Verbal Collocations: English Verbs Followed by a Bare Infinitive
By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva
In English grammar, a bare infinitive is the base form of a verb without the word "to" in front of it. While most infinitive constructions in English are used with "to" (e.g., to go, to see, to eat), some specific verbs are followed directly by a bare infinitive instead.
Modern Dictionary of English-Portuguese and Portuguese-English Collocations (Complete Edition): https://www.recantodasletras.com.br/gramatica/8286877
Understanding which verbs are followed by a bare infinitive is essential for fluency, as it helps create natural-sounding sentences and prevents grammatical errors.
It’s remarkable that native speakers of English can naturally use these verb structures without ever formally learning them, since they were exposed to real English from early childhood during the critical stage of language development. As a result, they use these patterns in speech effortlessly.
1. Modal verbs (can, may, could, might, must, ought to) or auxiliary verbs (will, shall, would, should) + verb in the bare infinitive (without "to").
She can swim.
Ela pode nadar.
They should study more.
Eles deveriam estudar mais.
I must go now.
Eu devo ir agora.
He will depart tomorrow.
Ele partirá amanhã.
The man would be killed.
O homem seria morto.
2. The following verbs require a verb in the bare infinitive (without "to") after them. As you can see in the sentences, structures like "somebody/something do" or "do something" are replaced when forming other sentences with verbs that require the bare infinitive.
behold somebody/something do something: observar alguém/algo fazer algo
"Behold the king make his grand entrance!"
"Observe o rei fazer sua grande entrada!"
bid somebody do something: ordenar alguém fazer algo
"The general bid his soldiers march forward."
"O general ordenou que seus soldados marchassem para frente."
dare do something: ousar fazer algo
"How do you dare talk to me like that!"
"Como ousas falar comigo deste jeito!"
feel somebody/something do something: sentir alguém/algo fazer algo
"I felt her hand touch my shoulder."
"Eu senti a mão dela tocar meu ombro."
hear somebody/something do something: ouvir alguém/algo fazer algo
"I heard the birds sing this morning."
"Eu ouvi os pássaros cantarem esta manhã."
help somebody/something do something: ajudar alguém/algo fazer algo
"She helped her brother solve the math problem."
"Ela ajudou o irmão dela a resolver o problema de matemática."
let somebody/something do something: deixar alguém/algo fazer algo
"My parents let me stay out late on weekends."
"Meus pais deixam eu ficar fora até tarde nos finais de semana."
make somebody/something do something: fazer com que alguém/algo faça algo, obrigar alguém/algo a fazer algo
"The teacher made the students rewrite their essays."
"A professora fez os alunos reescreverem seus ensaios."
need do something: precisar fazer algo
"You don't need do it."
"Você não precisa fazer isso."
see somebody/something do something: ver alguém/algo fazer algo
"I saw him leave the party early last night."
"Eu vi ele sair da festa cedo ontem à noite."
watch somebody/something do something: ficar olhando alguém/algo fazer algo, observar alguém/algo fazer algo
"We watched the children play in the park."
"Nós ficamos olhando as crianças brincarem no parque."
3. The bare infinitive is also used after "why" and "why not".
Why leave so early?
Por que sair tão cedo?
Why not try it?
Por que não tentar isso?
The infinitive without "to" (also known as the bare infinitive) is used in English after certain specific conjunctions. Although the use of the bare infinitive is more common in certain contexts, such as after causative and perception verbs, it can also occur after particular conjunctions. Here are the most common cases in which the bare infinitive is used after conjunctions:
1. After "but" and "than".
When the conjunction "but" or "than" connects two clauses with the verb in the infinitive, it is common to omit "to" in the second part of the sentence.
"She decided to go, but not to stay." → "She decided to go, but not stay."
Ela decidiu ir, mas não ficar.
"He is smarter than to make such a mistake." → "He is smarter than make such a mistake."
Ele é mais inteligente do que cometer um erro como esse.
2. After "let" and "make".
The bare infinitive is used after the verbs "let" (deixar) and "make" (fazer/obrigar).
"She let him leave early."
Ela deixou ele sair mais cedo.
"The teacher made the students write the essay."
O professor fez os alunos escreverem o ensaio.
3. After "had better", "would rather" and "would sooner".
These modal expressions are used to suggest or prefer something, and they are followed by a bare infinitive.
"You had better study for the exam."
É melhor você estudar para o exame.
"I would rather go home now."
Eu preferiria ir para casa agora.
"We would sooner leave than stay here any longer."
Nós preferiríamos ir embora do que ficar aqui mais tempo.
4. After "except".
When "except" is followed by a verb, the verb is in the bare infinitive form.
"I have nothing to do except wait."
Eu não tenho nada para fazer, exceto esperar.
These structures are crucial for forming sentences in English, as they allow for a straightforward and clear expression of ideas, without any complexity.
Verbal collocations with English verbs followed by a bare infinitive (i.e., the base form of the verb without "to") are an essential aspect of natural and fluent English speech and writing. These collocations involve specific verb + bare infinitive combinations that sound grammatically correct and idiomatic in English. Here are some reasons why they are important:
1. Improves Fluency and Naturalness
Using the correct verb + bare infinitive collocations helps learners sound more natural and less mechanical. For example, in the sentence "She made him go" (Ela o fez ir),the verb "made" is typically followed by a bare infinitive "go," not "to go." Using these collocations ensures that speech and writing flow naturally.
2. Avoids Common Mistakes
Many learners tend to use the wrong infinitive form (e.g., "to" instead of the bare infinitive) when using certain verbs. Understanding common collocations helps to avoid such errors. For example, it's correct to say, "I let her speak" (Eu permitir que ela falasse), not "I let her to speak."
3. Enhances Vocabulary and Idiomatic Usage
Knowing the right collocations expands a learner's vocabulary and helps them use more idiomatic, everyday expressions. For example, instead of simply saying, "I saw him to leave", knowing the collocation "I saw him leave" (Eu o vi partir) makes the sentence sound more fluent and idiomatic.
4. Fosters Better Understanding of Verb Patterns
Certain verbs are followed by either a bare infinitive or a full infinitive (with "to"), and learning these patterns helps in understanding their specific usages. For instance, "I made her cry" (Eu a fiz chorar) vs. "I want her to cry" (Eu quero que ela chore). These verb patterns are critical for mastering sentence construction.
5. Helps in Forming Complex Sentences
Verbal collocations with bare infinitives allow learners to create more complex and varied sentence structures. Using combinations like "help someone do something" (ajudar alguém fazer algo) or "let someone go" (deixar alguém ir) adds versatility to sentence formation.
6. Essential for Advanced English Proficiency
Mastery of these collocations is often a hallmark of advanced English proficiency. As learners progress, being able to accurately use such verb forms will distinguish them as more skilled speakers or writers.
Examples of Common Verbal Collocations with Bare Infinitives:
"She made him cry."
Ela o fez chorar.
"They let her leave early."
Eles permitiram que ela saísse cedo.
"Can you help me find my keys?"
Você pode me ajudar a encontrar as chaves?
"I watched him run away."
Eu o observei fugir.
"I heard her sing."
Eu a ouvi cantar.
In conclusion, understanding and using verbal collocations with a bare infinitive is crucial for sounding more fluent and precise in English. It allows speakers to communicate more naturally and effectively while avoiding errors that come from improper use of verb forms.
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