Use of the infinitive in English

Question

My girlfriend (a native Spanish speaker) frequently uses the infinitive "to" in English where it's not necessary. "Will you help me to wash the dishes?"

Is there a general rule I can give her to help her know when to use the infinitive and when not to?

So far the best thing I've come up with but I'm not sure is totally accurate is if you would use "que" after a conjugated verb, then use the infinitive in English. For example. "Tengo que trabajar," is, "I have to work."

I just can't think of an example in English where you would use "to" after a verb that does not fit the rule above.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Hi Difster

The verbs that you are using all signal the subjunctive mood in English. If you are not familiar with this topic, here is a brief overview.

The subjunctive is not a tense, it is called a mood because it indicates your attitude towards a statement that you are making. Their are three moods altogether: The indicative (for statements of fact), the imperative (for commands) and the subjunctive (for hypothetical conditions, wishes, recommendations, requirements or suggestions). I will not go into the details of the first two moods; instead I am going to stick with the subjunctive as that is what you are talking about when you use the following statement:

I didn't mean that "to" works with every "que." I just meant that where "que" = "to" you would use "to" in English. Tengo que, necesito que, quiero que, etc.

In general the subjunctive requires either a modal auxiliary (more on this in a minute) or a subjunctive verb form. The subjunctive verb form is either the infinitive or the bare form of the infinitive (depending on the situation).

In many cases (but not all) English uses modal auxiliaries (helping verbs) to signal the subjunctive under the conditions listed above. These helping verbs include would, could, should, may, might, can, must, and ought.

When these modal auxiliaries are used to express a wish, probability, possibility, capability, permission, a recommendation, a requirement, a conclusion or a contrary to fact condition then the infinitive is usually not necessary (except in the case of ought).

Often you will find that the modal auxiliary will be replace by a form of one of the following: to be able (can), have (must), need (must). Other verbs that can take the infinitive include want and forms of to be + adverb(that describe probability/possibility: likely, probably, conceivably etc). wish (wish is a special case as it can also take the past and past perfect subjunctive)

Examples:

To Express a conclusion. Modal: must

He must have been lying [using modal]

He had to have been lying [using had]

To Express a Recommendation. Modal: should or ought

The government should help [using modal]

The government ought to help [using modal ought + inf]

To Express a Requirement. Modal: must

Firemen must be ready for action. [modal]

Firemen have to be ready for action [using have]

Showing Permission. Modal: may or can

Americans can visit Russia now. [modal]

Americans may visit Russia now. [modal]

Americans are able to visit Russia now. [using be able]

Showing Capability. Modal: can

I can walk by myself. [modal]

I am able to walk by myself. [using be able]

Showing Possibility. Modal: may, might, can, or could

The next president may be a woman.[modal]

Another war might destroy the world.[modal]

Anything can happen[modal]

A tsunami could strike at any time [modal]

A tsunami is likely to strike at any time. [be + adv]

Showing Probability. Modal: should

An increase in supply should reduce gas prices. [modal]

An increase in supply is likely to reduce gas prices. [*be + adv]

Expressions of Want. Modal: none [usually takes infinitive]

I want to eat

I want to go to the beach.

I want my friends to go to the beach

Expressing a Wish. Modal: would, could

I wish my parents would support me [modal]

I wish my parents could support me [modal]

Wish is a special case that uses the past (wishing for something in the present) or past perfect (wishing for something in the past) subjunctive.

I wish (that) my parents were supporting me. [past subj]

I wish (that) my parents had supported me. [past perf subj].

---

Their are other cases where the infinitive is used, for example with verbs constructions like "be + going" as in "I am going to eat", etc. I tried to limit this discussion to the subjunctive which is what your examples pertained to. If you are interested in pursuing the subject of infinitives in other cases, then try this link.

