verbs of perception (see, hear, ...) with the pattern verb + object + zero infinitive d. after most auxiliaries (e.g. must, can, should, may, might)

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'

• 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.

• 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.

• The teacher lets us sleep.

• He makes us work hard.

• I saw her fall down the stairs. or: I saw her falling down the stairs.

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.

3. 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?

4. 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.

5. Verbs normally followed by the infinitive.

A. The to-infinitive is used after the verbs in this group, without a preceding noun. The verbs marked * can also be followed by a 'that-clause'

afford demand* long seek

agree* determine* manage seem ?

aim endeavour offer strive

appear ? fail prepare swear*

arrange* guarantee* pretend* tend

bother happen ? proceed threaten*

care hasten promise* trouble

claim* have (= be obliged) propose undertake

condescend hesitate prove(= turn out) volunteer

consent hope* refuse vow*

decide* learn resolve*

? These verbs can only be followed by a 'that-clause' when they have the subject 'it'. e.g. It appeared that no-one had locked the door.

Examples:

• He claimed to be an expert.

• I managed to reach the top of the hill.

• I know you're only pretending to love me!

• Don't pretend that you know the answer.

• She failed to explain the problem clearly.

• The customs man demanded to search our luggage.

• I can't afford to go out tonight.

B. These are the most common of the verbs that are normally followed by a noun + infinitive. The verbs marked * may also be followed by a 'that-clause'.

accustom enable inspire provoke

aid encourage instruct* remind*

appoint entice invite require*

assist entitle lead stimulate

cause entreat leave (make someone responsible) summon

challenge force oblige teach

command* get order* tell

defy implore* persuade* tempt

direct* incite press trust*

drive induce prompt warn* empower Notes:

command, direct, entreat, implore, order, require, trust: there is no noun between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

• The general commanded his men to surrender.

• The general commanded that his men should surrender.

persuade and remind: there is always a noun between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

• You can't persuade people to buy small cars.

• You can't persuade people that small cars are better.

instruct, teach, warn: the noun is optional between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

• She taught her students to appreciate poetry.

• She taught her students that poetry was valuable.

• She taught that poetry was valuable.

Examples:

• The professor challenged his students to argue with his theory.

• This law empowers the government to charge more taxes.

• You can't force me to do something I don't agree with.

• You are obliged to drive on the left in England.

• I invited the new student to have dinner with me.

• What inspired you to write this poem?

• The elephant told the mouse to climb up his tail.

C. These are the most common of the verbs followed by a to-infinitive, with or without a noun.

Example:

• I asked him to show me the book.

• I asked to see the book.

ask* dare expect* request*

beg* desire* help want

choose elect mean*(=intend) wish*

The verbs marked * can also be followed by a that-clause

Note:

dare: In negative and interrogative sentences the infinitive with or without 'to' is possible, though it is more common to omit the 'to':

• I never dared tell him what happened.

• Dare you tell him the news?

• Would you dare (to) jump out of a plane?

Examples:

• We've chosen John to represent the company at the conference.

• The elephant didn't mean to tread on the mouse.

• We expect you to do your best in the exam.

• Do you want to go to the beach?

• Do you want me to go with you to the beach?

• You are requested to be quiet in this library.

Ex. 1 Put in the right kind of infinitive.

1 I ought (work) right now.

2 Your watch will (repair) by Tuesday.

3 I'd like (go) home early today.

4 I'd like (see) her face when she opened the letter.

5 She must (have) a shower -I can hear the water running.

6 It's important (listen) to people.

7 She hopes (choose) for the national team.

8 Try (not be) back late.

9 You should (tell) me you were ill.

10 He doesn't like (interrupt) while he's working.

Ex. 2 Rewrite these sentences using perfect infinitives.

1 I'm glad I've met you.

2 I was sorry I had disturbed him.

3 I expect I'll have passed all my exams by June.

4 It seems that you made a mistake. (You seem ...)

5 I'm happy that I've had a chance to talk to you.

6 I was disappointed that I had missed the party.

7 It seems that she's got lost.

8 She was pleased that she had found the house.

Ex. 3 Change the sentences as shown.

1 I couldn't understand the timetable. (wasn't able) 1 wasn't able to understand the timetable.

2 It's important to eat enough. (You should)

3 I'd like to go sailing this summer. (I might)

4 She will probably get married in June. (She expects)

5 I said I would help her. (I agreed)

6 It's necessary to make careful plans. (We must)

7 Perhaps he's ill. (He seems)

8 I want to change my job. (I wish I could)

9 I may come and see you next week. (I hope)

10 You don't need to apologise. (You needn't)

11 They will open a new branch in North London. (They have decided)

12 I will certainly pay you on Saturday. (I promise)

13 I couldn't find the ticket office. (I didn't manage)

14 I prefer to go by myself. (7 would rather)

15 She said she wouldn't see him again. (She refused)

16 I can play chess. (I've learnt)

Ex. 4 Change the sentences.

Example:

I told John 'I think you should stop smoking'. (advise) I advised John to stop smoking.

1 They said we couldn't look at the house. (didn't allow)

2 I said to Jake, 'Please be more careful.' (ask)

3 She said to me, 'Do try the exam.' (encourage)

4 I think he'll come soon. (expect)

5 I went away, so he had to solve the problem. (I left... )

6 Was it your idea that I should pay? (Did you mean ...)

7 The captain told the men, 'Attack!' (order)

8 'Don't forget to buy coffee,' I told Sue. (remind)

9 She gave me lessons in cooking. (teach)

10 She mustn't tell anybody. (I don't want...)

Ex. 5 Let or make? Make sentences beginning Her parents let her... or Her parents made her ...

