THE INFINITIVE

1. Form 

The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It may be preceded by 'to' (the to-infinitive) or stand alone (the base or zero infinitive).

2. Infinitive with or without 'to'

The to-infinitive is used:

a. after certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learnb. after the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, and ought toc. in the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'

Examples:

with 'to'

·        The elephant decided to marry the mouse

·        The mouse agreed to marry the elephant

·        You will have to ask her

·        You are to leave immediately

·        He ought to relax

·        She has to go to Berlin next week

·        It's easy to speak English

·        It is hard to change jobs after twenty years

·        It's stupid to believe everything you hear

without 'to'

·        I would rather visit Rome.

·        She would rather live in Italy.

·        Would you rather eat steak or fish?

·        He would rather work in a bank.

·        I'd rather be a forest than a tree.