Monday, April 21, 2025

AND instead of infinitive with Try, Wait, Go, Come...

1. In informal English, we often used 'try and' instead of 'try to'. 

Try and get some unsalted butter (Try to... is also possible). 

I really must try and see Paul this week (Or: ...try to...). 

This structure is possible with the simple form 'try', but not with tries, tried or trying. You cannot say 'I tried and got...' or 'He always tries and get...'

'Wait' and 'See' is similar. 

Let's wait and see (Not: 'We waited and saw' or 'Let's wait to see'). 

2. After 'come', 'go', 'run', 'hurry', 'stay', 'stop' and some other verbs, 'and' can be used instead of an infinitive of purpose. 

Come and have a drink. 

Hurry up and get dressed. 

Say and have dinner. 

We ought to stop and think. 

Would you go and tell the children to shut up? 

In these cases, however; third person forms and past tenses are possible. 

He usually stays and has dinner with us after the game. 

I went and had a drink with John yesterday. 

The 'to' infinitive is unusual in expressions like these and cannot be used after 'hurry up'. 

Informal American, 'and' is often left out after 'go'. 

Go jump in the river. 

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