Bare Infinitives in English

In this reference, we will look at what bare infinitives are, how to form them, their use in English, common errors, and the differences between them and other verb forms. By the end, you will have a better understanding of how to use bare infinitives in your writing and speaking.

What is a Bare Infinitive?

A bare infinitive is a verb form that is used without the word “to”. It is also known as a bare verb or a bare-infinitive. For example, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, whereas the verb “to go” is a to-infinitive.

Bare infinitives are often used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs like "do," "have," and "be". For example, in the sentence “I do go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive. The auxiliary verb “do” is used before the bare infinitive to form the present simple tense.

Bare infinitives can also be used in other verb forms, such as the present perfect, past simple, and future. For example, in the sentence “I have gone to the store”, the verb “gone” is a bare infinitive. The auxiliary verb “have” is used before the bare infinitive to form the present perfect tense.

The Use of Bare Infinitives in English

Bare infinitives are used in English to express a variety of meanings.

They often help communicate commands and requests, as well as form the negative of certain verb forms. For example, in the sentence “Don’t go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive. The auxiliary verb “do” is used before the bare infinitive to form the negative of the present simple tense.

Bare infinitives help express purpose and intention. For example, in the sentence “I went to the store to buy milk”, the verb “buy” is a bare infinitive. The auxiliary verb “to” is used before the bare infinitive to express purpose or intention.

Bare infinitives can help express future plans and intentions. For example, in the sentence “I’m going to go to the store tomorrow”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive. The auxiliary verb “to” is used before the bare infinitive to express future plans or intentions.

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How to Form Bare Infinitives

Bare infinitives are formed by removing the word “to” from the to-infinitive form of the verb. For example, the to-infinitive form of the verb “go” is “to go”, and the bare infinitive form is simply “go”.

Bare infinitives can also be formed by removing the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” from the present simple form of the verb. For example, the present simple form of the verb “go” is “do go” or “does go”, and the bare infinitive form is simply “go”.

Bare infinitives can also be formed by removing the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” from the present perfect form of the verb. For example, the present perfect form of the verb “go” is “have gone” or “has gone”, and the bare infinitive form is simply “gone”.

Examples of Bare Infinitives

Examples of bare infinitives in English:

• “I do go to the store.” (present simple)
• “I went to the store to buy mints.” (purpose)
• “I’m going to go to the store tomorrow.” (future plan)
• “Don’t go to the store.” (negative)
• “I have gone to the gym.” (present perfect)

Common Errors with Bare Infinitives

One of the most common errors with bare infinitives is using the wrong auxiliary verb. For example, many learners make the mistake of using the auxiliary verb “do” instead of “have” in the present perfect tense. For example, instead of saying “I have gone to the store”, they might say “I do gone to the store”, which is incorrect.

Using the wrong tense is also a common problem. For example, learners often make the mistake of using the present simple instead of the present perfect. Instead of saying “I have gone to the store”, they might say “I do go to the store”, which is incorrect.

Finally, many learners use the wrong verb form. For example, using a to-infinitive instead of a bare infinitive. Instead of saying “I’m going to go to the store tomorrow”, they might say “I’m to go to the store tomorrow”, which is incorrect. 

The Difference between Bare Infinitive and to-infinitive

The main difference between a bare infinitive and a to-infinitive is that a bare infinitive is used without the word “to”, whereas a to-infinitive is used with the word “to”. For example, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, whereas the verb “to go” is a to-infinitive.

The other difference between a bare infinitive and a to-infinitive is that a bare infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs such as do, have, and be, whereas a to-infinitive is used without auxiliary verbs. For example, in the sentence “I do go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, and the auxiliary verb “do” is used before it. In the sentence “I want to go to the store”, the verb “go” is a to-infinitive, and no auxiliary verb is used before it.

The Difference between Bare Infinitive and Gerunds

The main difference between a bare infinitive and a gerund is that a bare infinitive is used without the word “to”, whereas a gerund is used with the suffix “ing”. For example, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, whereas the verb “going” is a gerund.

The other difference between a bare infinitive and a gerund is that a bare infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs such as do, have, and be, whereas a gerund is used without auxiliary verbs. For example, in the sentence “I do go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, and the auxiliary verb “do” is used before it. In the sentence “I enjoy going to the store”, the verb “going” is a gerund, and no auxiliary verb is used before it.

Bare Infinitives and Auxiliary Verbs

As mentioned earlier, bare infinitives often come together with auxiliary verbs. For example, in the sentence “I do go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, and the auxiliary verb “do” is used before it.

The use of auxiliary verbs with bare infinitives can be confusing for some learners of English. It is important to remember that auxiliary verbs are used to form different verb tenses, such as the present simple, present perfect, and future.

Bare Infinitives and Modal Verbs

Bare infinitives are often used in conjunction with modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, and will. For example, in the sentence “I can go to the store”, the verb “go” is a bare infinitive, and the modal verb “can” is used before it.

The use of modal verbs with bare infinitives can also be confusing for some learners of English. It is important to remember that modal verbs are used to express different meanings, such as ability, permission, obligation, and possibility.

Summary

In this reference, we looked at what bare infinitives are, how to form them, their use in English, common errors, and the differences between them and other verb forms. We also discussed how to use auxiliary verbs and modal verbs with bare infinitives.

Remember to always pay attention to the verb form and auxiliary verbs when using bare infinitives, as well as the meaning that you are trying to express. So, to improve your skills and learn to use bare infinitives correctly, make sure to practice using them in different contexts