Grammar
Infinitives in English: form and common patterns
I want to leave early. I can leave early. Both sentences use leave, but want is followed by to and can is followed by the base verb without to.
Choose a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive in common English patterns, including after verbs, adjectives, question words, and modal verbs.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I need to check where to park the car. /aɪ niːd tə tʃek weə tə pɑːk ðə kɑː/
The short answer
Use to plus the base verb after many verbs, adjectives, and question words: decide to go, ready to start, and where to park. Use the base verb without to after modal verbs and after let or make in an active sentence: can go, let her speak, and made us wait.
Priya hopes to finish the report today.
Why it works: Hopes is followed by to plus the base verb finish. The sentence is about Priya's plan, not an action that is already finished.
5 more examples
-
Mina plans to call the clinic tomorrow.
Plan is commonly followed by to plus the base verb when someone intends to do something.
Not this:Mina
calledthe clinic yesterday. What changes: Called describes a completed action. Plans to call describes a future intention. -
This map is easy to read in bright light.
After an adjective such as easy, use to plus the base verb to describe an action.
Not this:I
readthe map in bright light. What changes: Here read is the main verb of the sentence, so it does not follow an adjective. -
We left early to avoid the traffic.
The to-infinitive explains the purpose of leaving early.
Not this:We avoided the traffic
by leavingearly. What changes: By plus an -ing form explains the method. To avoid explains the purpose. -
You can ask the receptionist for help.
Can is a modal verb, so ask stays in the base form without to.
Not this:You
want to askthe receptionist for help. What changes: Want is followed by a to-infinitive, so to appears before ask. -
Please tell me how to connect to the guest network.
How to connect names the action or procedure that the speaker needs to learn.
Not this:Please tell me
how the network connectsto the printer. What changes: This sentence asks for an explanation of a process, so it uses a full clause after how.
Read the full guide
Start with the word before the verb. After want, need, plan, decide, hope, and similar verbs, English often uses to plus the base verb. After can, should, might, and other modal verbs, use the base verb without to. The same base form appears in both patterns, so the word before it tells you which form to use.
Recognize the two infinitive forms
A to-infinitive has to plus a base verb: to travel, to ask, and to wait. A bare infinitive is only the base verb: travel, ask, and wait. Both forms use the same verb, but the word before the verb decides which one is needed.
I hope to hear from the landlord today.
Hope is followed by to plus the base verb hear.
I might hear from the landlord today.
Might is a modal verb, so hear has no to.
Which form follows might: to hear or hear?
Use hear. Modal verbs are followed by a bare infinitive.
Use to after many common verbs
Many verbs are followed by a to-infinitive when they introduce a plan, decision, wish, or necessary action. Common examples are decide to, hope to, need to, plan to, promise to, and want to. The next verb stays in its base form.
Owen decided to take a later bus.
Decided is followed by to take because Owen makes a choice about an action.
The team needs to send the invoice today.
Needs to send expresses an action that is necessary.
Complete the sentence: 'We want ___ a table for eight.'
Use to reserve. Want is followed by to plus the base verb.
Use to after adjectives
Use a to-infinitive after many adjectives when you describe an action or reaction. You can say ready to leave, difficult to explain, happy to help, or surprised to see someone. The adjective gives the description, and the infinitive names the action.
The new software is simple to install.
Simple describes the installation task, and to install names that task.
I was relieved to find my keys.
Relieved describes the speaker's feeling after finding the keys.
Choose the form: 'The instructions are hard ___ understand.'
Use to understand. Hard is followed by a to-infinitive in this pattern.
Use a to-infinitive to show purpose
A to-infinitive can explain why a person does something. It often comes after the main action and answers the question why. This use is common when the purpose is direct and clear.
Kai opened the window to let in fresh air.
The purpose of opening the window is to let fresh air enter.
I called the hotel to confirm the booking.
The call has a purpose: confirming the booking.
What does to charge the battery explain in 'I plugged in the phone to charge the battery'?
It explains the purpose of plugging in the phone.
Leave out to after modal verbs, let, and make
After can, could, may, might, must, should, will, and would, use the base verb without to. Also use a bare infinitive after let and make in active sentences. These words control the verb pattern that follows them.
You should keep the receipt in a safe place.
Should is followed by keep, not to keep.
The guide let us enter the building early.
Let is followed by us and the bare infinitive enter.
Which sentence is correct: 'She can to stay' or 'She can stay'?
Use She can stay. Can is followed by the base verb without to.
Use question words with to for a choice or instruction
You can use what, where, when, how, and which before a to-infinitive when someone needs to choose or learn an action. This pattern is useful for instructions and decisions. It does not use why in the same way.
The website explains where to find the return form.
Where to find names the information a visitor needs.
I am not sure what to pack for the trip.
What to pack names a choice about the items to bring.
Complete the instruction: 'Ask the desk staff where ___ your bicycle.'
Use to park. Where to park gives an instruction about the right action.
Before you go
Remember this
Use to plus the base verb after many verbs, adjectives, and question words. Use a to-infinitive to explain a purpose when it answers why someone does something. After a modal verb, use the bare infinitive without to. Check the word before the verb to choose the pattern.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Infinitives in English: form and common patterns"
What is an infinitive in English?
An infinitive is a verb form that does not show tense or person. A to-infinitive uses to plus the base verb, as in to call or to leave. A bare infinitive uses the base verb without to, as in can call or should leave. The word before the verb usually decides which form you need.
Mina plans to call the clinic tomorrow.
Which verbs are followed by a to-infinitive?
Many common verbs are followed by to plus the base verb, including agree, decide, hope, need, plan, promise, try, and want. For example, Mina plans to call the clinic tomorrow. Learn the pattern with the verb because English verbs do not all take the same form after them.
Mina called the clinic yesterday.
Why does a modal verb not use to?
Modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, should, will, and would are followed by the base verb without to. Say You can ask the receptionist for help, not You can to ask the receptionist for help. This base form is called a bare infinitive.
This map is easy to read in bright light.
When does a to-infinitive explain purpose?
A to-infinitive can answer why someone does something. In We left early to avoid the traffic, to avoid gives the purpose of leaving early. Use this pattern when the action after to is the reason for the main action in the sentence.
I read the map in bright light.
Can I use a question word before an infinitive?
Yes. Use what, where, when, how, or which before to plus a verb when you name a choice or an instruction. Please tell me how to connect to the guest network asks for a procedure. I am not sure what to pack for the trip describes a choice.
We left early to avoid the traffic.