1. Is the verb followed by a full or bare Infinitive?

The base form of a verb (go) is called the bare infinitive because we use it without to. It should be distinguished from the to-infinitive, where we always use to in front of the base form of the verb (to go). The most common use of the bare infinitive is after modal verbs and expressions would rather (not), would sooner (not), had better (not).

He may/can/must go.

You’d better read the declaration.

I’d rather not be told the truth.

Exercise 1

Insert to before the infinitive where required. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. You needn’t __ say anything, just nod your head and the claim will __ be met.

2. __ succeed a corporation must __ pay stockholders regular dividends.

3. Where would you ___ like to have your statement announced?

4. A number of the problems need ___ be solved before any recovery can ___ be achieved.

5. The Ministry of Works ought __ be able __ consider your offer.

6. They ought __ have asked my advice in order __ avoid this disastrous mistake. They ought __ have.

7. Many different arrangements have __ be made when nations trade with each other.

8. The problem with such a comparison is that most people are not likely __ accept it because it does not agree with their sense of reality.

9. He appeared __ have plenty of money, which was said __ have been gained in Latin America.

10. It was one of the first companies __ open up a new market in Asia.

11. Why not __ go up and give us an opinion about the survey?

12. The view that outside investors take of Britain as a profitable place __ park their money influences decisions about investment.

13. “I cannot but ___ think that we should cancel our agreement with this country.”

2. Which verbs are followed by Complex Object?

a. Some transitive verbs are followed by the object (a noun or pronoun in the objective case) with an infinitive attached to it:

Peter wanted Christopher (him) to go to the Board Meeting.

He heard the workers declare that it was a sit-in.

The underwriters made a firm of adjusters (them) value the loss.

2. Complex Object with a to-Infinitive is used after verbs expressing permission, request, intention, order, liking or disliking such as: allow, permit, order, command, compel, force, cause, induce, persuade, request, get, mean, intend, recommend, beg, promise, want, wish, desire, like, hate, etc.

Can you persuade the driver (him) to give us a lift?

They got her to sign the consent form.

Also after verbs of mental perception, such as: expect, know, believe, acknowledge, understand, admit, assume, deny, prove, etc.

We expect the employers (them) to obey the law.

c. Complex Object with a bare Infinitive is used after verbs expressing perception or observation (hear, see, feel, notice, observe, watch).

They watched the Chairman (him) sign the document.

They are followed by a to-infinitive in the passive:

The hi-jackers were seen to unload the cargo.

d. Complex Object with a bare Infinitive is used after verbs make, let and have (=make):

She made them send money back to relatives.

Let’s rent space in the cargo compartment of a ship!

They had her sign the consent form.

Let’s purchase insurance, shall we?

The negative is:

Let’s not insure our cargo. Or: Don’t let’s (insure our cargo).

They won’t let us sell the shares.

Make is followed by a to-infinitive in the passive:

They were made to send money back to relatives.

Let is not used in the passive; the forms to be allowed (to be permitted) are used instead.

We were allowed to make the claim.

e. We may use a bare infinitive or a to-infinitive after help and know. The use of a to-infinitive is more formal:

Our partner helped us (to) transport the goods.

Everyone in the company helped (to) build an extension.

We do not usually omit to after not.

How can I help Mr. Grant not to worry about the walk-out?

We use to in the passive:

He was known to be released /to have been released by the gang.

f. When the verbs hear (=to learn), see (=to understand), feel (=believe , experience) express mental perception they cannot be followed by Complex Object, but require an object clause:

I hear (that) you have had successful talks.

Exercise 2

a. Complete these sentences so that they refer to other people.

Model: I don’t want to speak to the manager. I want Tom to speak to him.

1. He doesn’t expect to explain the role of the City in the economy of southern England. He expects the specialist ____________ .

2. I don’t want to evaluate the contribution of the British financial institutions. I’d like an expert _________ it.

3. You won’t listen to me. How many times do I have to ask you ____?

4. She doesn’t want anyone to know about clouds loom on the horizon. She’d hate anybody _______ .

5. I can’t draw up a special contract myself. I need a lawyer ________ .

6. We can’t provide funds to support this unexpected proposal. Perhaps our partners can help us ____________________ .

b. Rewrite these sentences to begin with the words in italics.

Model: He’d like to remit some money to his “old country”.

He can’t afford it.

He can’t afford to remit some money.

