Uses of the bare infinitive

The word to is frequently used with an infinitive, but it is not an essential part or sign of it. When an infinitive is used
without the marker to it is called a bare infinitive.

Uses of the bare infinitive

The infinitive is used without to after certain verbs like bid, let, make, see, hear, need, dare etc.

 I bade him go. (NOT I bade him to go.)

 Let him sit there. (NOT Let him to sit there.)
 She made me cry. (NOT She made me to cry.)
 I heard him sing a lovely song. (NOT I heard him to sing a lovely song.)

The bare infinitive is also used after the verbs will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could and must.

 I will wait. (NOT I will to wait.)

 You must obey my instructions. (NOT You must to obey my instructions.)
 He can speak five languages. (NOT He can to speak five languages.)
 You should come to school in time. (NOT You should to cometo school in time.)

The infinitive is also used without to after had better, would rather, sooner than and rather than.

 You had better ask his permission. (NOT You had better to ask his permission.)
 I would rather die than surrender. (NOT I would rather to diethan surrender.)
 He would rather play than work.
Bare Infinitive
Infinitive form without 'To' is called Bare Infinitive. Bare Infinitives (without 'To') are used in the following situations:

Bare Infinitive is used after Modals - may, might, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must, need, dare. Bare Infinitive is
not used after two Modals - 'Ought To and Used To'. Two modals - need and dare are semi modals. Both can be used as
an ordinary verb also. When need and dare are used as an ordinary verb, To+Infinitive comes after them.

Binaa 'To' kee Infinitive form ko Bare Infininitive kahate haiN. Bare Infinintive (Binna 'To') kaa prayog in paristhitio meiN
kiyaa jaataa hai:

Bare Infinitive Modals - may, might, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must, need, dare ke baad prayog kiye jaate
haiN. Bare Infinitive 2 Modal - 'Ought To aur Used To' ke baad prayukt nahee hote hai. Do Modal - need aur dare Semi
Modal hai. Dono sadhaaraN verb kee tarah bhee istemaal kiye jaa sakate haiN. Jab need aur dare sadhaaraN verb kee
tarah prayukt hate haiN, tab unke baad To+Infinitive aataa hai /
Other verbs with which Bare Infinitive is used in their Active Voice form are - let, make, see, hear, feel, help, watch,
observe, overhear, notice, etc. To+Infinitive comes in the Passive Voice form of the above verbs except verb 'Let'. Bare
Infinitive is used in the passive voice form of 'Let' also.

Doosare verb jinake saath Bare Infinitive unakee Active Voice form meiN prayukt hote hai, nimn hai - let, make, see, hear,
feel, help, watch, observe, overhear, notice, etc. Sivaaye verb 'Let' ke in verbs ke Passive Form meiN To+Infinitive kaa
prayog hotaa hai. 'Let' ke passive voice meiN bhee Bare Infinitive prayukt hotaa hai.

A list of verbs followed by Bare Infinitive is given below:

Verb Verb Verb

Modal - will bid do nothing but

Modal - shall feel do anything but

Modal - may hear do everything but

Modal - can let conjunction than

Modal - might make had better

Modal - would notice had sooner

Modal - should observe rather than

Modal - must overhear sooner than

Modal - need see would rather

Modal - dare watch would sooner

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Examples

CBI is case kee chhaanbeen kar sakatee hai. CBI may investigate the case.

Vah shaayad naa aaye. He might not come.

Vah nritya nahee karegee. She will not dance.

Vah baat karegaa. He would talk.

Use nahee jaanaa chaahiye. She should not go.

HameN aaj charchaa karane kee jaroorat nahee hai. We need not discuss today.

Use aaj charchaa karane kee aavashyakataa hai. He needs to discuss today.

Vah mere adhikaar ko chunautee nahee de sakataa hai. He dare not challenge my authority.
Vah aisaa kahane kaa saahas karataa hai. He dares to speak so.

Usane hameN machine chalaane dee. He let us operate the machine.

Hamane usakaa parikshaN khatm karawaayaa. We made her finish the experiment.

Usase parikshaN hamaare dwaaraa band karawaayaa gayaa. She was made to finish the experiment by us.

Maine use aate dekhaa. I saw him come.

Maine use bathroom meiN gaate sunaa. I heard her sing in the bathroom.

Maine usake sparsh ko mahasoos kiyaa. I felt her touch.

Use bolane do. Let him speak.

Use bolane diyaa gayaa. He was let speak.

Yah website aapako Angrejee seekhane meiN madad karatee hai. (Help ke saath This website helps you learn English. (With help 'to
'to learn' bhee aa sakataa hai). learn' can also come).

Karamachaare sivaaye virodh ke kuchh nahee kar sakate. Workers can do nothing but protest.

Main bhaaShaN dene ke alaawaa kuchh bhee kar sakataa hooN. I can do everything but deliver a speech.
Achchhaa huaa usane mujhe pasand kiyaa. She had better select me.

Usake saath jaane ke bajaaye maiN sonaa pasand karungaa. I would sleep rather than go with her.

Vartika Madhur se jyaadaa hoshiaar hai. Vartika is more intelligent than Madhur.