Bare Infinitive after 'is' or not

Question

Hi,I'm not sure whether to use 'to' or not after 'is' in such sentences:The only way you can break the routine is to go on sick call.Can 'to' be deleted from this sentence?I've seen both structures with and without 'to' after 'is':There was nothing to do but count the hours and days and years.Can 'to' be added before 'count'?I'm a bit confused, would you please explain it to me?Thank you.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

The only way you can break the routine is to go on sick call.
Can 'to' be deleted from this sentence?

Yes.

coloradayThere was nothing to do but count the hours and days and years.Can 'to' be added before 'count'?

Yes.

The infinitive phrase as a noun has changed in English.

eg. after the causative verbs
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (King James Bible)

Modern:
My brother made me do it.
Never used:X My brother made me to do it.

After the verb, help, either the bare infinitive or to-infinitive can be used: The bare infinitive is probably more common:

I helped mother (to) wash the dishes.

Another structure where both forms are used:
The only thing we can do now is (to) wait it out.

"To-infinitive" is required after verb that can be used for indirect speech, to avoid confusion with the imperative:
He told me to forget it.

He told me, "Forget it."

Bare Infinitive after 'is' or not

The only way you can break the routine is to go on sick call.

There was nothing to do but count the hours and days and years.

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The only way you can break the routine is to go on sick call.

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