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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #109420: Infinitive implied by its particle.





    > Other English exercises on the same topics: Idioms | Infinitive | Question Tags [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Infinitive clause - Infinitive phrase - Question tags - Infinitive in sentences - Imperative mood and its tags. - TO + verb base or TO + V + ing - Question Tags - Doing, Do, To do...
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    Infinitive implied by its particle.


    Many expressions and verbs are followed by complete infinitives ; it is true that very often, these complete infinitives, though perfectly correct and indispensable, are quite heavy...

    One of the ways to make these sentences less heavy is to avoid the repetition of the complete infinitives... When should you do that ? and when is it better not to do it? 

     

    1) In order to avoid repeating the infinitive and their possible complements (especially if they are long), in verbs or expressions, a great number of them omit them,  finishing the sentence with the infinitive particle 'to', leaving the verb to be implied and avoiding its repetition.

     

    To be glad to do / to be happy to do something/ to forget to do / to expect to do /

    To have a chance to do / to have the occasion to / the opportunity to ; To wish to do / to promise to do/ to prefer to do / to decide to do

     

    To be allowed to do / to refuse to do something / to have the right to do / to mean to do. 

    To ask somebody to do something

    Ought to (= should) / used to (contrast between the past and the present).

     

    In all these expressions, reducing the infinitive to its particle  is very idiomatic.

     

    2) As a rule, ‘to' can't be omitted. 

    ex :Do you want to go to Crawford Mall with me in order to find the little dress I'm craving to wear in that weather? Oh, no, thank you, I don't want to. 

     

    Yet, the verbs want and like are often used  WITHOUT THE PARTICL ‘TO' after a conjunction :

    ex : Well, you know that you can come when you want, and do what you want when you're here. 

    PAY GREAT ATTENTION TO THE NEGATIVE FORM  : NOT ...TO (and NOT the opposite! I don't mean to - You're not allowed to - I don't wish to - He doesn't  expect to ...

     

     

                                       

     

    There you are... Ready for your test ! Good luck 





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    English exercise "Infinitive implied by its particle." created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
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