The bare infinitive

We generally use to with the infinitive, e.g. I want to see you. However, in some cases, we use the bare infinitive: that is, the infinitive without to.

USES

After modals and after the auxiliaries do/did:

You must come.

They may arrive soon.

Did you pass the exam?

After Let’s...:

Let’s go out tonight.

After make + noun/pronoun object:

He made me come here.

After would rather:

I’d rather walk there than take the bus.

I’d rather not stay out late tonight.

After had better:

We’d better go home now

After Why not…?

Why not phone me tomorrow?

After a verb of perception+ object:

I didn’t hear you come in.

After the verb help, we can use the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive:

Can you help me (to) open this?

 

1. In your notebook, copy the dialogue underlining all the infinitives and adding to where it is required.

(Two friends, Alex and Megan, are talking.)

A: Megan, where were you last night? I tried to find you but I couldn’t see you anywhere. James says he didn’t see you come in to the party.

M: Yes Alex, that’s right. I’m sorry. My parents wouldn’t let me come out last night. I wanted see you - honestly I did.

A: Why did your parents make you stay in? They usually allow you go out in the evenings, don’t they?

M: Yes, but I hadn’t finished doing my homework. And they refused let me go out until I had.

A: Oh dear, poor you. Oh well, never mind. Let’s do something tonight instead.

M: OK. Actually, I’d like see that new film.

A: Would you? I suppose it might be quite good but I’d rather just go out to the cafe. I was hoping have a chance talk to you properly.

M: Well, why not do both? We could go to the early showing of the film and then go to the cafe.

A: I’m not sure I can afford go to the cinema.

M: That’s all right. I’ve got some money.

A: So what time would you like meet, then?

M: Six o’clock I suppose - in the cinema. I’ll try get there a bit earlier and buy the tickets.

2. Role play your own dialogue (use the expressions from the dialogue)

 

3. Put “to” before the infinitive where it is necessary.

1. My son asked me … let him … go to the club.
2. You must make him … practice an hour a day.
3. She was made … repeat the song.
4. He is not sure that it can … be done, but he is willing … try.
5. Let me … help you with your work.
6. She asked me … read the letter carefully and … write an answer.
7. You ought … take care of your health.
8. I looked for the book everywhere but could not … find it.
9. He was seen … leave the house.
10. We had … put on our overcoats because it was cold.
11. The man told me not … walk on the grass.
12. Have you heard him … play the piano?
13. You had better … go there at once.
14. I would rather not … tell them about it.
15. We shall take a taxi so as not … miss the train.

4. Put “to” where necessary.

1. I think you ought … apologize.
2. Make him … speak louder.
3. Help me … carry this bag.
4. My son asked me … let him … go to the theatre.
5. I must … go to the country.
6. It cannot … be done to-day.
7. She asked me … read the letter carefully and … write an answer.
8. The man told me not … walk on the grass.
9. Let me … help you with your work.
10. She ought … take care of her health.
11. We had better … stop to rest a little.
12. I don’t know what … do.
13. He was seen … leave the house.
14. We have come … ask whether there is anything we can … do.
15. We heard the siren … sound and saw the ship … move.
16. I cannot … go there now, I have some work … do.
17. During the crossing the passengers felt the ship … toss.
18. You must make him … practice an hour a day.
19. He is not sure that it can … be done, but he is willing … try.
20. I looked for the book everywhere but could not … find it.
21. He said that she might … come in the evening.
22. She was made … repeat the song.
23. Would you rather … learn shorthand than typewriting?

5. Translate into English using the Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) where possible.

1. Он хочет, чтобы мы пришли к нему сегодня.
2. Я хотел бы, чтобы вы подождали меня здесь.
3. Он хочет, чтобы его сын стал врачом.
4. Он хочет, чтобы его послали в С.-Петербург на конференцию.
5. Она хочет, чтобы ее пригласили на вечер.
6. Мы не хотели, чтобы нас прерывали.
7. Хотите ли вы, чтобы я вам помог?
8. Я хочу, чтобы его статья была опубликована.
9. Доктор не хочет, чтобы вы ехали на юг.
10. Он хочет, чтобы груз был застрахован.
11. Она не любит, чтобы дети готовили уроки вечером.
12. Она любит, чтобы обед был вовремя.
13. Он не любит, когда его прерывают.
14. Он хочет, чтобы ему задавали вопросы.

