The bare infinitive

9.1 We use the bare infinitive (i.e. the infinitive without to) in the following situations:
• to define an action after a modal verb (can, could, may, might, must, should, would, need not,
dare not, etc.)

Should I come No, you needn’t

again tomorrow? bother. I can manage by
myself. Thanks for helping
me move in.

• to make suggestions after let’s, why don’t we/you and why not
A: It’s hot today. Let’s go for a swim./Why don’t we go for a swim?
B: Good idea. I’m ready!
• after expressions such as had better (’d better) and would rather (’d rather)
A: It’s late. We’d better go now.
B: OK. I’ll get my bag. Shall we take a bus?
A: I’d rather take a taxi.
• after the verbs let (= allow) and make (= force or cause) in the structure verb + object
+ bare infinitive
A: Who made the baby cry?
B: Not me, but let me sing. It will comfort her.

NOTE
1 Certain verbs of the senses can be followed by an object + bare infinitive,
e.g. feel, see, watch, notice, smell and hear.
I saw Tom get off the bus and walk into the shop.

We use the bare infinitive when we see or hear the whole action from beginning
to end. If we see or hear something that is in progress, we use the -ing form.
I saw Tom waiting for a bus but I didn’t see which bus he took.

2 After the verb help, we can use the infinitive with or without to.
She often helps her mother (to) wash the dishes.

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 9.2 We can join two infinitives with and, or, but, except or than. The second infinitive
is usually without to.
I’d like to go and buy some snacks.
Do you want to come with us or wait for her here?
He wanted to do nothing but play his guitar all day.
We could do nothing except hope.
It’s easier to do the job yourself than ask others to help.

Practice
A Complete the exchanges using the correct form of the verbs given in the margin. Use each verb once only.

be 1
Do you think Chris will
bother Oh, yes, you can always
agree to help us?
depend depend on him.
go
handle
help 2
keep Why isn’t Ted
He might be busy.
laugh coming?
make
put
stay
3
take I’m going out.
You’d better put
on your coat. It’s cold today.

4
This bag is heavy.
Let me help you carry it.

5
I’m tired.
Let’s take a rest, then.

6
Jim is very funny.
Yes, he always makes us laugh .

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 7
I have a toothache.
Why don’t you go
and see your dentist?

8
I’m sleepy.
Drink some coffee. It may help
(to) keep you awake.

9
I’m bored. I think I’ll
go out for a walk. You have a fever. You should
stay in bed.

10 This knife is sharp. You must

handle it carefully. I will. Don’t worry.

11
Was Betty at the party
No, she couldn’t make
last night?
it. Her mother was ill.

12
Kate is coming this evening.
Are you going to meet her No, she told me I needn’t
at the airport? bothermeeting her.
She knows how to get here.

B Choose the correct words to complete these sentences.

1 ‘Did you call (call/phoned) Celine last night?’ ‘Oh, no. I forgot.’

2 Andrew has lied to you once. You shouldn’t believe (believe/trusted) him.

3 It’s not your fault. You shouldn’t take the blame (take the blame/to blame yourself).

4 Her parents won’t let her (don’t allow her/won’t let her) go out alone at night.

5 I’d like to send Ann an email (go online/to send Ann an email). Can I use your
computer?

6 We advised him to join the English Club (to join the English Club/try to contact her again).

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 make up with Jennifer
7 Why don’t you (make up with Jennifer/to talk to Jennifer)? She’s
apologised to you, hasn’t she?

8 I can’t tell you what Sally said. She made me (made me/wanted me) promise not
to tell anyone.

9 The engine trouble caused the passenger plane to turn back to Hong Kong (make an
emergency landing/to turn back to Hong Kong).

10 We didn’t need (didn’t need/need not) to take a taxi because we had plenty of time.
You’d better
11 It’s going to rain. (You’d better/You ought) take an umbrella.

12 How did you persuade her (persuade her/make Lily) to change her mind?

c Rewrite these sentences as instructed. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1 I want you to explain to me briefly how to use this photocopier. (Use would like instead of want.)

I would/I’d like you to explain to me briefly how to use this photocopier.

2 It is not necessary for you to tell me in detail what has happened. (Begin with the given words.)

You needn’t tell me in detail what has happened .

3 Mrs Chan does not allow anybody to smoke in her flat. (Begin with the given words.)

Mrs Chan doesn’t let anybody smoke in her flat .

4 ‘You should close all the windows before leaving,’ she said. (Use had better instead of should.)

‘You had better/You’d better close all the windows before leaving,’ she said.

