Quote:
Originally Posted by Kudret  We know that an ifinitive is the name of an action of a verb. Therefore we can understand it is a noun, and functions as a noun. There usually is a "to" before an infinitive. In many cases an infinitive works without it. Then, what does function "to" before an infinitive? Why an inifinitive sometimes takes "to" and sometimes does not take. |
This is a big issue for a lot of learners (myself included* - as the other languages I know use a single word for the infinitive - meaning "to <whatever>" - so the question of the status of the little word doesn't arise).
I've heard the "to" (in this case) referred to as "a particle". I'm not entirely convinced by this word - it seems to me no better than calling an indescribable but useful thing a "doofer" or a "thingammyjig).
As to your last question, there are some words that take only the infinitive with "to", some that take only a bare infinitive, and some that take either. There was a recent posting about this, probably in this forum, which I can't place at the moment. If the person who posted that isn't awake yet, you could make a start by looking here
http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/infinitive.html . But I'm afraid there's no alternative to simply learning/practising what goes with what.
b
* ps
To set your mind at rest, I'm a learner OK - just not a learner of English (though I'm a learner
about English as spoken by other native speakers)
"to" for infinitive 
Linear Mode
