Bare Infinitives in English: Meaning, Uses and Key Rules

Bare Infinitives appear in many common English structures, especially after modal verbs, causative verbs and verbs of perception. Although the form looks simple, learners often make mistakes by adding to where it is not needed or confusing the bare infinitive with the to-infinitive.

Understanding when to use a bare infinitive will help you build grammatically accurate sentences and recognize common verb patterns more easily. This guide explains its meaning, major uses, important exceptions and typical errors with clear examples.

What are Bare Infinitives?

A bare infinitive is the base form of a verb used without the word “to.” In other words, it has the same form as the infinitive listed in a dictionary, but it does not include to.

Examples:

• go
• eat
• study
• work
• be

Compare the two forms:

Example: I can swim. In this sentence, swim is a bare infinitive because it follows the modal verb can without to.

A bare infinitive is a non-finite verb form, so it does not change according to person, number or tense. The grammatical information is normally carried by another verb or by the surrounding structure.

Examples:

• She can speak English.
• They can speak English.
• He could speak English when he was five.

In all three sentences, speak remains unchanged.

When are Bare Infinitives used?

Bare infinitives occur in several recognizable grammatical patterns. Learning these structures is more useful than trying to decide whether a verb “looks right” without to.

After modal verbs

One of the main uses of bare infinitives is after core modal auxiliary verbs, including can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would.

The basic structure is:

Subject + modal verb + bare infinitive

Examples:

• You should check your answers carefully.
• She can play the piano.
• We might leave early.
• They must finish the project today.

The verb after the modal stays in its base form. Do not add to, -s, -ed or -ing directly after a core modal verb.

Example: Incorrect: She can to swim. → Correct: She can swim.

A useful exception to remember is ought to. Although ought has modal characteristics, it is followed by to + infinitive.

Example: You ought to apologize.

After let and make

The verbs let and make can be followed by an object and a bare infinitive.

The structures are:

Subject + let + object + bare infinitive

Subject + make + object + bare infinitive

Let expresses permission, while make commonly expresses causing or forcing someone to do something.

Examples:

• My parents let me stay out late.
• The teacher made us rewrite the paragraph.
• Let him explain the situation.
• The joke made everyone laugh.

A key point appears when make changes to the passive voice. In the passive structure, the verb that follows normally takes to.

Example: The teacher made him rewrite the essay. → He was made to rewrite the essay.

After have in causative structures

Have can also be used with an object and a bare infinitive when one person arranges for or asks another person to perform an action.

The structure is:

Subject + have + person + bare infinitive

Examples:

• I had my assistant send the email.
• She had the technician check the computer.

Do not confuse this structure with have + thing + past participle, which is another common causative pattern.

Example: I had my computer repaired.

After help

After help, both the bare infinitive and the to-infinitive are grammatically possible in many contexts.

The structures are:

help + object + bare infinitive

help + object + to-infinitive

Examples:

• She helped me carry the boxes.
• She helped me to carry the boxes.

Both sentences are acceptable. The version without to is common, particularly in everyday English.

Help can also appear without an object before the infinitive.

Example: This guide can help improve your writing.

After verbs of perception

Bare infinitives can follow certain verbs of perception such as see, hear, watch, notice and feel.

The common structure is:

Subject + perception verb + object + bare infinitive

This pattern often presents the action as a complete event or an event perceived as a whole.

Examples:

• I saw him cross the street.
• We heard the baby cry.
• She watched the plane take off.
• They noticed him leave the building.

These verbs can also be followed by an object + V-ing. The difference is mainly one of perspective.

Compare:

Example: I saw him cross the street. → The crossing is viewed as a complete event.

Example: I saw him crossing the street. → The speaker saw the action while it was in progress.

Therefore, the choice between a bare infinitive and an -ing form may change how the action is presented.

After had better and would rather

Fixed expressions such as had better and would rather are followed by a bare infinitive.

The structures are:

Subject + had better + bare infinitive

Subject + would rather + bare infinitive

Examples:

• You had better leave now.
• We had better check the schedule.
• I would rather stay at home.
• She would rather take the train.

Do not place to after these expressions.

Example: Incorrect: You had better to call him. → Correct: You had better call him.

After why and why not

A bare infinitive can follow why or why not, particularly when making a suggestion or asking why an action should be taken.

The patterns are:

Why + bare infinitive?

Why not + bare infinitive?

Examples:

• Why wait until tomorrow?
• Why worry about it now?
• Why not ask your teacher?
• Why not take a short break?

This structure is especially common in conversation and informal suggestions.

After but, except and rather than in certain structures

A bare infinitive may appear after words such as but, except or rather than when it is grammatically parallel to another verb or follows expressions such as do nothing but.

Examples:

• He did nothing but complain.
• We had no option except wait.
• She decided to walk rather than take a taxi.

However, the form after except or but depends on the surrounding sentence. A to-infinitive may also be required in other structures, so you should consider the complete pattern rather than memorizing the word alone.

Bare infinitive vs. to-infinitive

Bare infinitives and to-infinitives both contain the base form of a verb, but they occur in different grammatical environments. The following comparison summarizes several common patterns.

The key principle is that the choice is controlled by the grammatical structure before the infinitive. You cannot freely remove or add to without checking the verb or expression that introduces it.

Common mistakes with bare infinitives

• Adding “to” after a modal verb: Core modal verbs are followed directly by a bare infinitive. Example: Incorrect: She must to finish today. → Correct: She must finish today.
• Using “to” after let: Let + object normally takes a bare infinitive. Example: Incorrect: They let us to enter. → Correct: They let us enter.
• Using “to” after make in the active voice: Active make + object takes a bare infinitive. Example: Incorrect: The teacher made me to stay. → Correct: The teacher made me stay.
• Forgetting “to” after passive make: When make becomes passive, the following verb normally takes to. Example: Incorrect: He was made apologize. → Correct: He was made to apologize.
• Using the wrong form after had better: Had better takes a bare infinitive. Example: Incorrect: You had better to study. → Correct: You had better study.

Practice exercises on Bare Infinitives

The following exercise reviews the main structures above. Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. You should ______ the instructions carefully. (read)
2. My parents let me ______ to the concert. (go)
3. The teacher made us ______ the exercise again. (do)
4. I saw the boy ______ the door and run outside. (open)
5. You had better ______ an umbrella. (take)
6. Why not ______ her directly? (ask)
7. She helped me ______ the heavy table. (move)
8. He was made ______ for the damage. (pay)

Answers:

1. read
2. go
3. do
4. open
5. take
6. ask
7. move or to move
8. to pay

The final item is different because make is used in the passive voice, so the structure changes from make + object + bare infinitive to be made + to-infinitive.

See more:

• The Suggest Structure in English: Rules, Usage, and Examples
• English Vowels Explained: Definition, Types, and Correct Pronunciation

Bare Infinitives are base verb forms used without to in specific structures, particularly after core modal verbs, let, make, have, perception verbs, had better and would rather. Instead of memorizing isolated examples, focus on recognizing the grammatical pattern that comes before the verb.

Understanding these patterns will also make it easier to distinguish bare infinitives from to-infinitives and -ing forms in everyday English.

Frequently asked questions about Bare Infinitives

Do modal verbs take bare infinitives?

Yes. Core modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, should, will and would are followed by a bare infinitive.

Can “help” be followed by both a bare infinitive and a to-infinitive?

Yes. Both help someone do something and help someone to do something are grammatically acceptable in many contexts.

What is the difference between “I saw him leave” and “I saw him leaving”?

I saw him leave presents the action as a complete event, while I saw him leaving focuses on the action while it was in progress.

Keywords:

Full infinitive