The bare-infinitive tag has no wiki summary.
16
votes
10answers
17k views
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb "help": with or without "to"?
For example:
Please, help me to understand this.
or:
Please, help me understand this.
4
votes
2answers
129 views
Why doesn't the second verb agree with the subject of that verb?
In
"We watched Obama speak," what is the technical reason for it not being
"We watched Obama spoke"?
0
votes
1answer
35 views
to know or know
One of my English friends has written to me:
A teacher can receive no greater gift than to know he has had a positive influence on his students.
Here is my question: Why has he written to know ...
2
votes
1answer
146 views
Can we use a bare infinitive after the copula freely?
But all he'd tried to do (as he shouted at Uncle Vernon through the
locked door of his cupboard) was jump behind the big trash cans
outside the kitchen doors. Harry supposed that the wind must ...
13
votes
3answers
363 views
“All you have to do is read” vs. “All you have to do is to read”
I was speaking to an English learner and said, “All you have to do is read a lot.” And they thought that sentence wasn’t grammatically correct because I dropped the word to between is and read.
They ...
1
vote
3answers
189 views
Are there other verbs that work like “dare” and “need”? [duplicate]
The verbs dare and need do not require auxiliaries when used in the interrogative; for example, “need I?” is as acceptable as “do I need?”
Excluding the auxiliaries themselves (like be, do, have),
...
2
votes
1answer
398 views
Usage of infinitives in this sentence
In my academics I learned that we use infinitives (to + verb 1st form). So I was surprised when someone told me this sentence is incorrect. I am not able to figure it out why this sentence is ...
6
votes
4answers
513 views
“need to do” vs “need do”
Consider:
I need to do this.
I need do this.
My English grammar knowledge tells me that "need" doesn't have the same status as the modal verbs "may", "can", "should" and what not. Hence the second ...
1
vote
2answers
145 views
the best thing to do is (to) concentrate on
The best thing to do is to concentrate on something else.
I've known in the sentence like that 'to' should be omitted. So, I wonder if the sentence is grammatical.
*The source of the information ...
0
votes
1answer
440 views
Which of the following sentences is/are incorrect? (“Permit” vs. “allow” vs. “let”)
Which of the following sentences is/are incorrect? Why?
The visa permits you to study for two months.
My father would never allow me to study English
Let me to go. You're hurting me.
This is ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Is it customary or grammatical to drop ‘to’ in “I’m not going to go look for it”?
There was a scene a thirty-something wife refuses to go looking for the wedding ring her husband lost in a courtyard when she was asked by her husband over the phone, in the fiction titled “The Lost ...
3
votes
10answers
646 views
Is this grammatical construction an imperative for the third person?
Is the construction 'Let + subject + verb' considered as an order/imperative for the third person:
Let every man count his days
when it is intended to mean 'must'/'is ordered to'?
2
votes
1answer
979 views
Repeating “to” and “will” in enumerations of verbs
Should I use the second "will" in constructions like this one: "it will definitely help you and will make the text more readable"
And should I write "to" before every infinitive in enumeration, or ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
“To enable him to escape” vs. “to enable him escape”
I have been coming across this kind of sentence more and more:
She gave him a key to enable him to escape capture.
She gave him a key to enable him escape capture.
Which sentence is correct? ...
7
votes
3answers
265 views
Is it appropriate to omit “to” after “ought”?
Is it appropriate to omit to after ought?
I ought to be disciplined for my insolence.
Vs.
I ought be disciplined for my insolence.
Is it okay to omit the to?
4
votes
4answers
3k views
What is an “infinitive”?
I've heard that a verb usually follows the 'infinitive' but how does one define an 'infinitive'?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Subject + “have had” + bare infinitive … ever correct?
In writing an email today I came up with the following sentence:
"We have had two other ladies express an interest in the room."
I'm a native English-English speaker and this felt fine to me. My ...
1
vote
2answers
665 views
Bare infinitive and gerund participle
I saw him kick the stone.
According to my reference book this sentence is grammatically correct even though the verb 'kick' is in present tense while the action has already happened.
If I write ...
8
votes
2answers
329 views
Should I always insert “and” between two verbs in imperative mode?
As far as I understand, the word and is usually inserted between two verbs used in imperative mood in English. For example, “Go and make me a drink.”
How obligatory is this? Can I claim that it is ...
