Infinitives

The infinitive is the base form of the verb. It is usually used with the marker -to. Examples are: (to) work and (to) leave.

• He said that he wanted to leave.
• I won’t allow you to go.
• She has agreed to come.

When infinitives are used without to, they are called bare infinitives. This is the form that we use after modal auxiliary verbs.

• She will come.
• You should talk to him.
• She might get the job.

Infinitives with and without to | Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with an infinitive with or without to.

1. Let him ………………………… what he wants. (do / to do)

2. You should ……………………. your ways. (mend / to mend)

3. We can’t afford …………………….. these red flags. (ignore / to ignore)

4. I didn’t want ………………………. him so I said nothing. (offend / to offend)

5. It took her several months ………………………. her grief. (overcome / to overcome)

6. He was forced ………………………. (quit / to quit)

7. I have decided ………………………….. her. (to not tell / not to tell / not tell)

8. You don’t have …………………………. for me. (wait / to wait)

9. It might …………………….. some time. (take / to take)

10. He stopped ……………………. Hi. (say / to say)

11. I heard them ……………………… in the other room. (argue / to argue)

12. We saw her ………………………. the office. (leave / to leave)

Answers

1. do (Let is followed by an infinitive without to.)
2. mend (After modal auxiliaries, the infinitive is used without to.)
3. to ignore
4. to offend
5. to overcome
6. to quit
7. not to tell (We make the negative forms of the infinitive by putting not before to.)
8. to wait
9. take
10. to say
11. argue (After hear, the infinitive is used without to.)
12. leave (After see, the infinitive is used without to.)