Questions tagged [infinitives]
The infinitive is the base verb form, conveying no information about person, number, mood or tense.
514
questions
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1answer
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“hear him tell” vs. “hear him tells”
Which one is correct :
Now let’s hear Marco tell his story.
Now let’s hear Marco tells his story.
And why?
2
votes
1answer
98 views
“all they did was (to) leave”
I've come across this sentence:
[...] I've spent my all life making people happy when all they did was leave.
Shouldn't it be "To leave" or something?
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0answers
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Some misunderstandings with the usage of the verb like as a gerund and infinitive
The book says this at the beginning of the chapter:
The theory
The exercises
The solutions
My questions
I used to work in a supermarket. I didn't like it much.
So they used to work there ...
0
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1answer
45 views
except drink / to drink / drinking - difference
She had nothing to eat except drink water
She had nothing to eat except to drink water?
She had nothing to eat except drinking water
Are all the above sentences grammatical? IF So, What is the ...
11
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4answers
2k views
“On their way to killing”. Does it sound right?
Today I saw this tweet from Donald Trump:
Russia, Syria, and Iran are killing, or on their way to killing, thousands of innocent civilians in Idlib Province. Don’t do it! Turkey is working hard to ...
1
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1answer
31 views
Difference between “not being tall” and “being not tall.”
___ should not become a serious disadvantage in life and work
A. To be not tall B. Not being tall C. Being not tall
The above is a test question, to which the answer is B. I kind of doubt it ...
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0answers
20 views
What is Defining And Non Defining Relative Clauses
I am reading an article on infinitive verbs and there is a sentence and there mention this:
Give him an ornament to polish
here they mention that the to polish is used as an to-infinite ...
0
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1answer
37 views
In Which Position To Place Adjective In Infinitive Form Of It
I Want to know when we use infinitive verb as an adjective what is the position of the to-infinity adjective as i noticed in this url examples it always use the last postilion https://www.grammar-...
0
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1answer
30 views
Can I omit ‘to’ after ‘and’?
For example
I want to go and leave you.
I want to go and to leave you.
Which one would be accurate?
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Splitting the infinitive particle with the verb…is it lawful?
I was taught that the infinitive particle "to" cannot be separated from the verb under no circumstances, but my friend (a Canadian) told me that she would prefer "I try to never tell a lie" over "I ...
0
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1answer
20 views
“Speaking English or to speak English?”
What is the difference between these two sentences? I guess the first one is correct but what about the second one? In what circumstances can we use it?
"Speaking English is not so easy."
"To speak ...
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2answers
30 views
why not say 'to do'?
I have an advanced student who said that she feels that something I wrote needs a ‘to’ immediately before the word ‘do’. I told her that I don’t know a grammar based explanation, but that I’d find one....
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2answers
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be benign, being benign or to be benign
Is there any dichotomy among the following three sentences?
The mold on the plants proved to be benign.
The mold on the plants proved being benign.
The mold which is benign on the plants proved.
If ...
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0answers
25 views
“Useful for you to understand or ”useful to understand"
a. This book is useful for you to understand the basic concepts of physics.
b. This book is useful to understand the basic concepts of physics.
Which of the above sentences are grammatically correct ...
0
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0answers
15 views
Do we follow “is” with a gerund or infinite?
Do we follow "is" with a gerund or infinite? For instance, should I say
"Our goal is to eliminate distractions?"
or
"Our goal is eliminating distractions?"
Thank you
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0answers
24 views
Helps plus infinitive or gerund
This equipment helps improving people's lives.
This equipment helps to improve people's lives.
Which one is correct?
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2answers
33 views
a great technique to keep in mind
a. This is a great technique to keep in mind when arguing with narcissistic people.
Is that sentence slightly ambiguous?
Is it a great technique per se which is to be used when you are arguing with ...
0
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0answers
32 views
Infinitive usage with tense
Does infinitive conveys meaning according to the tenses
it will be the one of the causes for the transaction to fail.
it was the one of the causes for the transaction to fail.
Are those ...
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2answers
28 views
I didn't go to sleep though I wanted to
If I want to say
I didn't go to sleep but I wanted to go
can I say
I didn't go to sleep but I wanted to (go) ?
I heard we had to still write this "to" showing that "wanted" was followed by a verb, ...
0
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2answers
40 views
Why did he use “looking” word in this situation?
I was watching Sky news live and the journalist said:
"And now, it's time for looking the weather".
I would have said:
"And now, it's time for look the weather".
Using look in infinitive form.
...
8
votes
3answers
654 views
“To <verb> a <noun>”
To kill a Mockingbird.
To catch a thief.
To catch a cheater.
Why is "to" used in this examples what does this phrases mean? I am unable to interpret any of these phrases.
3
votes
3answers
166 views
Is the Infinitive Mood an actual Mood?
Some English help websites don't even mention it when they explain Moods. Grammar-Monster.com, for example, has it down as "the infinitive form of a verb" on a completely different page and does not ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
Using not to <verb> or to not <verb> [duplicate]
Which of these is the correct one, or are both correct?
I moved slowly, to not wake my parents. - Intended meaning
I moved slowly, not to wake
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vote
1answer
39 views
whether + infinitive
I am not sure how the construction "whether + [infinitive verb]" is used. Examples:
I don't know whether to turn left or right. (= I don't know if I turn left or right ?)
I don't know whether to turn ...
11
votes
4answers
4k views
Why is “I let him to sleep” incorrect (or is it)?
