Verb + Infinitive or -ing?

Verb Patterns: Bare Infinitive or -ing form?

Some English verbs are followed directly by the base form of another verb, without to. This is called the bare infinitive.

We commonly use this pattern after modal verbs, after let and make + object, and after some verbs of perception such as see, hear and watch.

Modal verbs + base verb

After modal verbs such as can, could, must, should, might and would, we use the base form of the verb without to.

→ can/could/must/should/might/would... + bare infinitive

• You should go home now.
• We must leave soon.
• She can drive.
• It might rain later.

Let and make + object + base verb

With let and make, we often use this pattern:

→ let / make + object + bare infinitive

Let means allow someone to do something:

• Let me help you.
• She let him use her phone.

Make means force or cause someone to do something:

• He made me laugh.
• They made us wait outside.

Verbs of perception: see, hear, watch, feel, notice

After verbs of perception, we can use either the bare infinitive or the -ing form. The choice helps us show how we experienced the action.

Use the bare infinitive when you see, hear or feel the action as a whole event:

• I saw him cross the road.
• We heard the door close.
• I felt someone touch my shoulder.

Use -ing when you notice the action in progress or focus on what was happening at that moment:

• I saw him crossing the road.
• We heard someone talking outside.
• I felt someone touching my shoulder.

Compare:

Quick reference

• Bare infinitive: after a modal verb, and after let or make + object
• Bare infinitive / -ing: verbs of perception
  1) bare infinitive → complete event
  2) -ing form → action in progress