1. The British government must review and carry forward its public expenditure plans in the Public Expenditure Survey. It intends. _______________________

2. He’ll send figures for different spending authorities and for economic categories. He’s offering. _________________.

3. He wants to analyze spendings. He’s just applied. ________________________.

4. The survey? I refuse. ______________________________

5. The exporter didn’t sell directly to a firm in his own country. He failed. _______________________________ .

6. Can you inspect the government expenditures next month? Can you manage _______________________________?

7. The Secretary of State is responsible whether spending is carried out by Central government, local authorities or public corporations.. It offers ______________.

8. He would suffer a complete loss. He couldn’t afford it. ____________ .

c. Supply suitable infinitive forms for the verbs given in brackets.

Model: Let’s buy Japanese radios. (buy)

1. He made me _________ the mess. (to clear up)

2. We thought that we had better ______ to allocate all resources in a proper way. (to try)

3. Mary would sooner _____ than _____ him for another penny. (to starve, to ask)

4. “What makes you ______ that someone from the local community ought to go up and give us an opinion of the environment issues?”(to think)

5. Sally is sure there’s nobody in the world she would rather _____ with or ______ greater respect for. (to work, to have)

6. You had better ________ the way of life, Peter. (to change)

7. Do let’s ____ somewhere a little more forward-looking! Or I would rather ______! (to go, to die)

8. Let us _____ the standards of local markets (to meet)

9. What made you _____ that their requirements were reasonable? (to think)

10. I watched the Committee __________ the US budget. (to present)

11. They saw Parliament members _______ Supply Estimates (to approve)

12. Mr. Brown had the secretary ______ him the proposal for the submitting. (to bring)

13. Let us ________ the interest payments on the national debt. (to consider)

d. Rewrite these sentences in the passive voice.

1. He made me repeat the instructions. I __________________________ .

2. He saw the passer-by begin to cross the road. The passer-by_________________ .

3. The Chief Executive Officer reluctantly let me go on a leave. I_______ ___________________________.

4. We must send him an Autumn Statement in October. He _________________ .

5. I advised him to ask for a sketchy report of the government’s intentions. He _____________ .

6. The bank robbers made the cashier show them how to open the safe. The cashier _______________________________________________ .

7. She saw the visitor fill in the application form. The visitor _________ .

8. The police made him sign a paper admitting his offence against the regulations. He ___________________________________________ .

9. They let us read the details of the plans and the aims of government expenditure in an annual White Paper. We _____________________ .

e. Complete the sentences using an object +to-infinitive after the verbs.

Model 1: Take out an all-risks policy. My partner advised me to take out an all-risks policy .

1. She informed us that the form of the political system is very closely tied to the economic system of the country. You told ________________________ .

2. We work hard. Our instructor taught _________________________ .

3. International society theory focuses on the shared norms and values of states and how they regulate international relations. This theory offers ____________________.

4. The head of the department wants to send tentative revenues for a specific period of time. His experts advised ______ .

5. Citizens can’t take more than a specified amount of money with them when they travel abroad. The government forbids ___________ .

6. Doreen’s score is high and she will go to Green Coats, one of the principle schools in London. Her high score entitles _____________ .

7. We have allocated the planned public expenditure to Central government, to local authorities, to nationalized industries and other public corporations. They acknowledged ______________________ .

Model 2: People know that he is an expert in risk analysis. People know him to be an expert in risk analysis.

1. The scrutiny discovered (that) the figures were false. ____________________ .

2. Mr. Roberts imagines that the proposals haven’t been discussed yet. ____________________________ .

3. They believe that all their manufacturing goods are demanded. ____________________________ .

4. He found that the news concerning the budget was too discouraging. ________________________ .

5. Everybody knows that Budget Report usually presented in March after the expenditure estimates. _________________________ .

6. He discovered that the Public Expenditure Survey had been sent. _______________________ .

7. She pretended that she knew next to nothing about a White Paper. _______________________ .

8. They hope that their discussion will be successful. ______________________ .

Model 3: He claims that he is an expert in work study surveys. He claims himself to be an expert in work study surveys.

1. I expect that I will hear from a local authority soon. _______________ .

2. He claimed that his department had reduced the expenses. __________ .

3. I arranged that I should do the scrutiny. _______________________ .

4. Their representatives threatened that they would perform a spot check. ________.

5. We consider that we are experienced enough to meet the special requirements. ___________________________________________ .

f. Choose the correct variant.

1. I heard the partners had signed / sign a mutually advantageous contract.

2. John noticed Sally be / was very pale and excited.

3. Kevin saw a new visitor enclose / enclosed a statement with the letter.

4. I hear the head of the department reported / report on the expenditure against budget.

5. I felt something crawl / crawled on my back.

6. We feel this takeover bid threatens / threaten the future of our firm.

7. I see someone got / get away from prison this morning. It’s in today’s news.