Reduced infinitives: Omitting the infinitive phrase after 'to' - Page 3 of 3

Exercises: 1 2 3

Reduced 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.

EXAMPLE (drop to when not required): She hoped to pass the test, and luckily she managed to pass it. ⇒ She hoped to pass the test, and luckily she managed.

EXAMPLE (keep to when required): He expected to win the case, but he wasn’t able to win it. ⇒ He expected to win the case, but he wasn’t able to.

1 She promised to call, but she forgot to call.

⇒ She promised to call, but she .

2 I wanted to buy the book, but I couldn't afford to buy the book.

⇒ I wanted to buy the book, but I couldn't .

3 He wanted to quit his job, but I advised him not to quit his job.

⇒ He wanted to quit his job, but I .

4 They initially agreed to join us, but they finally refused to join us.

⇒ They initially agreed to join us, but they finally .

5 We expected to arrive on time, and luckily we managed to arrive on time.

⇒ We expected to arrive on time, and luckily we .

6 She wanted to explain herself, but nobody listened when she tried to explain herself.

⇒ She wanted to explain herself, but nobody listened when she .

7 They told me to wait, but I didn't want to wait.

⇒ They told me to wait, but I didn't .

8 He said he would take part in the competition, but he chose not to take part.

⇒ He said he would take part in the competition, but he .

9 You can stay here if you like to stay here.

⇒ You can stay here if you .

10 If they ask me to attend, I'll be delighted to attend.

⇒ If they ask me to attend, I'll be .

Exercises: 1 2 3

Reduced infinitives

B2 grammar chart on reduced infinitives with rules, examples, and exceptions for using or omitting ‘to’

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‘To’ can be used instead of a complete infinitive phrase

When the meaning is clear, we don’t need to repeat an infinitive or verb phrase that has just been mentioned. Instead, we can use just to. This avoids repetition and makes sentences shorter.

‘Are you going to watch the film?’ ‘Yes, I’m going to.’ (= I’m going to watch the film.)
She promised to help me, and she really wanted to. (= She wanted to help me.)
I don’t play tennis now, but I used to. (= I used to play tennis.)

❗ When the repeated verb is be, we usually keep the full infinitive (to be).

I know I‘m not very positive, but I really try to be. (= to be positive)

When can we use this type of reduced infinitive?

We can use to instead of the full infinitive phrase after many common verbs, adjectives, and nouns. As the meaning is clear from the context, we don’t repeat the whole phrase.

After common verbs

Some of the most frequent are: agree, decide, expect, hate, hope, plan, promise, refuse, want, would like/love.

She promised to come, but I’m not sure she wants to.
‘Will you pay him back?’ ‘I’m planning to.’

After common adjectives

Some of the most frequent are: afraid, delighted, glad, happy, ready, willing.

I need to go, but I’m not sure I’m ready (to).
We can start working on this if you are willing (to).

After common nouns

Some of the most frequent are: chance, decision, need, plan, way, attempt.

If we want to win, this will be our last chance (to).
You can go whenever you want, but there’s no need (to).

❗ Note how to can be dropped in many of these sentences.
That’s why we put it in brackets. In the next section, we’ll see when we can omit the whole infinitive, including to.

Omitting the whole infinitive, including ‘to’

Sometimes we can leave out the whole infinitive, including to. We can drop to if the meaning is clear and the verb, adjective, or noun doesn’t need a complement to make sense on its own.

We can start unpacking whenever you’re ready (to).’ (= ready to start unpacking)
Of course you can bring a dessert, but there’s no need (to). (= no need to bring a dessert)

When we don’t usually drop ‘to’

We normally keep to after verbs that require a complement, for example: afford, advise, be able, choose, decide, plan, pretend.

‘Will you pay him back?’ ‘I’m planning to.’
‘Will you pay him back?’ ‘I’m planning.’
‘Will you buy a new car?’ ‘We can’t afford to.’
‘Will you buy a new car?’ ‘We can’t afford.’

We also usually keep to after would like/love/hate/prefer and after want and choose.

‘Would you like to join us?’ ‘Yes, I’d like to.’
‘Would you like to join us?’ ‘Yes, I’d like.‘

❗ But to is often dropped after want and always after like when used after conjunctions like if, when, what, or as.

You can leave if you want (to).
You can come over when you like.
You can come over when you like to.

Finally, to is also kept with negative infinitives (not to)

We can avoid including this rule if we agree not to.
We can avoid including this rule if we agree not.

Reduced infinitives: Omitting the infinitive phrase after ‘to’

Reduced 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.

Reduced infinitives

Download full-size image from Pinterest

‘To’ can be used instead of a complete infinitive phrase