The split infinitive

'Splitting an infinitive' (i.e. putting an adverb or please between to and the verb) is usually considered unacceptable and should generally be avoided. For instance clearly could not come between toand read in the following:

/ want you to read that last sentence clearly

Verb (+ noun/pronoun) + to-infinitive

However, we often do separate to from the infinitive in spoken English, depending on where the emphasis falls:

/ want you to clearly understand what I'm telling you This is often the case with adverbs like completely fully really and truly; sometimes there is no other suitable place to put them:

It's difficult to really understand the theory of relativity

16.16 The uses of 'be' + to-infinitive

The to-infinitive can be used as the complement of be [> 10.9.10]:

Your mistake was to write that letter The verb do can be followed by be + (optional) to:

What you do is (to) mix the eggs with flour

All I did was (to) press this button The to-infinitive can be active in form but passive in meaning:

This house is to let/to be let Who is to blame/to be blamed⁹ Some constructions can only be in the passive:

He's (only) to be admired/envied/pitied All this is to be sold For be to: future duties, instructions, etc. [> 9.47-48].

16.17 Leaving out the verb after'to'

To avoid repetition, we can often leave the verb out after to:

You don't have to eat it if you don't want to

Would you like to come to a party? - I'd love to

Don t spill any of that paint, will you? - III try not to Sometimes even to can be dropped:

Try to be back by 12, won't you? - OK. I'll try With verbs that are followed by -ing but never followed by a to-infinitive, e.g. enjoy [> 16.42], we must use an object:

Would you like to come sailing? - Oh yes I'd enjoy it/that