Bare The bare infinitive is not used in as many contexts as the full infinitive, but some of these are

quite common:

The bare infinitive is used as the main verb after the dummy auxiliary verb do, or most modal auxiliary verbs (such as will, can, or should). So, "I will/do/can/etc. see it."

Several common verbs of perception, including see, watch, hear, feel, and sense take a direct object and a bare infinitive, where the bare infinitive indicates an action taken by the main verb's direct object. So, "I saw/watched/heard/etc. it happen." (A similar meaning can be effected by using the present participle instead: "I saw/watched/heard/etc. it happening." The difference is that the former implies that the entirety of the event was perceived, while the latter implies that part of the progress of the event was perceived.)

Similarly with several common verbs of permission or causation, including make, bid, let, and have. So, "I made/bade/let/had him do it." (However, make takes a to-infinitive in the passive voice: "I was made to do it.")

After the had better expression. So, "You had better leave now." With the verb help. So, "He helped them find it." (The use of the to-infinitive with the verb help is also common.)

With the word why. So, "Why reveal it?" (Use of the to-infinitive following why is also common.)

The bare infinitive is the dictionary form of a verb, and is generally the form of a verb that receives a definition; however, the definition itself generally uses a to-infinitive. So, "The word 'amble' means 'to walk slowly.'"

The bare infinitive form coincides with the present subjunctive form as well as the imperative form, but most grammarians do not consider uses of the present subjunctive or imperative to be uses of the bare infinitive.

GERUND
Gerund is used: as a noun eg. Skiing is my favourite sport after prepositions eg. Thanks for answering the phone after verbs of sensation (feel, see, notice, hear, smell,...) after verbs that mean liking and disliking (like, love, hate, enjoy,...) after verbs that mean beginning and end of action (begin, start, finish,...) after verbs that mean progress of action (keep on, carry on,...) after the phrases (to be used to, to be looking forward to, how about, its no good/use, its worth) after the verbs (avoid, deny, excuse, forgive, imagine, mind, stop, finish, suggest, miss)

BARE INFINITIVE (Plain Infinitive / Infinitive without to)

The Bare Infinitive is used: after the modal verbs (can, may, shall, will, must, could, should, would, neednt, dare) after the verbs had/would better, had/would rather, let

TO-INFINITIVE
The To-Infinitive is used:

after the verbs help, want, think, believe, know, suppose, appear, happen, seem, afford, agree, decide, forget, hope, learn, manage, promise, pretend, try, wish, be able to, offer, need, be allowed to, expect

Exercises - Use the Gerund, the To-Infinitive or the Bare Infinitive as adequate. 1. I thought of _____________________ (to leave) before the party. 2. Isnt it worth _________________ (to try) again? 3. I really hate _________________ (to drive). 4. Would you mind _______________ (to add) my name to the list, please? 5. Im hungry. I feel like ____________________ (to have) dinner. 6. I saw the lorry __________________ (to crash) into a lamp post. 7. He denies ________________ (to have) killed the dog. 8. They are unable _________________ (to agree). 9. She offered __________________ (to help) him. 10.I need some money ______________ (to pay) the bills. 11.He is not used to ________________ (to work) so hard. 12.He would rather __________________ (to work) as a waiter. 13.We were allowed _____________ (to eat) as many ice-creams as we liked. 14.Have you stopped ______________ (to smoke)? 15.There are two boys ______________ (to stand) at the front door. 16.There is nothing _____________ (to explain). 17.It was so funny that I couldnt help ______________ (to laugh). 18.It was not necessary for you _______________ (to go) there in person.

19.The restaurant is not expected ___________ (to reopen) until next summer. 20.He happened ___________ (to arrive) later than we expected.