Lakhasly

NFINITIVE 1.THE ZERO INFINITIVE WITH "WHY" The question word why is followed by the zero infinitive when making suggestions. EXAMPLES Why wait until tomorrow? Why not ask him now? Why leave before the end of the game? Why walk when we can go in the car? Why not buy a new bed? Examples with 'to'

The elephant decided to marry the mouse The mouse agreed to marry the elephant You will have to ask her You are to leave immediately He ought to relax She has to go to Berlin next week It's easy to speak English It is hard to change jobs after twenty years It's stupid to believe everything you hear without 'to'

I would rather visit Rome. She would rather live in Italy. Would you rather eat steak or fish? He would rather work in a bank. I'd rather be a forest than a tree. THE ZERO INFINITIVE The zero infinitive is used: after most auxiliaries (e.g. must, can, should, may, might) after verbs of perception, (e.g. see, hear, feel) with the pattern verb + object + zero infinitive after the verbs 'make' and 'let', with the pattern make/let + object + zero infinitive after the expression 'had better' after the expression 'would rather' when referring to the speaker's own actions Examples After auxiliaries: She can't speak to you. He should give her some money. Shall I talk to him? Would you like a cup of coffee? I might stay another night in the hotel. They must leave before 10.00 a.m. After verbs of perception: He saw her fall from the cliff. We heard them close the door. They saw us walk toward the lake. She felt the spider crawl up her leg. After the verbs "make" and "let": Her parents let her stay out late.e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn After the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, & ought to In the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive' FUNCTIONS OF THE ZERO INFINITIVE THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER AUXILIARIES EXAMPLES She can't speak to you.THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER THE VERBS 'MAKE' AND 'LET' EXAMPLES Her parents let her stay out late.2.Shall I talk to him?

NFINITIVE

1. 
   

   Form
   The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It may be preceded by 'to' (the to-infinitive) or stand alone (the base or zero infinitive).

   
   


2. 
   

   Infinitive with or without 'to'
   The to-infinitive is used:

   
   

After certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn
After the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, & ought to
In the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'
FUNCTIONS OF THE ZERO INFINITIVE
THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER AUXILIARIES
EXAMPLES
She can't speak to you.
He should give her some money.
Shall I talk to him?
Would you like a cup of coffee?
I might stay another night in the hotel.
They must leave before 10.00 a.m.
THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER VERBS OF PERCEPTION
With verbs of perception, the pattern is verb + object + zero infinitive.

EXAMPLES
He saw her fall from the cliff.
We heard them close the door.
They saw us walk toward the lake.
She felt the spider crawl up her leg.
THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER THE VERBS 'MAKE' AND 'LET'
EXAMPLES
Her parents let her stay out late.
Let's go to the cinema tonight.
You made me come with you.
Don't make me study that boring grammar book!
THE ZERO INFINITIVE AFTER THE EXPRESSION 'HAD BETTER'
EXAMPLES
We had better take some warm clothing.
She had better ask him not to come.
We had better reserve a room in the hotel.
You'd better give me your address.
They had better work harder on their homework.
THE ZERO INFINITIVE WITH "WHY"
The question word why is followed by the zero infinitive when making suggestions.

EXAMPLES
Why wait until tomorrow?
Why not ask him now?
Why leave before the end of the game?
Why walk when we can go in the car?
Why not buy a new bed?

Examples
with 'to'

The elephant decided to marry the mouse
The mouse agreed to marry the elephant
You will have to ask her
You are to leave immediately
He ought to relax
She has to go to Berlin next week
It's easy to speak English
It is hard to change jobs after twenty years
It's stupid to believe everything you hear
without 'to'

I would rather visit Rome.
She would rather live in Italy.
Would you rather eat steak or fish?
He would rather work in a bank.
I'd rather be a forest than a tree.
THE ZERO INFINITIVE
The zero infinitive is used:
after most auxiliaries (e.g. must, can, should, may, might)
after verbs of perception, (e.g. see, hear, feel) with the pattern verb + object + zero infinitive
after the verbs 'make' and 'let', with the pattern make/let + object + zero infinitive
after the expression 'had better'
after the expression 'would rather' when referring to the speaker's own actions
Examples
After auxiliaries:
She can't speak to you.
He should give her some money.
Shall I talk to him?
Would you like a cup of coffee?
I might stay another night in the hotel.
They must leave before 10.00 a.m.
After verbs of perception:
He saw her fall from the cliff.
We heard them close the door.
They saw us walk toward the lake.
She felt the spider crawl up her leg.
After the verbs "make" and "let":
Her parents let her stay out late.
Let's go to the cinema tonight.
You made me love you.
Don't make me study that boring grammar book!
NOTICE that the to-infinitive is used when make is in the passive voice:

I am made to sweep the floor every day.
She was made to eat fish even though she hated it.
After "had better":
We had better take some warm clothing.
She had better ask him not to come.
You'd better not smile at a crocodile!
We had better reserve a room in the hotel.
You'd better give me your address.
They had better work harder on their grammar!
After 'would rather':
Note: this is ONLY when referring to the speaker's own actions - see 'would rather' in section on Unreal past.
NEGATIVE INFINITIVE
To form the negative infinitive, place not before the to- or zero infinitive:
e.g. not to worry:

It's hard not to worry about exams.

Examples
I decided not to go to London.
He asked me not to be late.
Elephants ought not to marry mice.
You'd better not smile at the crocodile.
I'd rather not eat meat.