Bare Infinitives
When the infinitive marker “to” is removed from phrases, the result is a bare infinitive. A few basic verbs, such as create, let, assist, perceive, etc., permit the absence of the infinitive signature “to” in a phrase.
The basic form of a verb is used within a phrase to create bare infinitives, also referred to as zero infinitives, which are created without the use of to. Although this can be perplexing, bare infinitives are less frequent than complete infinitives.
Example:
1. We might be late tonight.
2. He let the kid climb the tree.
3. I should do my English homework.
4. I made him beg for the next candy.
5. He helped them do it.
6. I heard the car arrive before I saw it.
7. I don’t drink coffee in the evening.
8. I let the dog finish my food.
Infinitives – Meaning, Definition, Types, How to Use, Examples
An Infinitive is a word form that can be used as a name, a term, or a phrase. They can help you talk about actions without actually doing them. Most of the time, infinitives are made by putting the phrase before the basic word. Regular and irregular verbs, auxiliary verbs, linking verbs, passive and active verbs, and many other types of verbs are all used in the English language.
Even though an infinitive has a verb, it can’t be used as a verb. Since they can’t show mood independently, words with them must also include a limited main verb. Learn more about the definition, types, and sentence usage of infinitives by reading the article.
Table of Content
- What are Infinitives?
- What are the Types of Infinitives?
- Full Infinitives
- Bare Infinitives
- Infinitives vs. Prepositional Phrases
- Infinitives vs. Gerunds
- What is an Infinitive Phrase?
- How to Use Infinitives in a Sentence?
- Identify the Infinitives in a Sentence
- Examples of Infinitives
- Conclusion on Infinitives
- Practice Questions on Infinitives
- FAQs on Infinitives