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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Help!
Help!
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sialli
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Help!
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What is the right way to the infinitive? For example: to work or work
When it was learned that to work but I �ve seen in many books and websites to use without so I was in doubt.
If you can not without confusion compared to the Imperative? |
9 May 2012
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nycgirl
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Off the top of my head without really looking into it: the infinitive is used directly after a verb. Ie: I go to work at 9AM. I work at 9AM. "Go" is a verb so it �s followed by a verb in it �s infinitive form. |
10 May 2012
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Minka
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There is "bare infinitive" and "to infinitive". We use one or the other, depending on the structure of the sentence.
When you just want to write the verb, for example in a bracket in an exercise, you can use one or the other. I give my students examples of both, just to make them aware of the fact that it doesn �t really matter -
He ___________ in a hospital (work) and He ___________ in a hospital (to work)
is the same.
If I �m wrong, I �m sure someone will correct me.
(In "I go to work" I don�t think work is really a verb. It�s a noun.)
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10 May 2012
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MoodyMoody
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Well, just to "clear things up" [sarcasm], nycgirl and Minka are both right! Usually, when we say go to work, we are talking about the workplace, and that means work is a noun. Point, Minka! However, if we are emphasizing the process of working, to work is an infinitive verb. For example, "I am going into the office to work," to work is an infinitive. Point, nycgirl.
Some books list the verb without the to as the simple form. Whatever works for you is fine with me. |
10 May 2012
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Minka
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A verb? In " I go to work at 9AM" ?
I don �t think so.
I go to school to work (at 5. 40 or so) I go to the office to work I go there to work.
But not I go to work at 9AM.
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10 May 2012
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