Verb + object + infinitive: want her to come
The want/ask/tell sb to do pattern; bare infinitive after let/make/help; no that-clause after want
I can build want/tell/let patterns with the right infinitive and no that-clause.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Mum wants us to visit more often, and honestly, the garden wants it too.
Mum wants us to visit more often, and honestly, the garden wants it too.
Let me guess: the coach made you run the hill twice.
Let me guess: the coach made you run the hill twice.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Verb + who + to do what:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| want / would like + obj + to | I want her to come. |
| ask / tell / invite + obj + to | They told us to wait. |
| let / make + obj + bare | Let him try. She made me laugh. |
| help + obj + to/bare | Help me (to) carry this. |
The big trap: *I want that she comes - want never takes a that-clause. let/make lose to; in the passive make gets it back: I was made to wait.
- *I want that she comes → I want her to come
- *let him to try → let him try (bare)
Common Error Patterns
that-clause after want
want + object + to-infinitive
to after let/make
let/make + bare infinitive
Mum wants us to visit more often, and honestly, the garden wants it too.
Mum wants us to visit more often, and honestly, the garden wants it too.
want + object + to-infinitive, twice avoided that.
Let me guess: the coach made you run the hill twice.
Let me guess: the coach made you run the hill twice.
let + bare, make + bare in one guess.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises