THE BARE INFINITIVES

THE BARE INFINITIVES

The zero infinitive (also called bare infinitive) is the base form of a verb without “to”. It appears in specific grammatical contexts. Here are the different types of zero infinitive usages with explanations and examples:

1. The Modal Verbs like will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could, must, need, dare etc., are always followed by a zero/ bare infinitive.

Examples:

1. He will play. (Not “will to play”)

2. She would swim well. (Not “would to swim”)

3. We shall play.

4. They should help their parents.

5. It may rain.

6. It might thunder last night.

7. He can pass the test.

8. I could solve the sum.

9. You must leave now.

10. You need not worry.

11. He dare cross the English Channel.

2. Auxiliary Verbs 'do', 'does', 'did' (in questions and negatives) are always followed by a zero/ bare infinitive.

Examples:

1. I don’t know the answer. (Not “don’t to know”)

2. He does not like coffee.  (Not “does not to like”)

3. She didn’t see the movie.

4. Do you know the answer?

5. Does he like coffee?

6. Did she see the movie?

3. Certain Verbs of Perception like see, hear, watch, feel, notice, observe are followed by a zero/ bare infinitive when the action is completed or seen/heard as a whole.

Examples:

1. I saw them go. (Not “to go”)

2. We heard him sing a beautiful song. (Not “to sing”)

3. She watched them play in the park.

4. We felt the sun warm our skin.

5. They noticed him enter the room silently.

6. The birdwatchers observed the birds build their nest.

4. The causative verbs with infinitives:

(Causative verbs are verbs that express the idea of making or causing someone to do something, or causing something to happen. They indicate that one person or thing causes another person or thing to perform an action.)

The causative verbs that bare infinitives are: Make, have, let

Examples:

1. She made him apologize. (Not “to apologize”)

2. I'll have him do the task. (Not “to do”)

3. They let us leave early.

The causative verbs that take "to" + infinitives are: Get, force, allow, cause

Examples:

1. I got Ram to help me.

2. They forced the thief to confess.

3. The manager allowed us to enter the hall.

4. The storm caused the trees to fell.

With the causative verb ‘help’, both constructions are possible.

Examples:

1. Mother helped me to finish the project.

2. Mother helped me finish the project. (Also "to finish")

5. Bare infinitives with the prepositions: 'but,' 'except' and 'than.'

Examples:

1. He did nothing but cry when he failed in the exam.

2. The players have nothing left to do except wait for the rain to stop.

6. Bare infinitives are used after 'sooner than', 'rather than', 'had better'.

Examples:

1. He’d sooner die than beg.

2. They would rather play in the nets.

3. I’d rather starve than steal.

4. He had better study abroad.

5. You had better take coaching for cricket.

7. Bare infinitives are used in Coordinated Verb Structures (with 'and', 'or')

If the first verb takes a to-infinitive or bare infinitive, the second verb often omits "to".

Examples:

1. She decided to come and help us. (Not “to help”)

2. He can read or write.

8. Bare infinitives are used after 'Why (not)...?' Questions.

“Why” and “Why not” are followed by the bare infinitive when used to make suggestions or ask reasons.

Examples:

1. Why go there if you’re tired?

2. Why not ask for help?

N.B.: Collected from different sources.