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Infinitive (without 'to') - English lesson
We have reviewed the Gerund test which keeps being problematic to you... In the lesson
preceding this one, we have studied 'complete infinitive' [(129945 target=_blank>test. In order to go further
in our progression, this lesson will review the uses of 'the infinitive without to', (verbal root).
You should try to remember the different usages of the different forms and then, we might try to
mix all the different forms and try to test both your knowledge and your reflexes!
INFINITIVE without TO ( or verb base ) is used in the following cases :
1) Obviously, after modal auxiliaries: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, WILL, SHALL, WOULD,
SHOULD, MUST and sometimes NEED and DARE.
- I can swim but I couldn't dive even if I wanted to.
2) After the expressions WOULD RATHER and HAD BETTER;
- He'd [would] rather go to see his friends, but he'd [had] better work on his report!
3) After WHY...?/ WHY NOT...?
- Why not spend the holiday in your family, this year?
4) After LET, MAKE, SEE and HEAR, FEEL, WATCH, NOTICE (and sometimes HELP in familiar
English)+ Object complement.
- Her parents let her go out with her friends on weekdays.
- It made me angry but I finally accepted.
5) After BUT (meaning 'except') and EXCEPT:
- He does nothing but work and work... and never takes time to rest...
Is that it? The different usages of the different forms cannot easily be mixed and are easy to remember.
To remember when to use a form or another one, the simplest method est undoubtedbly to learn by heart
one single example of each form. Rapidly, it will become automatic and you'll have won!
In the meantime, learn and repeat! Go for it!

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