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Infinitives without to: I saw you come in.

We usually use to with infinitives (e.g. I want to know). But we use the infinitive without to (sometimes called the ‘bare infinitive’) in some cases.

After modal auxiliary verbs​

After the modal auxiliary verbs will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might and must, we use the infinitive without to.

  • I must go now. (not I must to go now.)
  • Do you think she might be joking?
  • Can you help me?
  • I would rather go alone.

We also use the infinitive without to after had better (see here), and sometimes after dare and need ( (see here), (see here).

  • You’d better see what she wants.
  • I daren’t go out at night. (BrE)
  • She needn’t do the washing up.

After let, make, hear, etc​

Certain verbs expressing perception and causation are followed by object + infinitive without to. They include let, make, see, hear, feel, watch and notice.

  • She lets her children stay up very late. (not She lets her children to stay…) or She lets her children staying …
  • I made them give me the money back.
  • We both heard him say that he was leaving.
  • I didn’t see you come in.
  • Did you feel the earth move?

Help can also be used in this way (see here).

  • Could you help me (to) unload the car?

This structure is also possible with have (see here) and know (see here).

  • Have Mrs Hansen come in, please. (especially AmE)
  • I’ve never known him (to) pay for a drink.

In passive versions of these structures the infinitive with to is used.

  • He was made to pay back the money.
  • She was heard to say that she disagreed.
note

For more information about structures with let, (see here). For make, (see here).

For more information about see, hear, watch, etc + object + verb, (see here).

For verbs that are followed by object + to-infinitive, (see here).

After why (not)​

We can introduce questions and suggestions with why (not) + infinitive without to. For more details, (see here).

  • Why pay more at other shops? We have the lowest prices.
  • Why stand up if you can sit down? Why sit down if you can lie down?
  • You’re looking tired. Why not take a break?

After and, or, except, but, than, as and like​

When two infinitive structures are joined by and, or, except, but, than, as or like, the second is often without to.

  • I’d like to lie down and sleep.
  • Do you want to have lunch now or wait till later?
  • We had nothing to do except look at the sea.
  • I’m ready to do anything but work on a farm.
  • It’s easier to do it yourself than explain to somebody else how to do it.
  • It’s as easy to smile as frown.
  • I have to feed the animals as well as look after the children.
  • Why don’t you do something useful like clean the kitchen?

Rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to.

  • Rather than wait any more, I decided to go home by taxi.

After do​

Expressions like All I did was, What I do is, etc can be followed by an infinitive without to.

  • All I did was (to) give him a little push.
  • What a fire-door does is (to) delay the spread of a fire.
  • The only thing we can do is (to) accept.