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Using the infinitive without to after modal verbs and certain verbs.
The bare infinitive is the base form of a verb used without to in particular grammatical constructions.
It commonly occurs after modal verbs and auxiliary do, and in certain causative, perception, and fixed structures.
Core modal verbs are normally followed by the bare infinitive.
For example, can swim, must leave, should study, and might arrive.
The auxiliary do is followed by the bare infinitive in questions, negatives, and emphatic statements.
For example, Do you know? I do not understand. I did see him.
Let is followed by an object and the bare infinitive.
For example, Let me help you and She let him leave early.
Make is followed by an object and the bare infinitive in the active causative construction.
For example, The teacher made us rewrite the exercise.
Have can be followed by an object and the bare infinitive in a causative construction.
For example, I had him check the figures and She had the assistant call the client.
Certain perception verbs can be followed by an object and a bare infinitive when the speaker presents the whole action as a complete event.
For example, I saw him cross the street and We heard her sing.
Perception verbs can be followed by either a bare infinitive or an -ing form, with a difference in how the event is viewed.
Compare I saw him cross the street, which presents the event as a whole, with I saw him crossing the street, which focuses on the activity in progress.
Help can be followed by either a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive.
For example, She helped me carry the boxes and She helped me to carry the boxes.
Rather than can be followed by a bare infinitive when two actions are contrasted.
For example, I would walk rather than take the bus.
Had better is followed by the bare infinitive.
For example, You had better leave now. Do not use to after had better.
Would rather is followed by the bare infinitive when the subject of the two actions is the same.
For example, I would rather stay at home.
When would rather is followed by a different subject, the following clause normally uses the Past Simple rather than a bare infinitive.
For example, I would rather you stayed here.
Why can introduce a bare infinitive in suggestions and questions, especially in informal English.
For example, Why not ask her? and Why wait until tomorrow?
Why not + bare infinitive is commonly used to make a suggestion.
For example, Why not take the train? and Why not ask for help?
The imperative uses the bare form of the verb without to.
For example, Come here, Open the window, and Be careful.
When a perception verb is followed by an object and bare infinitive, the object is understood as the performer of the action.
For example, I heard John open the door.
Perception constructions that use a passive subject generally use a to-infinitive rather than a bare infinitive.
Compare They saw him leave with He was seen to leave.
Causative make and have can take a bare infinitive in active constructions, while corresponding passive constructions use to-infinitives in certain patterns.
For example, They made him leave becomes He was made to leave.
The active construction make + object + bare infinitive expresses that someone causes another person to perform an action.
For example, The manager made the employees work late.
Let + object + bare infinitive expresses permission for someone to perform an action.
For example, They let us use the conference room.
The choice between a bare infinitive and a to-infinitive depends on the preceding verb or grammatical construction.
For example, You must leave uses a bare infinitive, while You want to leave uses a to-infinitive.
The bare form follows do not, does not, and did not in negative clauses.
For example, She does not like it and They did not go home.
Do can be used emphatically before a bare infinitive to strengthen an affirmative statement.
For example, I do understand your point and She did tell me the truth.
Use the bare infinitive only in grammatical environments that require it.
Common mistakes include adding to after modal verbs, make, or let; using a bare infinitive after verbs that require to; and confusing the active and passive forms of causative and perception constructions.