Sample 1: “He told the gathering of prominent journalists, ... This is what is referred to as the bare infinitive. Please read the following sentences: 1) I saw him enter the house.

Another common form of wish is to use ‘wish’ plus would plus the bare infinitive (verb without 'to'). And this is often in regards to other people and our irritation. For example: I wish you ...

There are one or two other structures where to-infinitive and the bare infinitive are both possible. Expressions with do or did , such as what I've done or all I did can follow either pattern.

In your own example, 'I've never had my car break down on the motorway' you are saying that it has never happened, so you chose the bare infinitive. When we choose the -ing form ...