AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR & LANGUAGE
INFINITIVE 5. If but is used as a Preposition and is preceded by the
Infinitive can take two forms in Active Voice : Verb “to do”, then but is followed by a Bare Infinitive.
For example,
He did nothing but wander.
̄ ̄
BUT V1
Infinitive can be used as —
(i) Subject SPLIT INFINITVE
For example, An adverb or adverbial phrase placed between to and
To swim is a good exercise. V1 is called Split Infinitive which should be avoided.
̄ Incorrect-
SUB. Sam agreed to thoroughly go into the matter. ̄
(ii) Object ̄ ̄
For example, TO ADV. V1
No one likes to die. Correct- Sam agreed to go thoroughly into the matter.
̄ ̄
̄
TO V1
OBJ.
This shows that if there is a TO- Infinitive in a sentence
(iii) Complement to the Verb.
we cann’t use to and V1 apart, they should be used to-
For example,
gether.
He is to go.
PARTICIPLE
̄
COMP. The word that partcipates in the function of a Verb as
well as in that of an Adjective in a sentence, is called a
There are two types of Infinitive - To - Infinitives and
Participle
Bare Infinitives (Infinitive without to). There are some spe-
cific cases where To-Infinitives are used. Similarly, Bare (i) It is a large building.
Infinitives are also used under Certain Conditions. In Com- ̄
mon Errors/Phrase Replacement, questions are asked on NOUN
the uses of To-Infinitives and Bare Infinitives. Now, we shall (ii) Building a house I lived in it
discuss this. ̄
1. Bare Infinitive is used with let, bid, watch, behold, PARTICIPLE
see, feel, make, etc. Broadly speaking there are two types of Participles :
For example, Present Participles and Past Participles.
Correct- Let him sit there. 1. Present Participle- A participle which is formed by
̄ adding-ing to the Verb and which states an action as going
V1 on or incomplete is called a Present Participle.
Incorrect- Let him to sit there For example,
̄ (i) Who set the ball rolling?
TO + V1 ̄
2. After Modal Auxiliaries (can could, may, might, shall, PAR (Pre.)
should, will, would, must, dare not, need not) we use Bare (ii) The enemy caught is napping.
Infinitive. ̄
For example, PAR (Pre.)
I shall go to the station. The Present (or Active) Participle ending in - ing is used
̄ ̄ in forming Continuous Tense.
SHALL V1 For example,
But with dare, need, ought etc. we use To-Infinitive. (i) I am going.
For example, (ii) She was going.
(i) I dare to go there 2. Past Participle- A participle which is formed by add-
(ii) You ought to go there ing -ed, -t, -n, -en or -ne and which denotes a completed
3. Bare Infinitive is also used after had better, had rather, action, is called a Past Participle.
and as soon ..... as ...., had sooner etc. For example,
For example, (i) He is a retired man.
He had better go now. (ii) A burnt child dreads the fire.
̄ (iii) He is a known man.
V1 (iv) It was a rotten fish.
4. Bare Infinitive is used after conjunction, than. (v) I dislike half -done work.
For example, In these sentences, participles are formed by adding -
He had better read than write. d, - ed, -t, -n, -en or -ne to the Verb and they state an
̄ ̄ action as completed. They are called Past Participles. The
Past (Passive) Participle is used with an Auxiliary Verb to
THAN V1
form a Perfect tense, active or passive (active, with tense of
SEE–89