verb tenses

[Robert J. Pohl]

With the base form of the word "draw," is it also the infinite form of the word? If it is the infinite form, the word "to" would be placed before it, right? However, "to" is not the only word that can be placed in front of the word. For example: The kids draw well.

If this is intelligible enough, please get back.
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[Casiopea]

Welcome Robert.

draw is the base form. It's the form we find in the dictionary. It lacks inflection. That is, it's bare of extra sounds or words like, -s, -ing, -ew, called infection.

bare infinitive
n.
In English, the infinitive without to, as used with modal auxiliary verbs. In the sentence I must go to the store now, the verb go is a bare infinitive.

to draw is its infinitive form. The word to is called an infinitive marker. Don't confuse it with the preposition to. That's a whole 'nother word category. Now, if we remove the infinitive marker to, the result draw is called a bare infinitive.

Now, the sentence The kids draw well doesn't house a base form. It's a present tense verb and its inflection is covert (unseen, unheard). In English 3rd person singular, present tense verbs show inflection. Like this,

Singular
1st person: I draw
2nd person: you draw
3rd person: s/he draws
3rd person: it draws

Plural
1st person: we draw
2nd person: you (guys) draw
3rd person: they draw

Here's an example of a bare infinitive and a to-infinitive

Ex: Could you help me to wash the dishes? <to-infinitive>
Ex: Coould you help me wash the dishes? <bare>
Hope that helps.

[Robert J. Pohl]

So, are you saying "base form" is equivalent to "bare infinitive." Yes, thank you, your response was helpful.

What is most difficult is that many sources use varying terminologies.

[Casiopea]

Ah, yes. Sadly, terminology has always been a problem.

These are verbs in the base form:

leave
want
excel
pass

Notice how there is no s, ed, or other part attached to the end of the verb.

These are not verbs in the base form:

leaves, left, leaving
wants, wanted, wanting
excels, excelled, excelling
passes, passed, passing

Some teachers use different terms to refer to the infinitive without the to. Some of these terms include:

bare infinitive
root of the verb
verb root
dictionary form

These terms are also acceptable ways to refer to the base form. Source



Hope that helps.