The bare infinitive after 'would rather', etc

We use the bare infinitive after expressions in which y can be replaced by would or had [> 11 44-17]:

1 d = would d rather d sooner But note that had rather and had sooner sometimes occur

2 d = had: 'd better 'd best (less common than y better). I'd rather work on the land than work in a factory We'd better/best be going -Yes, we'd better/we'd best be

These forms can often be followed by the passive infinitive:

I'd rather be told the truth than be lied to Not can be used after y rather/sooner/better/best:

You'd better not go near the edge Informally, better or subject + better often occur without had:

Mr Murphy will be here any minute - Better get his file then

You better stop arguing and do as you 're told

Th infinitive with or without 'to'

16.6 The bare infinitive after 'Why?' and 'Why not?'

For bare infinitive uses after Why/Why not? [> 13.37.2-3]

The infinitive with or without 'to'

16.7 'Help' and 'know' + bare infinitive or to-infinitive

We may use a bare infinitive or a to-infinitive after a few verbs like help and know ■ The use of a to-infinitive is more formal:

Mother helped me (to) do my homework We do not usually omit to after not:

How can I help my children not to worry about their exams?

Help can be used without a noun or pronoun object:

Everyone in the village helped (to) build the new Youth Centre or with a noun or pronoun object:

Can anyone help me (to) fill in this tax form? In the passive, to is obligatory after help:

Millie was helped to overcome her fear of flying Help + the passive infinitive is possible, though rare:

I'm sure this treatment will help him (to) be cured

Know + infinitive normally requires a noun or pronoun object. The omission of to is only possible with the perfect form of know:

I've never known her (to) be late before

I've never known her not (to) be late' In the passive, to is obligatory;

He was known to have/to have had a quick temper as a boy

Infinitives joined by 'and', etc.

Infinitives can be joined by and, but, except, or and than [> 8.4.4]. To is usually dropped before the second infinitive:

Which would you prefer to win a million pounds or (to) have a

brain like Einstein's⁹ Other infinitive forms can combine in this way:

I'd like to be flying over the Alps and (to be) looking down/and be

looking down at the mountains

I'd like to have been offered the job and (to have been) given/and

been given the opportunity to prove myself Where the second infinitive follows on closely from the first, it is normal to omit to before the second infinitive:

I'd like to lie down and go to sleep (Not *to go*)

The bare infinitive or the '-ing' form?