Reduced / bare infinitives
B2 · ellipsis with to · bare infinitive forms
avoid repetition · when to is kept/dropped
1) What do “reduced” and “bare” infinitives mean?
- Reduced infinitive (pro-form to) We use to alone instead of repeating a full infinitive phrase already understood from context: “Are you going to watch it?” — “Yes, I’m going to.”
- Bare infinitive The infinitive without to after certain verbs and patterns: can go, let him go, make her laugh.
Goal: keep sentences natural and concise while staying grammatical.
2) Using to instead of a full phrase
… + to when the meaning is clear
- She promised to help and she really wanted to.
- I don’t play tennis now, but I used to.
- “Will you pay him back?” — “I’m planning to.”
Common after verbs (want, hope, plan, refuse, decide, promise, expect), adjectives (ready, willing, happy, afraid) and nouns (chance, plan, need, decision, way).
Be careful with be: when the repeated verb is be, we usually keep the full form: I know I’m not very positive, but I try to be.
3) Omitting the whole infinitive (including to)
- We can start unpacking whenever you’re ready (to).
- Bring dessert if you like; there’s no need (to).
We omit the complement when it is obvious and the preceding word can stand alone (ready, willing, able, allowed, permitted, the plan/need/opportunity).
4) When to is normally kept
- Verb types after verbs that require a complement: afford, advise, be able, choose, decide, plan, pretend → We can’t afford to. (✗ *We can’t afford.)
- Preference verbs would like/love/hate/prefer, want, choose → “Would you like to join?” — “I’d like to.”
- Negative infinitives keep to: We agreed not to include that rule.
After conjunctions (if, when, what, as) speakers often drop to with want/like: You can go if you want (to). · Come whenever you like.
5) The bare infinitive (no to)
| Pattern | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Modals | modal + V | can/could go, should help, must leave |
| Perception verbs (object + V) | see/hear/feel + O + V | I saw her cross the road. (progressive possible: crossing) |
| Let / Make / Have | let/make/have + O + V | They made us wait. · Let him go. (be made to V in passive: We were made to wait.) |
| Help | help + O + (to) V | She helped me (to) finish. (both forms OK) |
| Had better / would rather / rather than | had better V, would rather V, rather than V | You’d better leave now. · I’d rather stay than go. |
| Why (not)…? | why (not) + V | Why not try again? |
6) Style & clarity tips
- Avoid repetition Use the pro-form to when the whole phrase is obvious.
- Keep meaning clear If omitting the complement creates ambiguity, repeat the full phrase.
- Don’t drop required items Some verbs sound incomplete without to: *We can’t afford.
7) Quick reference
| Function | Typical form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reduce repetition | … + to | “Are you going to watch it?” — “I’m going to.” |
| Drop entire complement | adjective/noun + (to) | ready (to), allowed (to), no need (to) |
| Keep to | afford / advise / decide … ; would like / want; not to | We agreed not to publish. |
| Bare infinitive | modals; let/make/have; see/hear + O + V; had better; would rather; why (not) | They made us wait. |
Exercises:
Reduced/bare infinitives
Choose the correct option to complete each sentence below.
1
You must
your ID at reception.
2
I saw him
the fence.
3
They let us
early on Fridays.
4
The coach made them
for the foul.
5
She helped me
the application.
6
You’d better
the address before you leave.
7
I’d rather
in this evening.
8
All we did was
for the results to appear.
9
He does nothing but
about the commute.
10
He was seen
the building after midnight.
Reduced/bare infinitives
Choose the correct options for the gaps in these sentences.
1
You must ____ the form before Friday.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
I saw her ____ the file from start to finish.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
They made us ____ outside for twenty minutes.
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
My parents won’t let me ____ out late on weekdays.
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
We were made ____ early because of the storm.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
You’d better ____ your seatbelt before we set off.
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
You needn’t ____ the report today—tomorrow is fine.
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
Why ____ now instead of tomorrow?
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
He did nothing but ____ for the whole meeting.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
You can email us rather than ____ us—responses are faster.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Reduced/bare infinitives
Rewrite the second part of the sentence without repeating the verb or verb phrase. Include ‘to’ when it is required. Don’t include ‘to’ when it can be dropped.
1
I want to leave early, and she wants as well.
2
They decided to postpone the trip, and we also decided .
3
He promised to pay on Friday, and his partner promised as well.
4
I refused to sign the contract, and my colleague refused too.
5
We were supposed to submit the form today, and they were supposed tomorrow.
6
The doctor told me not to lift heavy boxes, and he told my dad either.
7
The guard let me enter, and he let her too.
8
The coach made us run ten laps, and he made the juniors as well.
9
I saw him drop the keys, and I saw her too.
10
We helped the team fix the bug, and we helped the interns as well.