The bare-infinitive tag has no wiki summary.
15
votes
10answers
16k 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.
2
votes
1answer
357 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 ...
13
votes
3answers
328 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
393 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
897 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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
122 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"?
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'?
8
votes
2answers
312 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
110 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 ...
