Grammar
The bare infinitive: use the verb without to
You can leave now, but you do not have to leave now. Both sentences use the base verb leave. The first follows can, while the second uses the fixed phrase have to.
Choose the base verb without to after common patterns that take a bare infinitive.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
You should call your sister tonight. /juː ʃʊd kɔːl jɔː ˈsɪstə təˈnaɪt/
The short answer
Use the bare infinitive after modal verbs such as can, should, and must. Use it after do in questions and negatives, and after active let and make. The verb stays in its base form without to.
We should leave before the rain starts.
Why it works: Should is a modal verb, so leave follows directly without to.
5 more examples
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Mina can solve the problem.
Can is a modal verb, so solve is the bare infinitive.
Not this:Mina wants
to solvethe problem. What changes: Want normally takes a to-infinitive, so to comes before solve. -
Does your train stop at Central Station?
Does carries the present-tense ending, so stop stays in the base form.
Not this:Your train
stopsat Central Station. What changes: In this statement, stops is the main present-tense verb for the singular subject train. -
Let the children choose a game.
After let and an object, use the base verb choose without to.
Not this:The children want
to choosea game. What changes: Want has a different pattern and is followed by to plus the base verb. -
The loud noise made us look outside.
Active make is followed by an object and a bare infinitive.
Not this:We were made
to lookoutside. What changes: In the passive form, make is followed by a to-infinitive. -
You had better take an umbrella.
Had better is a fixed expression followed by the base verb without to.
Not this:You need
to takean umbrella. What changes: Need is followed here by a to-infinitive.
Read the full guide
Look at the word before the main action. Can, must, and should need the plain verb. Do and does also need the plain verb in questions and negatives. With let and make, the object comes before the plain verb: Let her speak and The joke made us laugh.
Find the verb in its base form
A base verb is the plain form you find in a dictionary. It has no to, no -s, and no -ed ending. In can work, work is the base form. Can carries the meaning of possibility, while work names the action.
I can meet you after lunch.
Meet is the bare infinitive after can. The sentence does not need to before meet.
Which word is the bare infinitive in They might arrive late?
Arrive is the bare infinitive. Might is the modal verb before it.
Use the plain verb after a modal
Modal verbs include can, could, may, might, should, will, and must. Put the base verb directly after the modal. Do not insert to, and do not add an -s even when the subject is he, she, or it.
She must finish the form today.
Must is followed by finish, not to finish or finishes.
The package may arrive tomorrow.
May shows possibility. Arrive remains a base verb for the singular subject package.
Choose the correct ending: He should to rest or he should rest?
He should rest is correct. Should takes the bare infinitive rest.
Keep the main verb plain after do
Use do, does, and did to make many questions and negatives. These helpers carry the tense. The main verb after them stays in the base form, even when does is used with a singular subject.
Did Omar bring his passport?
Did shows past time. Bring stays plain after did.
Nora does not drive to work.
Does has the singular present ending, so drive has no s ending.
Complete the question: Does your cousin ___ nearby?
Write live. Does already carries the singular present form.
Use let with an object and a plain verb
Let is followed by a person or thing, then a bare infinitive. The person or thing is the object that does the next action. This pattern is useful for permission and suggestions.
My supervisor let me leave early.
Me is the object after let. Leave is the bare infinitive that describes my action.
Let the soup cool for five minutes.
The soup is the object, and cool is the base verb after it.
Which sentence is correct: Let him to explain or let him explain?
Let him explain is correct. Let takes object plus bare infinitive.
Use make in active sentences
In an active sentence, make can show that one person, event, or thing causes another person to act or feel something. Put an object after make, then use the bare infinitive. This differs from the passive form.
The warm room made everyone feel sleepy.
Everyone is the object. Feel is the bare infinitive after made.
The coach made the team run another lap.
The team is the object, and run is the base verb that follows made.
What changes in the passive form of They made us wait?
Use to: We were made to wait. Passive make uses a to-infinitive.
Recognize had better and would rather
Had better gives strong practical advice, and would rather states a preference. Both are followed by the bare infinitive. Although had looks like a past form, had better usually refers to a present or future choice.
You had better save a copy of the receipt.
Save follows had better without to.
I'd rather walk than wait for the bus.
Rather is followed by walk, the base verb. I'd is short for I would.
Choose the correct phrase: We'd rather stay or we'd rather to stay?
We'd rather stay is correct. Would rather takes a bare infinitive.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the bare infinitive when the structure before it requires the base verb without to. Modals, do or does, active let and make, had better, and would rather are useful patterns to recognize. Check the word before the verb instead of choosing from the verb alone.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "The bare infinitive: use the verb without to"
What is a bare infinitive?
A bare infinitive is a verb in its base form without to. In We can stay, stay is a bare infinitive. The word can tells you that the plain verb follows without to.
Mina can solve the problem.
Which modal verbs use a bare infinitive?
Common modal verbs such as can, could, may, might, should, will, and must are followed by a bare infinitive. For example, You should call the office and The train may arrive late both use the base verb after a modal.
Mina wants to solve the problem.
Why is the main verb plain after does or did?
Does and did carry the tense information in a question or negative. The next verb stays in the base form. Write Does she know the answer? and Did they finish on time?, with know and finish rather than knows or finished.
Does your train stop at Central Station?
Do let and make take to before the next verb?
In active sentences, let and make take an object followed by a bare infinitive: Let me check and The news made her smile. Passive make changes to a to-infinitive, as in She was made to apologize.
Your train stops at Central Station.
What follows had better and would rather?
Had better and would rather are followed by the base verb without to. Say You had better book a taxi and We would rather eat at home. These expressions each have a fixed verb pattern.
Let the children choose a game.