Infinitive without to – English Grammar

The Infinitive without to – Examples

After the following phrases we use the Infinitiv without to:

1. after auxiliaries/modals

• can

  He can run very fast.

• could

  As a boy he could run very fast.

• may

  I may fly to Africa this summer.

• might

  I might fly to Africa this summer.

• must

  I must go now.

• mustn't

  You mustn't smoke here.

• needn't

  You needn't go.

• shall

  We shall sing a song.

• should

  We should sing a song.

• will

  She will cook a meal for his birthday.

• would

  She would cook a meal for his birthday.

2. after the auxiliary do

• do

  I don't know.

3. after the following structures

• had better

  You had better clean up your room.

• would rather

  Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow.

• would sooner

  I would sooner read a book than watch this film.

• why not

  Why not ask your neighbour for help?

• why should we

  Why should we go by car?

• why should we not

  Why should we not go by car?

4. after verbs of perception + object (action has finished)

• feel

  She feels the rain fall on her face

• hear

  I heard Peter sing a song.

• notice

  Mandy noticed the boy climb the tree.

• see

  They saw him climb up the roof.

• watch

  He watched the thieves steal a car.

5. after let

• let + object

  Sandy let her child go out alone.

  The mother let her daughter decide on her own.

• let's

  Let's go for a walk through the park.

6. after make + object

• make

  She made Peggy and Samantha clean the room.

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