1.2. The bare infinitive and the to-infinitive the use of the bare infinitive

Words/phrases followed by a bare infinitive

Examples

Auxiliaries: do, will, would

I don’t like rock music. I will call you tomorrow.

When a child I would go to the park with my mum.

Modals: can. May, must, need*, should, would, will , shall, dare*(to express outrage).

Needn’t in the meaning “it wasn’t necessary”

I can go there right now.

Would you like a cup of coffee?

You needn’t have bought bread. We’ve got enough.

After dare you can use the infinitive with or without to:

- I wouldn’t dare to tell him. or I wouldn’t dare tell him.

BUT after daren’t (or dare not), you must use the infinitive without to:

- I daren’t tell him what happened. (not ‘I daren’t to tell him’);

BUT: dare to express challenge is used only with “to”.

Dare to express outrage is used only without “to”

I daren’t tell him what happened. (or I didn’t dare to tell him …)

I dare you to do it!

How dare you go there!

Modal expressions: had better, would rather, would sooner, cannot but, can do nothing but

She would sooner die than come back.

You’d better live me alone!

I’d rather go to bed.

Complex object: after verbs of sense perception: see, watch, observe, notice, hear, feel, etc. for complete actions

BUT: after be seen, be heard, etc. (passive forms) +TO Infinitive

I felt somebody touch me.

He heard the door open.

I saw him come into the room.

He was seen to come into the room.

Note! Know and have(esp. in American English) may be followed by an infinitive either with or without to.

Know in the meaning “to see” is used without “to”.

I have never known him be angry with the children (behaviour, attitude).

Everyone knew him to be the author of the article (a fact).

Verbs of inducement: let, make, have (*only in the Active), get (* in the meaning of “make”)

BUT: make + to inf in the Passive

Let me tell you something. Don’t make me cry.

I’ll have/get Hudson show you into the room.

He was made to do it.

But-phrases: cannot but, do anything but, do nothing but, couldn’t but

Did you do anything but ask questions?

They did nothing but listen to him.

After and, or, except, but, than, as, like, rather than, as well as

I’d like to lie down and go asleep. Do you want to do it now or wait till later? Rather than wait, I decided to do it now.I think he does little more than come to work, give instructions and go home.

Why-sentences

Why wait until then?

Why nor begin at once?

All+be+bare infinitive

What+be+bare infinitive

All he did was open the door.

What we needed is buy a new flat.

Subjunctive Mood

I suggested that she give up driving.

I demand that all the birds be loosed.

The rules require that you come to work at 8.

He’s proposed that I become his partner.

I recommend that you buy a more powerful computer.