1 stay up late 6 drink beer

2 iron her own clothes 7 clean up her room

3 do her homework 8 go to church

4 read what she liked 9 have parties

5 do the washing up 10 choose her own school

Ex. 6 Replace the clauses in the following sentences with Infinitive phrases.

1. I should be delighted if I could get acquainted with the captain of your team.

2. He was annoyed when he learnt that they hadn’t chosen him as a player for this match.

3. I was sorry that I had missed the beginning of the match.

4. We must wait till we hear the referee’s whistle, then we’ll see the teams coming out.

5. They wouldn’t be surprised if they were to receive an invitation to play in a tennis match with the fellows from our college.

6. You would be foolish if you missed the chance.

7. I’m pleased that I’ve been of some service to you.

8. She turned to me as if she was going to ask me something.

9. We are happy that we have won, it was the difficult match.

10. I was sorry when I heard of their failure.

11. I’m sorry that I’ve been of so little assistance.

12. He pressed his finger to his lips as if he wanted to warn her.

Ex. 7 Translate these sentences into English, paying attention to the form of the infinitive.

1. Мегі пожалкувала, що не попередила батьків про те, що затримається. 2. Я була задоволена, що подивилася цю п‘єсу. 3. Діти були щасливі, що їх взяли в цирк. 4. Цей вальс примусив його згадати молодість. 5. Мені б хотілося, щоб цей текст записали на плівку ще раз. 6. Не може бути, щоб він все ще сидів у читальному залі. Мабуть, він вже пішов. 7. Вона, напевно, все ще гостює у своїх друзів на дачі. 8. Невже вона на вас розсердилася? 9. Я дуже радий, що провів їх на станцію. 10. Як мені пощастило, що я побував на цьому спектаклі. 11. Ваше наступне завдання полягає в тому, щоб поставити цей експеримент у вашій лабораторії. 12. Подивіться на нього! Він, напевно, вирішує якусь важливу задачу. 13. Навряд чи вони запам‘ятали мою адресу. Вони випадково заходили якось до мене разом з моїм братом. 14. Про цю сумну подію не слід згадувати в її присутності. Вона може розхвилюватися, а в неї хворе серце. 15. Здається, вони чекають, щоб їм дали необхідні вказівки, пов‘язані з виконанням цього завдання. 16. Він досить розумний, щоб зрозуміти це. 17. Оповідання було надто захоплюючим, щоб не дочитати його до кінця. 18. ЇЇ вимова була надто правильною, щоб бути природньою. 19. Я продивився дві глави і внаслідок знайшов тільки п‘ять відповідних прикладів. 20. Наступного ранку вона прокинулась і виявила, що вона одна в усьому будинку. 21. Час від часу він прокидався і зразу ж знову засинав. 22. Вона відкрила двері і побачила, що всі вже зібралися і чекають на неї.

1. Його примусили звернутися до лікаря. 2. Виявляється, він нічого про це не чув. 3. Здається, ви засмучені. Що-небудь сталося? 4. Я ніколи не бачила, як танцює Джейн. 5. Я спала і не чула, як вони пішли. 6. Батьки завжди хочуть, щоб їх діти виросли чесними людьми. 7. Я вважаю, що це було нечесно з вашого боку. 8. Хто дозволив вам розпоряджатися моїми речами? 9. Він відчув, як сили повертаються до нього. 10. Ніщо не могло примусити його змінити прийняте рішення. 11. Чекають, що зима цього року буде сувора. 12. Я випадково почула останню фразу, яку ви сказали. 13. Вони, напевне, одружаться. 14. Я хочу, щоб ми зустрілися ще раз. 15. Вона відчула, що хтось доторкнувся до її плеча. 16. Вона уважно слідкувала за тим, як стрибають інші спортсмени. 17. Малоймовірно, що він одужає до понеділка. 18. Не дозволяйте дітям гратися з сірниками. 19. Виявилося, що ми вже знайомі. 20. Вона зблідніла, і я відчула, як вона здригнулася.

1. Вам краще сьогодні не виходити. Ви можете застудитися. 2. Я часто чую, як ви виступаєте на студентських диспутах. 3. Ви самі чули, як він це сказав. 4. Вам було б корисно більше займатися фізкультурою. 5. Він знав, що його присутність обов‘язкова, але не міг примусити себе зайти. 6. Чули, як вона сказала, що нікому з них не можна довіряти. 7. Він, певно, читав цей роман зовсім недавно. Він пам‘ятає масу подробиць. 8. Навряд чи вона знає, що сказати про це. 9. Труднощі в тім, де дістати цю рідкісну книгу. 10. Я не досить добре його знаю, щоб говорити з ним про це. 11. Вона не любить, коли двері в її кімнаті зачинені. 12. Радий познайомитися з вами. 13. Радий, що познайомився з вами. 14. Нікого було спитати, і нам прийшлося чекати. 15. Чому не піти погуляти? Погода чудова. 16. Кажуть, бачили, що він зайшов у дім, але ніхто не бачив, щоб він виходив. 17. Вона, здається, розучує вправи( to practice) на піаніно весь ранок. 18. Бен говорив першим. 19. Вони, здається, ще не поїхали. 20. Вона надто легковажна, щоб сприйняти це серйозно. 21. Мені треба багато про що з вами поговорити. 22. Ми не чекали, що він сам це зробить. 23. Не може бути, щоб це було зроблено за такий короткий час. 24. Йому не так-то просто догодити.