Nddad  +  513385 Wed, 14 May 08 03:54 AM 1) He made her (to) type up the letter. 2) We saw her (to) wash the dishes. Q1) Why should we use bare infinitive in these sentences ? Q2) Is there any difference in meaning between with (to) and without (to) in the sentence? 3) We helped him get on a taxi.  <->  We helped him to get on a taxi. Q1) Is there any difference in meaning between with (to) and without (to) in the sentence? Thanks for your help. Regards, Terry Nddad Joined on Mon, May 21 2007 New Member 21 Regards

	Clive  +  513412 Wed, 14 May 08 05:10 AM Hi, 1) He made her (to) type up the letter. 2) We saw her (to) wash the dishes. Q1) Why should we use bare infinitive in these sentences ? Because that is the standard usage with these two verbs. In other words, it's how the language has evolved. Q2) Is there any difference in meaning between with (to) and without (to) in the sentence? 'To' with #1 does not make any sense. 'To' with #2 gives the meaning 'We saw her in order to wash the dishes'. This sounds like we went to her and said 'We want to wash the dishes, please permit us to'. It's not a very likely meaning. 3) We helped him get on in(to) a taxi.  <->  We helped him to get  on in(to) a taxi. Q1) Is there any difference in meaning between with (to) and without (to) in the sentence? No. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,628 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Verbs

	Nddad  +  513417 Wed, 14 May 08 05:38 AM Clive, In my understanding, there's no special reason why bare infinitive is used in the sentence. And it's standard usage. Is it correct ?? Thanks a lot. Terry   Nddad

	Clive  +  513420 Wed, 14 May 08 05:45 AM Hi, You could say that. Or you could say that some verbs require the bare infinitive. Clive Clive

	CalifJim  +  513446 Wed, 14 May 08 08:10 AM Use the bare infinitive, not the full infinitive, after the modals (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must). Use the bare infinitive, not the full infinitive, after forms of the verbs make, let, have, see, hear, watch, listen to, feel and an object. Use either the bare infinitive or the full infinitive after forms of help and an object (with no difference in meaning). We can go.  We should go. We made him go.  We let them go.  We had them go.  We saw them go.  We heard them sing.  We listened to her sing.  We felt the floor shake. They helped us load the car.  They helped us to load the car.  Nddad “Why should we use bare infinitive in these sentences ?” You should do it because it is the right thing to do. CJ  CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,415 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Verbs, Modals

	Cool Breeze  +  513448 Wed, 14 May 08 08:24 AM  In addition to what has been said: never use a bare/plain infinitive after a verb in the passive voice: He was made to write an apology. He was seen to enter the building. CB  Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,978 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Verbs