Bare Infinitive in English: Definition and Examples

In English grammar, a bare infinitive is the base form of a verb without the particle “to” before it. Bare infinitives are used in various contexts and have specific rules that govern their usage. In this article, we will explore the definition of bare infinitive, examples of how it is used in sentences, and tips on using it correctly.

Definition of Bare Infinitive

A bare infinitive is the base form of a verb without the particle “to” before it. It is used after certain verbs, such as modal verbs (can, could, will, would), causative verbs (make, let), and some others like help and see. For example:

– She can sing beautifully.
– Let him go to the store.
– I saw him leave.

In these sentences, “sing,” “go,” and “leave” are all bare infinitives.

Examples of Bare Infinitive Usage

1. Modal Verbs:
– She should study harder to pass the exam.
– You must finish your homework before going out.

2. Causative Verbs:
– He made me clean my room.
– They let us use their car for the weekend.

3. Verb + Object + Bare Infinitive:
– I saw him eat sushi for lunch.
– They heard her sing at the concert.

4. Verb + Preposition + Object + Bare Infinitive:
– She advised him to take a break.
– They asked us to come early for the meeting.

5. To-infinitive vs Bare Infinitive:
– I want to learn how to play guitar. (to-infinitive)
– I watch her play guitar every day. (bare infinitive)

Tips on Using Bare Infinitives Correctly

1. Use a bare infinitve after modal verbs like can,could,would
2.Use a bare infinivite after causative verbs like make ,let

Overall,bare infintives are widely used in english language ,it helps sentence formation easy .