THE INFINITIVE

1. Form
The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It may be preceded by 'to' (the to-infinitive) or stand alone (the base or zero infinitive).

2. Infinitive with or without 'to'

The to-infinitive is used:

a. after certain verbs. e.g. want, wish, agree, fail, mean, decide, learn
b. after the auxiliaries to be to, to have to, and ought to
c. in the pattern 'it is + adjective + to-infinitive'

Examples:

with 'to'

• The elephant decided to marry the mouse
• The mouse agreed to marry the elephant
• You will have to ask her
• You are to leave immediately
• He ought to relax
• She has to go to Berlin next week
• It's easy to speak English
• It is hard to change jobs after twenty years
• It's stupid to believe everything you hear

without 'to'

• I would rather visit Rome.
• She would rather live in Italy.
• Would you rather eat steak or fish?
• He would rather work in a bank.
• I'd rather be a forest than a tree.

PRE-DETERMINERS: SUCH, WHAT, RATHER, QUITE

These words are normally placed before the indefinite article.
Such and what are often used to express surprise or other emotions:

Examples:

a. What a lovely day!
b. She's such a lovely woman!
c. What an incredible film!
d. He's such a fantastic guitarist!

Rather and quite are 'commenting' words, referring to the degree of a particular quality. They can express disappointment, pleasure, or other emotions, and are used before a/an + adjective + noun:

Examples:

a. It's rather a small car. (= I'm a bit disappointed because it's small)
b. It was quite a nice day.(= I was agreeably surprised.)
c. He's had quite a bad accident. (= I'm worried)
d. I've just met rather a nice man. (= I'm pleased)

As+Adjective+As : Comparison of adjectives

To compare people, places, events or things, when there is no difference, use as + adjective + as:

• Peter is 24 years old. John is 24 years old. Peter is as old as John.

More examples:

• Moscow is as cold as St. Petersburg in the winter.
• Ramona is as happy as Raphael.
• Einstein is as famous as Darwin.
• A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.

Vestige

Vestige
(n.) a mark or trace of something lost or vanished.
Do you know if the mexican tortilla is a vestige of some form of aztec corn based flat bread.

Veracity

Veracity
(n.) truthfulness, accuracy
With several agencies regulating the reports, it was difficult for raja to argue against their veracity.

Venerate

Venerate.
(v.) to regard with respect, to honor
The tribute to John Lennon sough to venerate his music, his words and his legend.

Vapid

Vapid
(adj.) lacking liveliness, dull
The professor's comments about the poem were surprisingly vapid and dull.