Infinitives

• Great answer and very complete, especially considering the chaos tonight!!! - Nicole-B Oct 3, 2009
• Have a vote Izanoni - but have we found a way of explaining when the "to" should or should not be used? I can't find an easy one. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• Also I am not sure if all sentences using modals are in fact "subjunctive" - what do you think? - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• I looked at that link too but did not find the answe to Difster's original post. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• By the way Izanoni - another pet dislike of mine is when the teachers refer to Modals as auxiliary verbs. They are in no way like verbs. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
View 2 more commments >>

Answer 2

I told you that they could do it.

Le dije a Ud. que ellos podían hacerlo.

There is a que after a conjugated verb. Where does to...fit in?

"Will you help me to wash the dishes?"

Maybe you shoudn't advise her at all. The preposition to there may be more correct than omitting it. That may be an example of where we omit things in everyday conversation like the relative pronoun "that" where it actually should be used.

I want that you go to the store.

I want you to go to the store. (sounds more everyday acceptable, but the one above is more grammatically correct).

• That's a case where "que" is more like "that", so I don't think it matches her concept. - arnold3 Oct 2, 2009
• (and to be clear, I didn't flag you!) I agree though that having the "to" in there does seem appropriate. - arnold3 Oct 2, 2009

Answer 3

I didn't mean that "to" works with every "que." I just meant that where "que" = "to" you would use "to" in English. Tengo que, necesito que, quiero que, etc.

Also, I'm trying to find out if there is a specific rule or not; I don't know. What stated is the closest I can come.

• There is no specific rule; infinitives are used with some verbs you need to memorize. Such things are called "verb patterns", when the form of the second verb depends on the first verb. - Issabela Oct 3, 2009

Answer 4

Can you help me wash the dishes , sounds like a command for you to wash the dishes while she does something else. Can you help me to wash the dishes sound like a request for assistance, (you wash I'll dry) ,the use of the word "to" is correct .

• "Can you help me by washing the dishes" would indicate that the speaker wants to do something else. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• "Can you help me wash the dishes" - is really a question and not a command. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• "Wash the dishes." - is the command. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009

Answer 5

Hello Difster Your question is a very interesting one - I would say particularly when you are helping a Spanish speaker. It sounds like a simple question but it is not and is not easy for someone learning English. Nor it is it easy to explain.

I will try - tomorrow - to find something that will help you. I am in Bolivia and have to sleep now.

In the mean time try looking on the internet - search with something like "when to use the infintive in English" you will get lots of language sites that deal with this problem. Chau for now.

• Just popping in to say ditto...this is a very interesting question indeed! :-) - arnold3 Oct 2, 2009
• How is this Spam? Spam you make sandwiches with. lol - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• There was someone last night who became very emotional and flagged every single answer. One more case-in-point for my call for a revision of the flagging process. It is abused at times. - arnold3 Oct 3, 2009
• p.s. I'm surprised that request I made didn't get more support. Anyway, I'm sorry you got hit by the rogue flagger. - arnold3 Oct 3, 2009

Answer 6

Albert, if I want someone to do a task instead of me, I would ask, "Can you wash the dishes for me?" Or, "Can you help me by washing the dishes?" Then again, that might be a dynamic language issue; I'm not sure. To me, "Can you help me (to) wash the dishes." Seems like assistance either way.

Ian, you're right, it's not easy to explain. As a native English speaker, it can be very difficult to explain why something in my language is the way it is because I just speak that way and don't question it. In fact, I've learned far more about English grammar by studying Spanish than I ever really learned about English grammar growing up. I knew HOW to use the language, I just couldn't identify the parts. I didn't know the difference between a gerund and a participle before studying Spanish. The odd things about all of that is I've been told I'm a very good writer.

• You are probably a good writer because you have a good ear. You know the proper way to say or write something, you just don't know all of the grammmatical rules to explain why you do what you do. I - Nicole-B Oct 3, 2009
• I agree totally with you, I have learned so much more about English grammar, just from studying Spanish. It is an unexpected, but pleasant side effect. - Nicole-B Oct 3, 2009

Answer 7

God, I love this site...I'm never leaving.

edited by Heidita: we will see about that!

