A bare infinitive is the base form of a verb, without the particle to. For example, in the sentence He can play, play is the bare infinitive. It is used after modal verbs, causative verbs, and perception verbs. In this article, we will explain what is bare infinitive, how it functions, provide examples, and highlight the difference between bare infinitives and to-infinitives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
In English grammar, the bare infinitive is the base form of a verb (like go, do, see, eat) without “to” in front of it. It\u2019s called “bare” because it’s just the plain form, not the “to-infinitive” (like to go, to see, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples of bare infinitives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Explore: What are Participles in English Grammar?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs, perception verbs, causative verbs, and in commands or instructions. It also follows expressions like \u2018had better\u2019 and appears in suggestions that begin with why. To know more, let us explore when to use bare infinitives in English grammar<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modal verbs are helping verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. They are always followed by a bare infinitive, never a full infinitive with \u2018to\u2019. You can use bare infinitives after modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perception verbs indicate actions that are directly witnessed from start to finish. With the use of the bare infinitive, emphasis is laid on the completeness of the observed action. You can use bare infinitives after perception verbs like see, hear, feel, watch, and notice when the whole action is observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The auxiliary verb do is used in questions, negative sentences, and for emphasis. It is always followed by a bare infinitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While giving someone a command or an instruction (Imperative Sentences), we generally start the sentence directly with the action word. This action verb here is called a bare infinitive because it comes without \u2018to\u2019 and without any subject like \u2018you\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some phrases like \u2018had better” and would rather\u2019 are used when we want to give advice or say what someone prefers. After these phrases, we always use a bare infinitive, which means the verb comes without \u2018to\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After learning \u2018What is a Bare Infinitive in English Grammar\u2019, let us identify a bare infinitive in a sentence, you need to follow these simple steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Identify Verbs Followed by Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some common verbs such as make, let, help (sometimes), see, hear, feel, watch, notice, dare (sometimes), had better, and would rather, are followed by another verb without the word \u2018to.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n i) She made me cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the above example, she made me cry<\/em>, The verb cry<\/em> is a bare infinitive because it follows made.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 2: Check for Modal Verbs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would are always followed by a bare infinitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n i) You should study harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the above example sentence You should study harder<\/em>, the verb study<\/em> is a bare infinitive after the modal verb should.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 3: Differentiate Between Bare and Full Infinitive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A full infinitive in a sentence includes the word to before the verb, like to eat or to go. A bare infinitive, however, is just the verb without the word to, like eat or go. The key difference between the two is that if the verb is followed by to, it’s a full infinitive and if there is no to, it is a bare infinitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen to Use the \u2018Bare Infinitive\u2019?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Use Bare Infinitive After Modal Verbs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example Sentences<\/strong><\/td> Modal Verbs<\/strong><\/td> Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> You must study.<\/td> must<\/td> study<\/td><\/tr> He can drive.<\/td> can<\/td> drive<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 2. Use Bare Infinite After Perception Verbs<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example Sentences<\/strong><\/td> Perception Verbs<\/strong><\/td> Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> I saw him run across the field.<\/td> saw<\/td> run<\/td><\/tr> We heard her sing at the concert.<\/td> heard<\/td> sing<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 3. Use With Auxiliary Verb – \u2018Do\u2019 and \u2018Don\u2019t\u2019<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example Sentences<\/strong><\/td> Auxiliary Verbs<\/strong><\/td> Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Do you know the answer?<\/td> do<\/td> know<\/td><\/tr> I don’t understand the question.<\/td> don’t<\/td> understand<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 4. Use of Bare Infinitive in \u2018Commands\u2019<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Example Sentences<\/strong><\/td> Type of Sentence<\/strong><\/td> Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Close the door.<\/td> Command<\/td> close<\/td><\/tr> Please sit down.<\/td> Request<\/td> sit<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 5. Use Bare Infinitive After \u2018Had Better\u2019 and \u2018Would Rather\u2019<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Complete Sentence<\/strong><\/td> Phrase Used<\/strong><\/td> Bare Infinitives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> You had better drink water, it\u2019s very hot outside.<\/td> had better<\/td> drink<\/td><\/tr> I would rather stay home today than go out.<\/td> would rather<\/td> stay<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How to Identify \u2018Bare Infinitive’ in a Sentence?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n