Bare Infinitive or To Infinitive: When to Use Each?

English verbs often pair with infinitives, the base form of a verb, either with or without “to.” Understanding when to use the bare infinitive or to-infinitive can significantly improve your grammar and fluency. Let’s analyze some rules and examples for each.

What Is the Bare Infinitive?

The bare infinitive is the verb in its base form, without the word to. For example:

• go, eat, play, work.

The bare infinitive is commonly used in specific contexts, which are detailed below.

When to Use the Bare Infinitive

1. After Modal Verbs
   Modal verbs like can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must are followed by the bare infinitive.
   • She can swim very fast.
   • You must study harder.
   • They might leave early.
2. After Certain Verbs of Perception
   Verbs like see, hear, feel, watch, and notice often use the bare infinitive when referring to a complete action.
   • I saw her leave the house.
   • We heard him sing a beautiful song.
3. After “Let,” “Make,” and “Help”
   • Let: Let me explain.
   • Make: She made me apologize.
   • Help: He helped me solve the problem.
4. In Imperatives
   Imperatives, used to give orders or instructions, use the bare infinitive.
   • Open the door.
   • Turn off the lights.
5. With Expressions Like “Had Better,” “Would Rather,” and “Why Not”
   • You had better call him now.
   • I would rather stay home tonight.
   • Why not try something new?

What Is the To-Infinitive?

The to-infinitive is the base form of the verb with the word to. For example:

• to go, to eat, to play, to work.

The to-infinitive is widely used in various contexts, detailed below.

When to Use the To-Infinitive

1. After Certain Verbs
   Many verbs are followed by the to-infinitive, such as:
   • want: I want to travel.
   • decide: They decided to leave early.
   • promise: He promised to call.
   • learn: She’s learning to drive.
2. To Show Purpose
   The to-infinitive often indicates the reason for an action.
   • He went to the gym to exercise.
   • She studied hard to pass the exam.
3. After Adjectives
   Adjectives describing feelings, abilities, or opinions are often followed by the to-infinitive.
   • I’m happy to help.
   • It’s difficult to explain.
4. After “Too” and “Enough”
   • The bag is too heavy to carry.
   • She’s old enough to make her own decisions.
5. After Certain Question Words
   Words like what, where, how, and whether are often followed by the to-infinitive.
   • I don’t know what to say.
   • Can you tell me how to solve this?
6. As the Subject or Object of a Sentence
   • To read books is relaxing. (Subject)
   • She likes to paint. (Object)

Bare Infinitive vs. To-Infinitive: Key Differences

Examples of Bare Infinitive and To-Infinitive

1. She can drive a car. (bare)
2. I need to finish my homework. (to)
3. We saw them play soccer. (bare)
4. He decided to take a break. (to)
5. You must not open the door. (bare)
6. They refused to join the club. (to)
7. I didn’t hear her say that. (bare)
8. She forgot to call her mom. (to)
9. Can you help me solve this? (bare)
10. Why not try a different approach? (bare)
11. What do you want to do? (to)
12. Do you know how to bake a cake? (to)

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:

1. He can _______ (run) faster than anyone in the class.
2. She decided _______ (apply) for the job.
3. I saw him _______ (jump) over the fence.
4. It’s important _______ (listen) carefully during the meeting.

Answers

1. run
2. to apply
3. jump
4. to listen

Summary

The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs, perception verbs, and specific expressions like let and make. The to-infinitive follows certain verbs, adjectives, and phrases to indicate purpose or intention.