Infinitive Verbs

Bare infinitives are used without to, the word to is frequently used with an infinitive, but it is not always the case though, when an infinitive verb or an infinitive is used without the marker to, it is known as a bare infinitive for this reason.

Infinitive Verbs

• Normal Infinitives
  • The infinitive form of a verb is the verb in its most basic form, and the normal infinitive form of a verb is as well most often known as that verb's root word or to put it another way, it is the easiest form of that normal verb. It is the version of that verb which you would expect to actually find in the dictionary, and the infinitive form of a verb is most often prceded by the marker to, examples can include to run, to dance, as well as to think.
• Modal Infinitives
  • Modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, will, shall, would, should, and must are followed by a bare infinitive. An example of this is you must be joking.
  • Semi-modals
• Bare Infinitives
  • Bare infinitives are used without to, the word to is frequently used with an infinitive, but it is not always the case though, when an infinitive verb or an infinitive is used without the marker to, it is known as a bare infinitive for this reason.
  • • There are a great number of bare infinitives, they can most often include certain verbs like bid, let, make, see, hear, need and dare.
• dare
  • I dare not think how many victims there are.
    • The word dare means 'have the courage to do something', and it is most often used as both a main verb and a modal verb. As a modal verb, dare is often used in a lot of negative as well as interrogative sentences, and when the word dare is used as a modal verb it is most often followed by a bare infinitive.
    • However, in 'don't you dare interrupt me' the word dare is always used as a bare infinitive instead of a main verb.
  • How dare she criticise us?
  • Who dares to argue with me?
• bid
• let
  • Let him sit there.
• make
  • She made me cry.
    • The bare infinitive verb is also used with a lot of common verbs of permission as well as causation, they most often include make, bid, let and have.
  • I was made to do it.
    • Nevertheless, the modal verb make takes a to infinitive if it is actually used in the passive voice instead of the present voice.
• see
  • I see you laugh.
• hear
  • I heard him sing a lovely song
    • Several common verbs of perception, such as see, watch, hear, feel and sense can often take both a direct object and a bare infinitive as well.
• need
  • Nobody need think that we are rich.
  • She need not arrive so early.
    • If the verb need is used as a modal verb, it is in general used as a semi-modal verb in negative sentences or in affirmative sentences with a negative meaning. The modal verb need often expresses the absence of necessity or obligation, and the modal need is often followed by a bare infinitive.
  • I need to work late tonight.
    • Need can be used as a main verb in most situations, we can use the main verb need as an alternative or more common form of the semi-modal verb need, the main need is followed by to and it changes in relation to the person, number and tense of it.
  • Need you make so much noise?
    • The word need as a semi-modal verb is often used in a number of interrogative sentences, but this use of this word is considered to be a lot more formal in comparison to the use of the verb need in negative sentences or affirmative sentences with a sort of negative meaning.
• had better
  • You had better leave now
    • The bare infinitive is used with had better.