• I gave you bunches of compliments all night long Freed...get a grip - ChamacoMalo Oct 2, 2009
• Why ever would ChamacoMalo make this comment. There is no reference before this by Qfreed that would elicit such a respone by ChamacoMalo. It looks like ChamacoMalo has lost it! - Moe Oct 2, 2009

Answer 8

I think the 'to' there is actually correct... whilst it may not be necessary - in that you can often omit words and be understood (you can even drop all articles from what's said and still make sense) ... it could be considered shorter, or it might sound more normal to you if that's what you're used to hearing, but I couldn't call it "better English". In English Proper, I'm pretty sure you do help somebody TO do something, it's certainly how I've grown up hearing and saying it here in England. In my mind the 'to' there is actually more attached to the 'help' than the verb (I want help to ...), multiple verbs would have only one 'to', like "I would like you to wash up and eat", not "I would like you to wash up and to eat", but that's just coming back to what sounds normal for me.

Answer 9

Is there a general rule I can give her to help her know when to use the infinitive and when not to?

Lo siento, no puedo ayudarte con esto, pero estoy teniendo el mismo problema con español. Los personas in mi iglesia siempre me corrigen porque ellos saben que estoy aprendiendo español. Es bueno que puedes corregir su novia.

Aquí está un sitio web que puede ayudar,

Click here buen suerte,

Jack

• That helps explain the problem - I refere to "zero infinitives" as "base verbs" - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009

Answer 10

It looks like someone has been applying flags to increase his rep position. He has now been removed.

• Good - thankyou. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009

Answer 11

Hi Ian,

I will do my best to respond to your comments

...have we found a way of explaining when the "to" should or should not be used? I can't find an easy one.

No, not completely. The answer I gave was strictly for the rules using the subjunctive and the infinitive. I stuck to the subjunctive because that is the specific instances that the original poster was using in all of his examples. (i.e. can you help, I have to..., I need to..., etc.)

Also I am not sure if all sentences using modals are in fact "subjunctive" - what do you think?

You may be correct about this Ian. I thought that I made this clear in my post that the modal auxiliary are not required for the subjunctive but are often present. Seeing your response I see that I must not have made this as clear as I thought I had. See if the following statements clarify things.

1. The subjunctive often employs the use of modal auxiliaries (helping verbs) to signal the subjunctive mood.
2. To be in the subjunctive the auxiliary is not always required; it is necessary, however, that the sentence express one of the following: A wish/hope, probability, possibility, capability, permission, a requirement, a recommendation or suggestion, a conclusion, hypothetical conditions, or a contrary-to-fact condition. These are the actual requirements for the subjunctive.
3. It is common in English to use these modal auxiliaries, but a subjunctive verb form can be used as well. This is usually the infinitive (but can be the bare form of the verb in the present subjunctive - Long live the queen!, etc).
4. It is not the modal that "makes" the subjunctive, it is whether the sentence expresses one of the preceding conditions (a wish, probability, etc)

I never stated that the modal auxiliary is only used in the subjunctive, but I suspect that this may be the case because the meaning of each of the modal auxiliaries implicitly defines the conditions for the subjunctive mood.

Did you have any particular instances in mind (besides the conditional) where the modal does not signal the subjunctive but is used in the imperative or indicative, instead? If so, perhaps you could share them with us so that we might be able to scrutinize them a bit and see if we might be able to determine some general rule regarding their use.

I looked at that link too but did not find the answe to Difster's original post.

