Infinitives

Infinitives are verbs in their basic forms and they are usually placed after 'to'.

In the sentence 'I want to go there.', 'go' is an infinitive.

You can also see infinitives after 'do', 'does', 'did',' will', 'should', 'would',

'must', 'can', 'could', 'don't', 'doesn't', 'won't', 'shouldn't', 'wouldn't', 'can't, 'couldn't', and 'mustn't'.

Examples

1 I do take care of my aged parents.

2 I did come here yesterday but you were not around.

3 She will take up a nursing course.

4 You should learn a foreign language.

5 He would sit here all day when he was free.

6 They must adapt themselves to the new environment.

7 You can have my book.

8 He could run ten miles when he was young.

9 We don't have the necessary tools to dismantle this machine.

10 The reckless driver didn't stop his car when he knocked down a pedestrian.

11 I won't help you unless you promise to work hard.

12 You shouldn't vandalise the public phone.

13 The old lady wouldn't move although the flood water level had reached her waist.

14 You mustn't give lame excuses if you can't complete an assignment.

15 I can't read what he has written.

16 We couldn't complete the work in time.

The following verbs need infinitives too:

suggest, recommend, make, see

Examples

1 In the meeting held yesterday, he suggested that we increase the club subscription.

[Note that although the finite verb 'suggested' is in the past tense, the infinitive 'increase' (present tense) is used.]

2 She recommended that we hire Indonesian maids for the time being.

[The infinitive 'hire' is used here even if the finite verb 'recommended' is in the past tense.]

3 The teacher made the student rewrite his essay.

4 I saw the man take a pen and put it into his pocket.