In Modern English the infinitive is chiefly used with the particle to. In Old English to was a preposition used with the infinitive in the dative case to indicate purpose (to writenne meant in order to write). Later on to was re-interpreted as the formal sign 6f the infinitive and came to be used not only to denote purpose but in other cases as well. Still there are cases when the so-called bare infinitive (the infinitive without the particle to) is used. They are as follows:
1. After auxiliary verbs.
I dont understand the meaning of this passage.
We shall go there at once.
2. After modal verbs except the verb ought.
If one cannot have what one loves, one must love what one has. (Wilson)
(On the use of the bare infinitive with the verbs dare and need see Chapter VII, Modal Verbs.)
3. After verbs denoting sense perception, such as to hear, to see, to feel, etc.
In a few minutes they heard him ascend the ladder to his own room. (Hardy)
,
.
I never saw you look so well before. (Hardy)
, .
I felt my heart jump. (Heym)
, .
N t e. The verb to be after the verb to feel is used with the particle to:
I felt this to be very true. (Dickens)
, .
4. After the verb to let.
Let us be the best friends in the world! (Dickens)
5. After the verb to make in the meaning of and the verb to have in the meaning of , , .
What makes you think so? (Carter)
?
I... had them take my baggage. (Hemingway)
... .
The verb to have in the meaning of is chiefly used after the modal verbs will and would in negative sentences.
I will not have you call him Daniel any more. (Trollope)
, .
I would not have you think that I am selfish. (Trollope)
, .
6. After the verb to know when its meaning approaches that of to see, to observe (the verb to know never has this meaning in the Present Indefinite).
I have so often known a change of medicine work wonders. (Shaw)
, .
In this case, however, the particle to is sometimes used:
I have never known her to weep before. (Cronin)
, .
N o t e. After the verbs to hear, to see, to make and to know in the Passive
Voice the to- Infinitive is used.
He was heard to mention your name several times.
, .
They were seen to leave the house early in the morning.
, .
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|
|
The child was made to obey.
.
Sir Pitt Crawley was never known to give away a shilling or to do a good
action.
, - .
7. After the verb to bid.
I bowed and waited, thinking she would bid me take a seat. (E. Bronte)
, , .
The verb to bid is obsolete and is not used in colloquial speech.
8. After the expressions had better, would rather, would sooner, cannot but, nothing but, cannot choose but.
You had better go to bed and leave the patient to me. (Shaw)
.
I would rather not speak upon the subject. (Hardy)
.
I would sooner die here, at your feet... than see you married to such a one as
that. (Trollope)
, ...
.
I cannot but think so. (Trollope)
.
There was nothing left for him to do but watch and wait.
, , .
She does nothing but make scenes from morning till night. (Shaw)
, .
I looked long at that picture, and could not choose but look. (Ch. Bronte)
.
Had better, would rather, to do nothing but belong to colloquial English, whereas cannot but and cannot choose but are characteristic of elevated style.
9. In sentences of a special type (infinitive sentences) beginning with why.
Why not come and talk to her yourself? (Reade)
?
The particle to is often used without the infinitive if it is easily understood from the context.
He and his three men could not defend Rollingen even if they wanted to.
(Heym)
,
.
The particle to may be separated from the infinitive by an adverb; this is the so-called split infinitive. It is hardly ever used in colloquial English.
He was unable, however, to long keep silence. (Galsworthy)
, , .