I am trying to explain to someone why the sentence "I let him to sleep" is wrong, but I fail to come up with a good explanation other than "it's wrong". And now I am even doubting myself. Is this ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Putting to+infinitive at the beginning
My question is about the place of to+infinitive in some sentences.
For example,
1- Before I went on holiday for a week, I was really eager to study at mathematics.
I know this is correct.
How ...
2
votes
2answers
185 views
Is “to infinitive” a myth?
Let us observe the following examples
I want to speak to you
I am looking forward to seeing you
I am interested to learn English
In the sentence 1 we say "to speak” is a to infinitive and to as a ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Difference between “going to” and “not going to”
I wonder what is the difference between going to and not going to in the following sentences:
We're going to play football in my garden.
you're not going to play football in my garden.
0
votes
1answer
37 views
All I did today was hang around the house and watch TV
I saw this sentence yesterday and wonder why it uses the bare infinitive (hang/watch) instead of the to-infinitive (to hang/to watch).
All I did today was hang around the house and watch TV.
Any ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Can the structure “somebody doing” replace a clause?
Consider the situation. A soldier returns home safe and sound from war. And his mother says
It is such a blessing for him to come back safe!
It is grammatically correct to change this to
Him ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
Right way to express a thought
I want to express that I would like to write a book before I turn 40.
I want to know which among the below listed is best way to express this thought and which among them are grammatically incorrect....
0
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1answer
27 views
When we should add “to” before verb?
I am a beginner in English. I read this sentence in an example: "If you work at a job you enjoy, you will probably do your job better than if you work at a job only to earn money.". Why do we use "to ...
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2answers
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using several to-infinitive subsequently
Can we say: "I want to learn to drive my car to go to my workplace to earn money"? Is it appropriate to use several infinitive with to subsequently?
2
votes
1answer
43 views
find/discover + object + to infinitive / past participle
Examples from Quirk:
1. They found him worn out by travel and exertion.
2. They discovered him worn out by travel and exertion.
My remade sentences with "to be":
1a. They found him to be worn out ...
0
votes
1answer
83 views
“see someone doing something” or “see someone to do something”?
Tell me please what is the difference between the following sentences.
I saw him doing his homework.
I saw him to do his homework.
Not so long ago, I would have thought that the second ...
0
votes
1answer
94 views
be better to do/ be better doing/
1- l'll get engaged like all the others. Get married. Maybe it's
better doing things the way everyone does. (original)
2- l'll get engaged like all the others. Get married. Maybe it's
better ...
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0answers
84 views
To complete or to be completed?
It took so long years to complete
It took so long years to be completed
Which is right? Both are okay?
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2answers
41 views
To: complement or telling the purpose
This research contributes to filling a considerable gap in academic literature dissertating on the application of CSR(corporate social responsibility) policies to address negative publicity.
Does "to ...
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vote
1answer
28 views
Negation after the to-infinitive
Do the following sentences mean the same?
He seems to have not eaten for ages.
He does not seem to have eaten for ages.
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2answers
38 views
Meaning of the sentence which begins with a verb in infinitive form
I cannot understand the following sentence because of its grammar.
To borrow a phrase from the old Star Treck series, the "prime directive" of the limbic brain is to ensure our survival as a ...
0
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2answers
39 views
Can the subject of an infinitive be omitted in passive voice?
The technicians were fired to reduce costs.
I have a doubt about whether this sentence is grammatically correct or not and whether I must add "for a noun" so as to make it clear what was to reduce ...
0
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2answers
41 views
to infinitive vs happen + to infinitive difference
Is there any difference between the following sentences, respectively?
“It so happens that today is my birthday.” -- Today is my birthday.
“I happen to have exactly what you need.” -- I have ...
2
votes
3answers
496 views
“I am safe” vs. “He is safe”
(A) I am safe.
(B) He is safe.
How do I distinguish the meanings above in sentences with the verb "to report"? For example:
"I reported him to be safe."
Who is safe?
0
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1answer
51 views
have had problem
Police claimed to have had sent the file.
As have-had is used to connect past with present then how this sentence make any sense??
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1answer
29 views
“For + him/her/them + was + to+infinitive” vs “ was + for him/her/them to + infinitive”
The following sentence is from a book. [1]
Her dying wish was for him to hike the Ap. trail.
Why didn't the author write it as:
Her dying wish for him was to hike the Ap. trail.
Is there any ...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
Infinitive as adverbial modifier of purpose
I read this sentence in the Barron's practice exercises book (you should choose the incorrect usage):
The understanding (a) electricity (b) depends (c) on a knowledge of atoms and the subatomic ...
1
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1answer
41 views
Used to vs would structural difference
I have a doubt on the following question.
1) I ______________ want to be a practising doctor but now I'm more interested in research.
Options:
A. was used to
B. used to
c. would
I was ...
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0answers
21 views
Can {this/that/it} refer to “infinitive or gerund” when it is the object of “do”?
For example:
I just thought it would be very hard for her to move the desk on her own, so I did {that/it} for her.
("that/it" is referring to "to move the desk")
To me, moving the ...
0
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0answers
22 views
Why “being stripped” was used in this example ? Why not “to be stripped”? [duplicate]
The warning from the European commission could lead to that country being stripped of its European rights.
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3answers
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Can we use “to be stripped” instead of “being stripped” in this sentence?
The warning from the European commission could lead to that country being stripped of its European rights.
(As far as l know we must use infinitive after nouns )
