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All you can do is play games. Is it acceptable to write " play games" instead of "to play games"?

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  • "Play games" sounds better to me than "to play games." I'm sure it's OK but I don't have any research for a more solid answer.
    – whywasinotconsulted
    Commented Jan 30, 2016 at 1:48
  • Can you expand more on the context in which you want to use this phrase? Both "play games" and "to play games" have their place; it depends on the particular sentence you're writing. If the use is solely in the first sentence of your question, then I agree that the correct form is "play games."
    – Jason Patterson
    Commented Jan 30, 2016 at 2:03

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You can use either to-infinitive (to play) or bare-infinitive (play) in the sentence presented. I think you find the former more in writing or formal speech and the latter more in conversation or informal writing.

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  • Thanks, Khan.I'd like to know whether there is any grammar rule to write like this.
    – thein lwin
    Commented Jan 30, 2016 at 5:05
  • I have found both in dictionaries. For examples: All we ever want is go shopping (Collins). All that we want is to sleep (The Free Dictionary).
    – Khan
    Commented Jan 30, 2016 at 10:59

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