 

6. Make infinitives (add “to”) or gerunds (add “-ing”) of the verbs in brackets to make the following sentences grammatically correct.

1. When I’m tired, I enjoy... television. It’s relaxing. (watch)
2. It was a nice day, so we decided... for a walk. (go)
3. It’s a nice day. Does anyone fancy... for a walk? (go)
4. I’m not in a hurry. I don’t mind... (wait)
5. They don’t have much money. They can’t afford... out very often. (go)
6. I wish that dog would stop... It’s driving me mad. (bark)
7. Our neighbour threatened... the police if we didn’t stop the noise. (call)
8. We were hungry, so I suggested... dinner early. (have)
9. Hurry up! I don’t want to risk... the train. (miss)
10. I’m still looking for a job but I hope... something soon. (find)

 

7. Complete the following sentences with infinitives (add “to”) or gerunds (add “-ing”) of the verbs below to make them grammatically correct.

1. He tried to avoid... my question.
2. Could you please stop... so much noise?
3. I enjoy... to music.
4. I considered... for the job but in the end I decided against it.
5. Have you finished... your hair yet?
6. If you walk into the road without looking, you risk... knocked down.
7. Jim is 65 but he isn’t going to retire yet. He wants to carry on....
8. I don’t mind you... the phone as long as you pay for all your calls.
9. Hello! Fancy... you here! What a surprise!
10. I’ve put off... the letter so many times. I really must do it today.
11. What a stupid thing to do! Can you imagine anybody... so stupid?
12. Sarah gave up... to find a job in this country and decided to go abroad.

8. Make infinitives (with or without “to”) or gerunds (add “-ing”) of the verbs in brackets to make the following sentences grammatically correct.

1. She doesn’t allow... in the house. (smoke)
2. I’ve never been to Iceland but I’d like... there. (go)
3. I’m in a difficult position. What do you advise me...? (do)
4. She said the letter was personal and wouldn’t let me...it. (read)
5. We were kept at the police station for two hours and then we were allowed... (go)
6. Where would you recommend me... for my holidays? (go)
7. I wouldn’t recommend... in that restaurant. The food is awful. (eat)
8. The film was very sad. It made me... (cry)
9. Carol’s parents always encouraged her... hard at school. (study)

Verbs of perception + object + ing or the bare infinitive

Verbs of perception (see, notice, look at, watch, feel, hear, listen to) can be followed by the ing form or the bare infinitive. The verb smell can only be followed by the ing form:

The use of the bare infinitive describes the complete action:

I watched her play tennis. (I saw the whole game.)

The use of the ing form describes the action in progress:

/ watched her playing tennis. (I saw the game in progress.)

The ing form after a verb of perception is a present participle. Verb of perception + present participle is more common than verb of perception + bare infinitive. The difference between the use of the present participle and the use of the bare infinitive is often very small:

I always hear the birds singing in the mornings.

1 always hear the birds sing in the mornings.

Note:We use a few other verbs with the present participle: find, discover, catch, leave, keep. These verbs cannot be followed by the bare infinitive:

I found her looking in my desk.

9.Rewrite the following pairs of sentences as one sentence, using the -ing form or a bare infinitive.

Model: I saw you the other day. You were cycling to work. I saw you cycling to work the other day. I heard him early this morning. He left the house. I heard him leave the house early this morning.

 

1. She stood there and watched him. He drove away.

2. Did you notice me? I was crying

3. I’ve often seen you. You’ve been walking along the beach with your dog.

4. Have you ever heard him? He plays the saxophone.

5. I expect to find you when I get back. You’ll be working hard.

6. Did you hear me? I arrived.

7. I looked at the child and felt very sad. She was smiling up at me.

8. We heard them. They were arguing all night.

9. I can feel my hands. They are shaking.

10. I watched you and then I left. You went to sleep.

11. I can smell smoke. It’s coming in through the windows.

12. He watches me every weekend. I play football.

 

10. Analyze the following sentences:

1. A compass needle brought close to a long straight iso­lated wire carrying an electric current will tend to align itself at right angles to the plane passing through the axis of the wire and the pivot of the needle. 2. When making theoretical calculations we can, however, imagine a unit charge to be used provided we do not take into account any modification of the field which its presence might cause. 3. Thus we define the amount by which the potential at a given point R exceeds that at another point P as the net amount of work which must be done against the electric force acting on it in order to take a unit positive charge from P to R, it being supposed that the presence of the unit charge does not modify the field.

Part V