Understanding what the bare infinitive is, how we use and when we use it is a very important building block for effective English grammar skills. My article on the bare infinitive (from The English Tenses Practical Grammar Guide) should give a solid understanding of how the bare infinitive works as a grammar word. But how can you practice that understanding? The following is a quick exercise to test if you can see when the bare infinitive is used. Answers are given below.

Exercise – Identify the Bare Infinitive

Read the following sentences and decide if the underlined word is a bare infinitive. If not, what type of word is it?

1. Did he wash the dishes?
2. We have gone to the theatre three times this week.
3. I might buy some dungarees.
4. Next Tuesday, Margie and I will see a movie together.
5. Little dogs bark more than big ones.
6. Playing the piano is my favourite thing to do.
7. We should go.
8. Does your mother know our priest?
9. Now we know what happened.
10. Did they hear what we said?
11. It is a terrible shame that they never came.
12. She has been here for a very long time.
13. How is the weather in Idaho?
14. It might rain.
15. Does the driver have enough fuel?
16. This woman has had too much fun for one day.
17. My favourite necklace was stolen from me.
18. Did that make much sense?
19. I could drink another cup of tea.
20. There are some strange people watching.

Answers

1. Bare infinitive
2. Past participle
3. Bare infinitive
4. Bare infinitive
5. Present simple verb
6. Infinitive
7. Bare infinitive
8. Bare infinitive
9. Present simple verb
10. Bare infinitive
11. Past simple verb
12. Past participle
13. Present simple verb
14. Bare infinitive
15. Bare infinitive
16. Past participle
17. Past simple verb
18. Bare infinitive
19. Bare infinitive
20. Present participle