Questions about verbs in their basic (unmarked) forms, such as “be”, “do”, “have”, or “sit”, sometimes introduced by the particle “to” and other times used by itself.
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Apart from + infinitive
A piece of news from the BBC reads as follows [emphasis in the original]:
The UN has said very little on the matter, apart from to insist it
is immune from legal proceedings.
Now, I knew that ...
8
votes
2answers
128 views
Dare + have done
Here is an example from an old book. I know it’s old but it can’t be simply discarded, I hope.
"I never dare have spoken — never dare have told you that my love for you was killing me"
So, I ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
“A tool to do” vs. “a tool that does” vs. “a tool for doing”
I'm the curator of the Open Web Platform Daily Digest link. In the "Tools" section of each daily I write entries in this format:
tool_name, tool_description
For example:
hapi, a server framework ...
0
votes
2answers
59 views
“Committed to supporting X” vs. “committed to support X”
I'm trying to edit a speech and found a commonly used phase which I'm not sure if I should amend it or not. The sentence goes like this:
[a subject] is committed to supporting [a project].
...
0
votes
2answers
97 views
“I would like to go to a youth center to help and (to) work with teenagers”
Which is correct?
I would like to go to a youth center to help and work with teenagers.
I would like to go to a youth center to help and to work with
teenagers.
The question is whether ...
-2
votes
0answers
101 views
Which one is grammatical, “it's time for cooking” or “it's time to cook”?
Which one is grammatical?
It's time for cooking.
It's time to cook.
1
vote
3answers
89 views
What kind of infinitive is it in “to come home to be killed”?
In this example:
Agamemnon comes home to be killed by his wife and her lover.
We are quite sure that he didn't plan on dying, so comes home to be killed is not the “infinitive of purpose”. What ...
1
vote
5answers
98 views
“stop to do something” vs. “continue to do something”
A transcript of a recent speech by Barack Obama contains the following sentence:
Boston police, firefighters, and first responders as well as the National Guard responded heroically, and continue ...
1
vote
1answer
99 views
Can object complements make any difference to sentences?
I'm reading a grammar book, and I have some questions.
A.
We ate the fish raw.
I want Sue drunk.
I prefer the music soft.
I like coffee black.
We drank the beer cold.
This type of ...
3
votes
3answers
145 views
Is “to practice volleyball requires stamina” grammatical?
Is the sentence "to practice volleyball requires stamina" grammatically correct? As opposed to the sentence "practicing volleyball requires stamina"?
Another example:
To ensure safety ...
-1
votes
1answer
94 views
“Had decided to call” vs.“had decided that we should call”
I have a question regarding using "had decided". I'm not sure if I can use either an infinitive form of a verb or a modal verb:
We had decided to call each other when we are in danger.
We had ...
0
votes
3answers
136 views
Infinitive vs. Past Simple for short technical annotations [duplicate]
I use source control management software at work. When I commit some changes, I annotate them with the bare infinitive like this:
"add new feature", "fix bug #10012"
I note that some of my ...
0
votes
5answers
642 views
Difference in meaning: “would have had to be” vs “would have had to have been”
Being a non native speaker, I cannot spot the difference here:
He would have had to have been there.
He would have had to be there.
The only thing that comes to my mind is that in the first case, ...
-2
votes
2answers
97 views
Ambiguities and use of infinite and “-ing” form [closed]
I was looking for videos on YouTube, in my (almost) daily exercise to attempt improving my understanding of the spoken English, when I settled for a video entitled: "Why you will fail to have a great ...
-3
votes
1answer
131 views
When do we use “to” as an infinitive marker? [closed]
In these two sentences:
I look forward to get.
I look forward to getting it.
Why is the first sentence incorrect? When do we use to as an infinitive marker?
1
vote
2answers
196 views
Can all transitive verbs take to-infinitive clauses?
Yet it would be your duty to bear it, if you could not avoid it: it
is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be
required to bear. — Jane Eyre
It seems ‘your fate to be ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
“For clarity” vs. “To make clear” [closed]
Compare:
"He modified the sentence for clarity."
vs
"He modified the sentence to make it clear."
Any difference here?
-2
votes
1answer
57 views
“Some things will be known, but others will not”, or “… will not be”?
Which is the correct sentence?
Some things will be known, but others will not.
Some things will be known, but others will not be.
0
votes
0answers
19 views
“need to be washed”, “need washing”, or “need washed”? [duplicate]
The car needs to be washed.
The car needs washing.
The car needs washed.
What's the subtle differences between them?
0
votes
3answers
179 views
Why is a gerund used after the verb “confess to”
A simple form of the verb is often used after to, but sometimes the simple form is replaced by a gerund. For example:
He confessed to having a secret admiration for his opponent.
Edwards ...
3
votes
4answers
441 views
When is “to” a preposition and when the infinitive marker?
I want to see you.
I look forward to seeing you.
How can one say "to" in the first sentence is an infinitive marker and in the second sentence a preposition when we are given just the ...
1
vote
2answers
105 views
the best thing to do is (to) concentrate on
The best thing to do is to concentrate on something else.
I've known in the sentence like that 'to' should be omitted. So, I wonder if the sentence is grammatical.
*The source of the information ...
32
votes
7answers
2k views
What is the infinitive of “can”?
Like the title says: I don't think "to can" is right :)
I mean "can" as in to be able to. I'm aware of other meanings.
I can't find the answer here. (There's What is an "infinitive"? which ...
3
votes
2answers
185 views
“to further assist [you]” — Split infinitive or fixed VP?
From a descriptive standpoint (and the problem that English has at least two words in an infinitive), I understand why the split infinitive is becoming more acceptable, but is there any other excuse ...