I did not intend for the link to be a comprehensive answer to his question (it was Wikipedia, after all - not the most reliable source of information). I intended it to be a starting point for his own investigations into the subject. For example, I thought that the statements about the way that the infinitive is often used with intransitive verbs to be an interesting statement. I thought the assertions (such as this one) were enough to get him pointed in the right direction with his own research on the subject. We must, after all, follow the rules of the forum which state to do your own research first. It is difficult to research something if you don't know where to start. The link was intended as a starting point and not and ending point. I suspect that to adequately cover the users initial question (the full usage of the infinitive) would require a bit more time and energy than I am willing to dedicate to the subject (which is why I stuck to its use in the subjunctive - a topic that I am both familiar with and comfortable explaining).

By the way Izanoni - another pet dislike of mine is when the teachers refer to Modals as auxiliary verbs. They are in no way like verbs.

I am not sure why you say this, but I believe that you may be mistaken on this account.

1. would - preterit of will auxiliary, transitive, intransitive
2. could - preterit of can (was able)
3. should - preterit of shall - auxiliary verb (implies authority)
4. may - auxiliary verb (implies possibility, opportunity, permission)
5. can - intransitive verb (to be able)
6. might - preterit of may
7. must - auxiliary verb - (expresses obligation or necessity)
8. ought - verb (to be held or be bound in duty or moral obligation)

Why, specifically, do you think that they are not like verbs? Look below at the subject and the predicate of these sentences.

Will you go to the party tomorrow?

*I might. (The same thing as - It is possible)

After looking at this do you still think them unlike verbs?

• Very good, this time. I am going to copy it. - nila45 Oct 3, 2009
• Yes I do still think they are not verbs. - ian-hill Oct 3, 2009
• Fair enough - Izanoni1 Oct 3, 2009

Answer 12

If you want to take your anger out on somebody , then go ahead take it out on me I have no problem with you telling me that I'm wrong ,but you came back saying, if I wanted to ask someone to do a task for me I would say blah blah blah .Are we talking about your command of the language or your girlfriend, The word "to" is correct whether you like it or not .I beleive that texting and twittering will eventually be the downfall of language ,leading to a bunch of nonsenceicle, garbled ,ballocks that nobody can decipher,Ahh thats progress.

Answer 13

Hi Difster I have tried but can not find a simple answer - or even definitive complicated one, to your original question. I think it is a great question however and of particular interest to Spanish speakers and I would guess speakers of the other Romance languages.

I wish Lazarus would come back.!!!

Answer 14

Hi again Difster I have been thinking and the "long" answer given by Izanoni probably comes closest.

In other words - when a modal is used the following verb NEVER has to "to" in front of it. And in subjunctive structures the "to" is not used.

There may be other sentence structures where the "to" can be omitted but I can't be sure.

Remember that the subjunctive is used an awful lot in Spanish but has almost "disappeared" in English. So your Spanish speaking girlfriend will be trying to speak a Spanish subjunctive sentence and does not know how it is done in English and may wind up using the "to" where it should not be used.

Also some structures in English drop the "to" for example where we use a gerund.

Example "I like eating" = " Me gusta comer" Here you can see that the Spanish uses the infinitive "comer" and we use the gerund. A Spanish speaker would therefore often say "I like to eat" - of course this means almost the same and is not incorrect. But you can not say "I enjoy to eat" but you must say "I want to eat " and not "I want eating"

I hope this helps.

Answer 15

Hi Izanoni

Very interesting as always what you write.

I say Modals should never be considered as any form of verb because:

They can not be conjugated- they have no past forms or future forms on their own. Students get confused from day one when a teacher says "I can" = "Puedo" Poder is a verb and can is not.

For example "could" is not the past tense of "can" which many students assume because we say "I could do it" for "Pude hacerlo"

But we can say the following

"I can do it now"

"I could do it now"

"I could do it yesterday"

"I could do it tomorrow"

"Could" in the present, past and future.

Very confusing if the student thinks can is a verb.Don't you agree?

That is why I call Modals "special words" ( they don't exist as words in a Spanish dictionary whereas all verbs do)

I had to add this - "would" is not the preterit of "will" just as "could" is not the preterit of "can" - they are simply different Modals.