1.2.1 “Let”, “make”, “would rather/ sooner” and “had better”

1. We use the imperative form Let’s (= Let us) + bare infinitive for making suggestions:

Let’s take a taxi! Let’s take a taxi, shall we? Do let’s take a taxi.

The negative is: Let’s not (take a taxi). Or: Don’t let’s (take a taxi).

2. Let as a full verb (= “allow”) is always followed by a noun or pronoun + bare infinitive:

I won’t let you / him, etc. go. Don’t let the children annoy you. They won’t let us speak.

3. Make (= compel) is followed by a bare infinitive in the active: She made them work hard.

BUT: It is followed by a to-infinitive in the passive: They were made to work hard.

4. We used the bare infinitive after would rather (not), would sooner (not), had better (not):

I’d rather be told the truth. You’d better not go near the edge.

Supply suitable infinitive forms for the verbs given in brackets.

1.3. The functions of the infinitive

Functions			Indicators	Patterns
Subject			a) in the initial position: b) with the anticipatory “it” eg. It’s easy to ..., it was important to ..., it’s wise of him to…	To study is never late.. It is never late to study.
Part of a compound nominal predicate (predicative)			“be” in the required tense form	His desire was to have a dog.
Part of a compound verbal predicate		modal	a) after modal verbs b) modal expressions *c) verbs denoting modality: expect, desire, hate, hope, like, intend, want, try, wish, etc.	I can speak English well. When I was a boy I was not able to speak English well. *c) I expect to arrive in Bern at 4 o'clock.
		aspect	after verbs expressing the beginning, duration or end of an action: begin, cease, continue, go on, finish, start, etc.	Bob began to work. She continued to talk about the problem.
Object				He claims to be an expert on the subject.
Part of a complex object			after verbs of: a) sense perception: see, hear, feel, notice, watch, etc. b) wish and intention: desire, intend, mean, want, wish, etc. c) mental activity: believe, consider, know, think, etc. d) feeling, emotion: dislike, hale, like… e) declaring: announce, declare, pronounce, report, etc. f) order, compulsion and permission: allow, get, have, let, make, order, permit…	I heard him lock the door. I want you to come along with us. He believes it to have been a mistake. She hales him to be bothered. They reported the enemy to be seven miles away. Let her do what she wants to do. What made you believe it?
Attribute			after: a) abstract and class nouns b) indefinite pronouns: somebody, something, someone c) ordinal numerals: first, third… d) substantivized adjectives: last, next substantivized quantitative adjectives: much, little, (no)more,(no)less, little more e) the noun-substitude one	There's no matter to discuss. There is somebody to look after. He was the first to come. She was the last to do it. I’ve got no more to add. A man in your position has so much to lose. I’m not the one to believe.
Adverbial modifier of	purpose		sometimes introduced by the conjunction in order to, so as	He said it (in order) to save your life.
	consequence (result)		after adjectives modified by “enough” and “too”	Bill is wise enough to confess his fault.
	Comparison(manner)		Conjunctions; as if, as though, than	He opened his mouth as if to speak. She liked more to listen to the troubles of others than discuss her own.
Parenthesis	to be honest, to begin with, to cut the long story short, to get to the point, not to make too much of it, to put it another way, to tell you the truth, to say the least, to put it mildly, to say nothing of, to be frank, etc.

* c) I expect to arrive in Bern at 4 o'clock. Some scholars consider it to be an object.