3

example: "I want you to eat fish" instead of "I want you eat fish" or "I want that you eat fish".

Can you explain to me what is te grammatical reason for this?

3
  • 3
    The first is correct. The second is a term of endearment to someone named "eat fish". Finally, the third is rudely calling someone "eat fish" because they have something you want. Apr 7, 2014 at 1:02
  • 1
    You probably are looking for clarification on using infinitives (bare vs full)
    – Hefewe1zen
    Apr 7, 2014 at 1:08
  • 1
    Because some verbs require to with following infinitives, and want is one of them. There are some that don't, but they are very common and idiomatic verbs like have, make, or let. Apr 7, 2014 at 2:20

1 Answer 1

2

You probably are looking for clarification on using infinitives (bare vs full)

Hefewe1zen

Because some verbs require to with following infinitives, and want is one of them. There are some that don't, but they are very common and idiomatic verbs like have, make, or let.

John Lawler

1
  • You can find more details by looking up English Catenative Verbs at Wiktionary. Apr 7, 2014 at 8:21

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