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Using the infinitive without to after modal verbs and certain verbs.
Practice: build the sentences →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.
She can swim.
Она умеет плавать.
Bare infinitive after modal "can".
Let me help you.
Позволь мне помочь тебе.
Bare infinitive after "let".
I saw him leave.
Я видел, как он ушёл.
Bare infinitive after perception verb.
Core modal verbs are normally followed by the bare infinitive.
For example, can swim, must leave, should study, and might arrive.
She can swim.
Она умеет плавать.
Can + bare infinitive.
You must leave now.
Ты должен уйти сейчас.
Must + bare infinitive.
They might arrive soon.
Они, возможно, скоро приедут.
Might + bare infinitive.
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.
Do you know the answer?
Ты знаешь ответ?
Do + bare infinitive.
I do not understand.
Я не понимаю.
Do not + bare infinitive.
I did see him yesterday.
Я действительно видел его вчера.
Emphatic do + bare infinitive.
Let is followed by an object and the bare infinitive.
For example, Let me help you and She let him leave early.
Let me help you.
Позволь мне помочь тебе.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
She let him leave early.
Она позволила ему уйти рано.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
Make is followed by an object and the bare infinitive in the active causative construction.
For example, The teacher made us rewrite the exercise.
The teacher made us rewrite the exercise.
Учитель заставил нас переписать упражнение.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
The joke made everyone laugh.
Шутка заставила всех смеяться.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
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.
I had him check the figures.
Я поручил ему проверить цифры.
Have + object + bare infinitive.
She had the assistant call the client.
Она попросила ассистента позвонить клиенту.
Have + object + bare infinitive.
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.
I saw him cross the street.
Я видел, как он перешёл улицу.
See + object + bare infinitive: complete action.
We heard her sing.
Мы слышали, как она пела.
Hear + object + bare infinitive.
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.
I saw him cross the street.
Я видел, как он перешёл улицу.
Bare infinitive: complete event.
I saw him crossing the street.
Я видел, как он переходил улицу.
-ing form: 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.
She helped me carry the boxes.
Она помогла мне нести коробки.
Help + object + bare infinitive.
She helped me to carry the boxes.
Она помогла мне нести коробки.
Help + object + to-infinitive (also correct).
Rather than can be followed by a bare infinitive when two actions are contrasted.
For example, I would walk rather than take the bus.
I would walk rather than take the bus.
Я лучше пойду пешком, чем поеду на автобусе.
Rather than + bare infinitive.
She decided to wait rather than leave.
Она решила подождать, а не уходить.
Rather than + bare infinitive.
Had better is followed by the bare infinitive.
For example, You had better leave now. Do not use to after had better.
You had better leave now.
Тебе лучше уйти сейчас.
Had better + bare infinitive.
We had better take an umbrella.
Нам лучше взять зонт.
Had better + bare infinitive.
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.
I would rather stay at home.
Я предпочёл бы остаться дома.
Would rather + bare infinitive.
She would rather walk than drive.
Она предпочла бы идти пешком, а не ехать.
Would rather + bare infinitive.
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.
I would rather you stayed here.
Я предпочёл бы, чтобы ты остался здесь.
Would rather + object + past simple.
She would rather he did not know.
Она предпочла бы, чтобы он не знал.
Would rather + object + past simple.
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 ask her?
Почему бы не спросить её?
Why not + bare infinitive.
Why wait until tomorrow?
Зачем ждать до завтра?
Why + bare infinitive.
Why not + bare infinitive is commonly used to make a suggestion.
For example, Why not take the train? and Why not ask for help?
Why not take the train?
Почему бы не поехать на поезде?
Why not + bare infinitive: suggestion.
Why not ask for help?
Почему бы не попросить помощи?
Why not + bare infinitive.
The imperative uses the bare form of the verb without to.
For example, Come here, Open the window, and Be careful.
Come here.
Иди сюда.
Imperative: bare form.
Open the window.
Открой окно.
Imperative: bare form.
Be careful.
Будь осторожен.
Imperative with be.
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.
I heard John open the door.
Я слышал, как Джон открыл дверь.
Perception verb + object + bare infinitive.
She watched the children play.
Она наблюдала, как дети играют.
Watch + object + bare infinitive.
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.
They saw him leave.
Они видели, как он ушёл.
Active: bare infinitive.
He was seen to leave.
Видели, как он ушёл.
Passive: to-infinitive.
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.
They made him leave.
Они заставили его уйти.
Active causative: make + object + bare infinitive.
He was made to leave.
Его заставили уйти.
Passive causative: be made + to-infinitive.
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.
The manager made the employees work late.
Менеджер заставил сотрудников работать допоздна.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
The film made me cry.
Фильм заставил меня плакать.
Make + object + bare infinitive.
Let + object + bare infinitive expresses permission for someone to perform an action.
For example, They let us use the conference room.
They let us use the conference room.
Они позволили нам использовать конференц-зал.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
She let the children play outside.
Она разрешила детям играть на улице.
Let + object + bare infinitive.
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.
You must leave.
Ты должен уйти.
Bare infinitive after modal "must".
You want to leave.
Ты хочешь уйти.
To-infinitive after "want".
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.
She does not like it.
Ей это не нравится.
Does not + bare infinitive.
They did not go home.
Они не пошли домой.
Did not + bare infinitive.
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.
I do understand your point.
Я действительно понимаю твою точку зрения.
Emphatic do + bare infinitive.
She did tell me the truth.
Она действительно сказала мне правду.
Emphatic did + bare infinitive.
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.
She can swim.
Она умеет плавать.
Correct: no "to" after modal.
She can to swim.
Она умеет плавать.
Incorrect: no "to" after "can".
Let me help you.
Позволь мне помочь тебе.
Correct: let + object + bare infinitive.
Let me to help you.
Позволь мне помочь тебе.
Incorrect: no "to" after "let".
He was made to leave.
Его заставили уйти.
Correct passive causative: to-infinitive.
He was made leave.
Его заставили уйти.
Incorrect: passive requires "to" after "made".