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The bare infinitive - English lesson
THE BARE INFINITIVE
The bare infinitive (the infinitive without "to") is used AFTER:
Modal verbs (modal auxiliaries):
can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must.
Examples:
- I can swim.
- She should study.
- They must leave.
Certain modal expressions:
would rather, had better, let's, why not.
Examples:
- I would rather stay here.
- You had better see a doctor.
- Let's go to the cinema.
- Why not try again?
After verbs of perception followed by a direct object (DO):
see, hear, watch, feel, notice, followed by someone doing something.
This construction describes a complete action or an event that is perceived.
Examples:
- I saw him cross the street. - Complete action.
- We heard the birds sing. - Event.
Important: To express an ongoing action, the present participle (-ing) is used, not the bare infinitive.
- I saw him crossing the street. - Ongoing action.
After the verbs let and make when followed by a direct object:
let
make
Examples:
- My parents let me go to the party.
- The teacher made us do our homework.
Summary example:
- She must go. (Modal)
- We had better hurry. (Modal expression)
- I watched them play football. (Verb of perception + DO)
- They made him apologize.(Verb make + DO)
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