7A - First Day Nerves
To-Infinitive:
We use the to-infinitive after a number of common main verbs. These include: \
| Agree | Demand | Long | Pretend |
| Aim | Fail | Love | Promise |
| Arrange | Forget | Manage | Propose |
| Ask | Hate | Mean | Refuse |
| Begin | Help | Need | Remember |
| Choose | Hope | Offer | Try |
| Claim | Intend | Plan | Want |
| Continue | Learn | Prefer | Wish |
| Decide | Like | Prepare |
We arranged to see the bank manager and applied for a loan.
Mrs Harding asked us to call in on our way home.
Did you remember to post the letter to your mother?
He just wants everyone to be happy.
Some of these verbs are also often followed by -ing.
\
\
Infinitive with to:
We can use the to-infinitive in a clause with a verb that has no subject (a non-finite clause). The to-infinitive focuses on the idea of an action or the results of an action, rather than the action in itself:
(Podemos usar el infinitivo en una cláusula con un verbo que no tiene sujeto (una cláusula no finita). El “To” infinitivo se centra en la idea de una acción o en los resultados de una acción, más que en la acción en sí misma:)
To work in a developing country had always been her ambition.
To get there before lunch, you would have to take the seven o’clock train.
Infinitive without to:
We use the infinitive without to after modal verbs can, could, may, might, will, shall, would, should, must, ought to:
(Usamos el infinitivo sin “To” tras verbos modales can, could, may, might, will, shall, would, should, must.)
She can sleep in the guest room tonight.
Will you need to rent a car during your stay?
We also use the infinitive without to after let, make and (optionally) help:
(También usamos el infinitivo sin “To” después de let, make, y, opcionalmente, help.)
He lets us use some of his land to grow vegetables.
You can’t make a cat do anything it doesn’t want to do.
I just want to help you (to) understand the situation better.
Typical errors
- We don’t use the to-infinitive after modal verbs: _(No usamos el To-Infinitivo luego de verbos modales:)
We might buy a new sofa.
_Not:We might to buy a new sofa. - We don’t use the infinitive (with or without to) after prepositions: (No usamos el infinitivo (Con o sin to) luego de preposiciones:)
_Lemon juice is useful for cleaning stained surfaces in the kitchen.
_Not: …is useful for clean… or …for to clean…
Prepositions: (Las más comunes)
Above, At, Around, Between, Behind, Away, Ahead, Apart, Across, After, Along, Into, Below, From, Amid, As, Against, Among, Beside, Before, Aboard, About, Down, Besides.