The full or bare infinitive

The infinitive is not a tense but the basic form of a verb. It has two forms: the full

infinitive (infinitive + to: e.g. to study) and the bare infinitive (infinitive without to: e.g.

read). Some verbs are followed by the full infinitive and others by the bare infinitive.

a) After certain verbs: advise, afford, agree, allow, ask, beg, begin, choose,

continue, decide, forget, happen, hate, help, intend, invite, learn, like, manage,

offer, plan, prefer, pretend, promise, refuse, regret.

b) After certain adjectives: glad, happy, lucky, prepared, pleased, ready, sorry,

surprised.

c) After the expression: it + to be + adjective.

d) In sentences with verbs like: want, expect, ask, would like.

EXAMPLES:

a) I advised him to apply for it.

b) We are glad to hear from you again.

c) It is important to remember this.

d) He would like to get the job.

a) After modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would.

b) After the expressions would rather and had better.

c) After the verb make.

d) After the verb let.

EXAMPLES:

a) Can you speak French? I think you should try.

b) He would rather be an accountant. You had better study hard to get into

university.

c) The advertisement made me buy the trainers.

d) My parents will let me go to the party.

a) I want travel / to travel.

b) Mum told us put / to put on our anoraks as it is chilly outside.

c) No one can help / to help much in this case.

d) Can we start / to start the project?

e) Bobby must eat / to eat fewer sweets or none at all.

f) You should study / to study for the test.

g) They promised come / to come over by the weekend.

FULL INFINITIVE

BARE INFINITIVE

EXERCISES

h) I wish I could watch / to watch the new series on ITV.

Complete with the full infinitive or bare infinitive of the verb in brackets.

a) John refused ___________ (come) to London with this group.

b) Please ___________ (explain) to me why you did such thing.

c) I’d rather ___________ (go) to Brazil than to Mexico.

d) We’ve got ___________ (tell) you that you didn’t get the job.

e) She must _________ (tidy) her room and put things away today.

f) Tim is learning ___________ (play) the guitar.

g) Kate forgot ___________ (bring) the copies of the originals.

h) They will ___________ (to visit) us tonight.

Rewrite the sentences without changing their meaning using the word(s) in brackets.

a) Peter wished he could get that job but his father forced him to refuse it.

(made)

b) They preferred to buy the house than the apartment.

(would rather)

c) Mum won’t give me permission to go to the party.

(let)

d) Dani is able to play the violin marvellously.

(can)

e) Paul told me he would go skating with me.

(agree)