3
votes
5answers
296 views
Infinitive vs. present participle (time relations)
I was told that one of the following refers to the past and the other to the future. I cannot decide which is which and would appreciate it if someone could explain the difference between these ...
-1
votes
2answers
141 views
“I am full to die.” — Is this sentence correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“I am angry to die” or “I am angry to death”
I am full to die.
I meant to say, "I might die because I am full."
Is this a correct expression?
-1
votes
2answers
413 views
Is it “What should he have done?” or “had he done”?
What should he have done?
What should he had done?
Could you tell me which one is correct? (If any.)
0
votes
3answers
59 views
“Attempts to acquaint” vs. “attempts at acquainting”
The research study is an eye-opener and attempts to
acquaint/attempts at acquainting us with the problems of poor
nations.
For me, attempts to acquaint sounds more apt. But I am not sure ...
0
votes
1answer
125 views
“Enables you to quickly and easily identify” vs. “enables you to identify quickly and easily” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid constructs?
I'm currently having a bit of a dispute and would appreciate your help please. Which one is ...
-1
votes
1answer
179 views
“Feel committed to [gerund/infinitive]”
Does "feel committed to" require an infinitive or gerund complement?
For example, which of the following is grammatical?
I feel committed to following up on that.
I feel committed to follow ...
2
votes
1answer
134 views
Is it customary or grammatical to drop ‘to’ in “I’m not going to go look for it”?
There was a scene a thirty-something wife refuses to go looking for the wedding ring her husband lost in a courtyard when she was asked by her husband over the phone, in the fiction titled “The Lost ...
1
vote
1answer
176 views
“Heard me [infinitive]” vs. “heard me [gerund]”
"Heard me [infinitive]" vs. "heard me [gerund]"
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talk about it.
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talking about it.
At that time, ...
-1
votes
2answers
192 views
Which is correct: “has yet to been applied” or “has yet to be applied”? [closed]
...in which it has yet to been applied.
...in which it has yet to be applied.
Although the first one sounds a little awkward, my hunch is that it's correct because it works when you ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Can we use to-infinitive after 'have trouble'?
Given the example:
I have trouble speaking English.
Can we use both present participle (speaking) and to-infinitive (to speak) after have trouble?
If both are allowed, do the two have the same ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Retire Vs Retirement
I am confused between the two:
My father is due to retire/retirement in a few months and is restless.
According to my understanding, retire sounds more appropriate. But I am not sure. Could ...
2
votes
1answer
150 views
Correct usage of infinitives
I am not sure about the usage of infinitives in this sentence:
Finally, one of the accused confessed to have forged the director's
signature on the report.
Could anyone explain correct usage?
...
4
votes
5answers
200 views
“How best to handle” vs. “how to best handle”
Are there rules on the placement of 'best'?
They are deciding how to best handle the matter.
They are deciding how best to handle the matter.
Is one of them wrong?
2
votes
1answer
349 views
Usage of infinitives in this sentence
In my academics I learned that we use infinitives (to + verb 1st form). So I was surprised when someone told me this sentence is incorrect. I am not able to figure it out why this sentence is ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
“It helps protect air” or “It helps to protect air”, which is correct? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
“Could help avoid” vs. “could help to avoid”
“Helping you do something” or “Helping ...
6
votes
1answer
138 views
Do I need a “to” for a second infinitive in a sentence?
It was common practice to first test and execute a program's source code by hand before using a computer.
It was common practice to first test and to execute a program's source code by hand ...
2
votes
1answer
314 views
in order to [gerund] or [infinitive]?
There are few questions and answer on the choice of gerund versus infinitive.
From what I understand, when conveying a purpose the infinitive should be used:
I use my key in order to open the ...
-2
votes
2answers
134 views
Where to place the word “easily”? [closed]
Where should I place the word easily — before or after edit and share your bookmarks?
Do you want to edit and share your bookmarks easily?
or
Do you want to easily edit and share your ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
What do you call “to be to” constructions and are they proper/good English?
Consider the following examples:
You have to be really patient if you are to go shopping in the afternoon.
It must be active if it is to record the film.
What is the construction in bold ...
0
votes
2answers
249 views
Why “should be doing” and not just “should do” in the following sentences?
What is the difference between "should X" and "should be Xing" in the following contexts? Or are they interchangeable?
10 Things you should do to improve the health of your hair.
10 Things ...
1
vote
2answers
301 views
Infinitive or Gerund for celebration of an event?
Which of the following sentences would be correct in a baby shower invitation.
My grandparents are looking forward to celebrate my arrival in February.
My grandparents are looking forward to ...
1
vote
0answers
167 views
With “to+infinitive” & without it [closed]
I am having problems writing sentences of the pattern "to + infinitive". Long ago I heard that in a sentence there should not be two verbs, but I feel if I write it as below, then that rule is ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
“To be” or just “be”
Which of these two are more correct?
1) When clicking the Edit customer button, I would expect the changes be
transferred to the edit view.
or
2) When clicking the Edit customer button, I ...
2
votes
1answer
224 views
Help + Noun + Gerund or Infinitive
Help my sister peel oranges.
Help my sister to peel oranges.
Help my sister peeling oranges.
Help my sister with peeling oranges.
Which of the above is/are correct, and why are the others ...
1
vote
1answer
193 views
Under what circumstances can the word “be” be used directly without any change? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use the subjunctive mood?
2 examples first:
1.It is announced that the accounting class of the 3rd and 4th hours on the morning of this Wednesday be ...
1
vote
1answer
532 views
Causative verb using have/has
I can understand the causative form (quite less frequently, we simply say causal verb) with make and get but when used with have/has, it sometimes makes me think differently. Of course, I can ...
