A grammar point that is tough for a lot of English learners is the bare infinitive.
English learners usually have a strong grasp on gerunds that end in -ing, and they understand a common alternative, albeit with unique situations, is the infinitive with “to” and the 1st form of the verb. However, there is something between the two. The bare infinitive has some very specific applications that you can finally get to know.
The bare infinitive is used in some very particular situations. You are not free to use them wherever you want. The problem is that if you use the full infinitive with “to,” a native speaker can immediately hear a mistake.
When can we use this grammar point?
Complement of a modal verb
You probably already learned to use the bare infinitive without even knowing it was one. The most common way you see this grammar point is with a modal verb. It goes with will, would, should, could, can, may, and might.
I will go to the store.
= NOT I will to go to the store
You should eat more.
= NOT you should to eat more or you should ate more
Another important word it works with is do. When we emphasize something, we use “do” in the present or past with a bare infinitive.
You’re wrong! I did like the movie.
= I am correcting you. It was wrong to say that I did not like the movie.
I do have something to do, but I will leave it for later.
= Although I REALLY have tasks, I will not do them.
Complement of transitive verbs of sense
This is where you will encounter bare infinitives and not understand it for the first time.
If you sense someone else’s action, you will make the other person the object, and their action will become a bare infinitive. This bare infinitive is triggered by most of the verbs of perceiving things like watch, see, feel, or hear.
I heard my mom call my name.
= My mom called my name. I heard her.
No way! I am not going inside that scary house! I saw something move.
= Something moved. I saw it.
[verb] [someone] [bare infinitive] VS [verb] [someone] [gerund]
All of those sentences I just mentioned can be changed:
I heard my mom calling my name.
I saw something moving.
The difference has to do with the time of the perception.
I heard my mom call my name: sounds like a one-time quick action.
I heard my mom calling my name: sounds like an ongoing action that happened a few times.
What you learned about knowing whether to use simple past or past progressive is true here.
Complement of a verb of permission or causation
Another major topic that usually triggers the bare infinitive is the “causative.” When we talk about causing actions with make, have, or let, we always use the bare infinitive.
The child made his mom clean the mess.
= His mom cleaned the mess because the child caused an action.
Can you have the waiter bring us glasses of water for the whole table?
= Can you tell the waiter to bring us all water?
My dad let me stay up late.
= My dad said it is okay if I stay awake so late.
The difference between make and have
Both of these are used for causation. Make is more general. Have is the result of a verbal command or request.
The child spilled his food, which made his mom clean the table.
= The spill created the necessity for mom’s actions.
The child spilled his food and had his mom clean the table.
= The child said “please, mom,” or “clean the mess,” so she cleaned it.
Get (to) and allow should be in this group, but they are not
There is a third major verb of causation: get, which you should remember as “get to” because we never drop “to” if it has this meaning. It is different from make and have because it is the result of convincing and changing minds.
The woman got her boyfriend to carry her bags.
= The woman made her boyfriend carry her bags. He did not want to do it at first. She probably yelled at him or guilted him so that he would change his mind and do it.
Think of this one as “get to” because we will never drop “to,” even when it is the short form:
A: Wow! Your dad is great. He drove you to the concert.
B: I had to try hard to get him to. (drive is deleted, but to is not.)
Help is in this group for some reason
Help is a very significant inclusion into this group of bare infinitive triggers. It does not fit with the others’ meanings, so it’s strange that it’s here.
My friend helped me move to another apartment.
= My friend gave assistance for my relocation. (Probably moving boxes)
It is possible to use “to” with help, but the meaning changes to purpose, not the object of the action.
My friend helped me to move to another apartment.
= My friend gave me the assistance so that I was able to relocate. (Probably contacting real estate agents or doing some paperwork)
Fixed construction of questioning logic with “why”
One interesting construction that uses the bare infinitive is questions starting with “why” that question someone’s logic. They appear to be simple present verbs, but do not be fooled.
This construction is also strange because there is no subject, and not can come before the verb.
Why start now?
= What is your reason for starting now? Explain that.
Why not wait?
= I suggest waiting. Is it such a bad idea to wait?
Why be so hateful?
= What is your reason for being hateful. Explain that.
Why not eat less?
= I suggest that you eat less.
Summary
- The bare infinitive is the infinitive verb (1st form) without “to”
- After a modal verb like should, would, could, can, do, etc.
- Add to verbs of sensing that take objects like watch, see, feel, or hear
- Add to causative verbs (and “help”)
- Used in the special expression with “why”
I hope you now understand how to use the bare infinitive. It can be difficult to understand why natives sometimes do not use -ing or “to.” The reason is simple: certain verbs prefer the bare infinitive.
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