39 Leaving out an infinitive clause 1 When there is no need to repeat a to-infinitive clause, we can leave it out.
To stands for the whole clause.
Would you like to join us for lunch? -Yes, I'd love to.
Jane got the job, although she didn't expect to.
You've switched the machine off. I told you not to, didn't I?
I haven't washed up yet, but I'm going to.
But we repeat an auxiliary after to.
I haven't done as much work today as I'd like to have.
Jane was chosen for the job, although she didn't expect to be.
2 Sometimes we can also leave out to.
I don't work as hard as I ought (to).
Take one of these brochures if you want (to).
We usually leave out to after an adjective.
We need people to serve refreshments. Are you willing?
NOTE
We usually leave out to after like but not after would like.
Take one of these brochures if you like.
Take one of these brochures if you'd like to. 3 We can also leave out a bare infinitive (without to).
I wanted to borrow Tim's cassettes, but he wouldn't let me. (= ... let me borrow his cassettes.) We can go somewhere else if you'd rather. (= ... if you'd rather go somewhere else.)
40 Leaving out words after a question word We can leave out the words after a question word or phrase rather than repeat them.
The road is closed to traffic. No one knows why.
I'm going to the dentist this afternoon. -Oh, what time?
I put the certificate somewhere, and now I can't remember where.
When the question word is the subject, the auxiliary can come after it.
Something rather strange has happened. -What (has)?