5 ‘What caused the volcano to erupt?’ he asked. (Use made instead of caused.)

‘What made the volcano erupt?’ he asked.

6 It’s possible that he will join us. (Begin with He and use might.)

He might join us.

7 We must try to use fewer plastic bags. (Use ought to instead of must.)

We ought to use fewer plastic bags.

8 ‘Why don’t we discuss our plan now?’ he suggested. (Use the given words.)

‘Let’s discuss our plan now ,’ he suggested.

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 D Complete the guidelines below using the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive form of the verbs provided
in the margin. Use each verb once only.

be
discuss Guidelines for the project on green shopping
do
include 1 Your project should be related to green shopping.
interview
2 You need to present your findings in class and write
keep
list a 1000-word report.
look
3 You must submit your report by the end of May.
notify
present 4 You are advised to discuss your topic with your teacher before you
submit
start to do it.
write

5 We expect you to include interviews in your research. You can

interview students, people working in organic shops, etc.
6 You had better keep an extra copy of your report.
7 At the end of your report, you need to list all sources of information
you have used.
8 Make your report look tidy and presentable. Only typed reports
will be accepted.
9 You should notify your teacher of any changes in your topic.

E Sally is telling her pen friend, Kate, about herself. Complete her description using the correct form
of the verbs provided in the margin. Use each verb once only.

be
find
People often see me as quiet, someone who seems (1) to listen more than
go
have talk. They may (2) be right. But when I get (3) to know
help
people better, they’ll find that I am just the opposite – I like talking and joking. When
know
I can make people (4) laugh at my jokes, I feel happy.
laugh
listen
relax I think I’m quite a considerate person. I care about my friends and always do my best
stay (5) to help them. Of course they are good to me, too.
take
visit
Stockholm, the city where I live, is a beautiful place. You should (6) visit

it sometime. You can (7) find many old buildings in the city and we
have a castle where the king lives.

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 Stockholm is surrounded by water so it’s easy (8) to take a ride on one of the many
ferries. There is also a good system of buses and trains. I don’t have to (9) go

to school by bus, though. My school is just a few minutes’ walk from my home.

In summer, I often ride my bike or (10) have a good

swim in a lake nearby. In my spare time, I go to a café near my house
(11) to relax with friends. We chat over coffee and cake.
I know the owner of the café, and he lets us (12) stay

there as long as we like.

F Complete the blanks in the following email and its reply by circling the correct answers.

Dear Sir/Madam

I would like (1) (take / to take) part in the essay competition and I plan (2) (write / to write) about the lead
designer of the popular game Angry Birds. I have tried (3) (find / to find) information in the library, but
there is not much available about this game designer. Can you help me out?

Alan

Re: Enquiry about the essay competition

Dear Alan

We are surprised to hear that you have problems in researching information regarding the designer
of the famous game that you have decided (4) (include / to include) in your essay.

Our advice is that you should first (5) (go / to go) on the Internet for information. You could even
(6)
(write / to write) to him in person and (7) (ask / to ask) him about his games and his thoughts on
some subjects. Ask him (8) (talk / to talk) about topics like creativity and game addiction. If you are
lucky, you might hear from him and you could (9) (quote / to quote) his direct response in your essay.
That could be a winning point, as the use of original material in your work often (10) (makes / to make)
an essay or article interesting!

The Editors

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G Choose the best answers to complete the conversation.

Susan I heard John and Mary (1) ____ yesterday.

Ted Really?
Susan Yes! I heard Mary (2) ____ that John shouldn’t have gone to the cinema
with Linda. I’d like (3) ____ Mary what it was all about, but I don’t want
(4)
____ as if I am poking my nose into their business.
Ted You’d better (5) ____ out of it. Let them (6) ____ out their problems
themselves.
Susan I guess you’re right. By the way, I saw Tony and Lisa (7) ____ out of
a restaurant together last night.
Ted So what?
Susan I didn’t know they had a date.
Ted I think you’d better (8) ____ your own business!
Susan I’m just curious (9) ____ when they started (10) ____ out together.
Ted You should (11) ____ on something else, like science or art. Why don’t
you (12) ____ some time studying instead of gossiping?

(1) A to quarrel (5) A stay (9) A knowing

B quarrelled B stayed B know
C quarrel C staying C to know
(2) A say (6) A sort (10) A go
B said B to sort B to go
C to say C sorting C went
(3) A ask (7) A came (11) A focus
B asking B come B focuses
C to ask C to come C focusing
(4) A sound (8) A minding (12) A spend
B to sound B to mind B spending
C sounding C mind C to spend

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