Patterns with the bare infinitive
1 After a modal verb
Nothing can go wrong. They must be having a party next door.
You should be more careful. You could have made the tea.
But note ought to, have to, be able to, be allowed to and be going to.
You ought to be more careful. You have to put some money in.
I was able to get home OK. We aren't allowed to walk on the grass
2 After had better, would rather/would sooner and rather than
We'd better not be late.
I didn't enjoy it. I'd rather have stayed at home.
They decided to accept the offer rather than go/going to court.
3 Verb + object + bare infinitive
a Make, let and have can take an object + bare infinitive.
The official made me fill in a form.
The headmaster let the pupils go home early.
I'll have the porter bring up your luggage. • 111(1)
NOTE
Force, allow and get take a to-infinitive.
The official forced me to fill in a form.
The headmaster allowed the pupils to go home early.
I'll get the porter to bring up your luggage.
b A verb of perception can take an object + bare infinitive.
Someone saw the men leave the building.
I thought I heard someone knock on the door.
For more details, • 140(1b).
c When the pattern with the bare infinitive is made passive, we always use a to-infinitive. • 110(1b)
The men were seen to leave the building at half past six.
4 Other patterns
a After except and but (= except) we normally use a bare infinitive.
As for the housework, I do everything except cook.
You've done nothing but grumble all day.
b We sometimes put an infinitive after be when we are explaining what kind of action we mean.
The only thing I can do is (to) apologize.
What the police did was (to) charge into the crowd.
c For Why worry?,
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