Infinitive particle to and modal verbs. Infinitive with to and without to To after help

What does the particle to before verbs mean? Do you know the answer to this question?

Most English learners don't even think about it. Therefore, they make mistakes using this particle before each verb. When should it be used?

In the article I will answer this question and explain to you when to put to before verbs and when not.

What does the particle to mean and when is it used?

We use the particle to in English before the initial (indefinite) form of the verb. The initial form of the verb is a form that does not show us who and when will perform the action.

Indefinite verbs answer the question "what to do?" and “what to do?”. For example:

(what to do?) to write - write;
(what to do?) to see - see.

In English we call the indefinite form of the verb infinitive.

How to understand that we have an infinitive in front of us?

In Russian, we understand that we have a verb in an indefinite form at the end TH: skaz be, rice be, call t . In English, the endings of words do not change.

And here we come to the rescue particle to, which serves exactly as an indicator, which in Russian is the ending TH. That is, if we see a particle to before the verb, we can safely say that this verb is in the indefinite form: to say, to paint, to call.

If you look at the particle to and pronounce it, you will see that it is VERY similar to Russian TH but only at the beginning of a sentence.

I want to call my sister.
I want (what to do?) call be to her sister.

I forgot to give him his book.
I forgot (what to do?) yeah be him his book.

I will go to swim tomorrow.
I'll go (what to do?) swimming be Tomorrow.

Bonus! Do you want to learn English and learn how to speak? in Moscow and learn how to start speaking English in 1 month using the ESL method!

When do we not put to in front of indefinite verbs?

Every rule has exceptions. Consider them:

1. When a verb in an indefinite form is preceded by a verb that expresses not an action, but a possibility, necessity, ability.

We call such verbs in English modal: can (I can), may (I can), must (should), need(necessary), should(should). After them, we do not use the particle to.

I can run fast.
I can run fast.

You must tell me the truth.
You must tell me the truth.

He should be more careful.
He should be more careful.

True, there are several modal verbs, which are used necessarily with the particle to: have to (must), oughtto(should).

They have to work hard.
They have to work hard.

She ought to help me.
She must help me.

2. After the verb let (give, let).

Let me know how you are.
Let me know how you are.

Let him say.
Let him speak.

3. After the verb make if we use it meaning "force".

You make me think about it.
He made me think about it.

He makes me smile.
He makes me smile.

4. If in one sentence there are two verbs in an indefinite form and between them is and or or (or), then before the second verb we do not put the particle to.

I want to sing and dance.
I want to sing and dance.

I don't know to cry or laugh.
I don't know whether to cry or laugh.

The difference between the particle to and the preposition to in English

It is very important not to confuse particle to With preposition to. Despite the fact that they are the same in sound and spelling, in fact they are two different words.

Particle to we use with the verb in the initial form.

Preposition to we use with nouns. To this preposition, we can ask the question "Where?". Let's look at a few examples.

Particle to

I like (what to do?) to read interesting books.
I like (what to do?) chita be interesting books.

I want to meet my friends.
I want (what to do?) meet be hanging out with my friends.

Preposition to

I go (where?) to the cinema today.
I'll go (where?) V cinema today.

Every day I go to my work.
Every day I go (where?) on work.

Now together

I want (what to do?) to drink the water so I go (where?) to the kitchen.

I want (what to do?) drink be water, so I went (where?) on kitchen.

When asking a question, we can easily determine whether the particle is in front of us or a preposition.

Summarize

1. We put the particle to before verbs in the initial form (infinitive).

2. There are exceptions when we do not use a particle: after modal verbs (see above), after let and make verbs, when in a sentence 2 verbs are connected by the preposition and/or (see above).

3. The particle to is used with verbs, and the preposition to is used with nouns. These are different words.

4. How to check if the to particle should be used or not? To do this, we ask the question “what to do?”, “what to do?”. If these questions sound logical, then we put to before the verb.

Think about it.
(What do you do?) Think about it.

I want to think about it.
I want (what to do?) to think about it.

I hope now you will not be confused where to put the to particle and where not. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article.

Reinforcement task

And now let's check how well you understood where to put the to particle and where not. Put the verb in brackets in correct form. Don't forget about exceptions.

For example: “She will go (play) tennis. - She will go to play tennis.

1. My sister can (run) fast.
2. (Look) at this picture.
3. I want (cook) dinner.
4. Let him (help) you.
5. My friend forgot (call) me.
6. She decided (sell) her car.
7. He made me (buy) it.
8. You may (sit down) here.
9. I can (bring) your book.
10. We like (eat) sweets.
11. They should (write) it.
12. She wanted (drink) and (eat).

As always, write your answers in the comments. I will definitely check them out.

Add to favorites

In English infinitive(Infinitive) - this is, which denotes an action, but does not indicate a person and a number. In Russian, the English infinitive corresponds to the indefinite form of the verb, which answers the questions “what to do? what to do?": to live - to live.

The formal sign of the infinitive is the particle to:

to write- write, to read- read, to drink- drink, to think- think.

If the verb is preceded by a particle to, then in front of you is the infinitive (or the indefinite form of the verb). Sometimes the infinitive can be used without a particle to.

The negative form is formed by a particle not, which is placed before the infinitive: not to use - do not use.

It is difficult to use .- Difficult use.
It is difficult not to use .- Difficult do not use.

Infinitive forms

In English, the infinitive has 6 forms (unlike Russian, which has only one form). To understand well the meanings of the forms of the infinitive, it is necessary to have an idea of \u200b\u200band the verb.

Simple infinitive. Indefinite Infinitive

infinitive in the form Indefinite (Simple) or simple infinitive is the basic form and represents the verb in the dictionary (for convenience, in the dictionary the particle to often omitted). This form of the infinitive belongs to the same tense as the verb that precedes it.

I was glad to see her. — I was glad to see her (simple active infinitive).
The child didn't like to be washed. - The child did not like being washed (a simple infinitive in the passive voice).

Compare the use of the simple infinitive in active and passive voice: to help - to be helped
I am happy to help you. - I am glad to help. (I'm glad I'm helping).
I am happy to be helped. - I'm glad they're helping me.

Perfect infinitive. Perfect Infinitive

infinitive in the form Perfect or perfect infinitive denotes an action that precedes the action of the verb-predicate.

I was very happy to have met you. — I am very glad that I met you (active perfect infinitive).
Sorry not to have noticed you. — I'm sorry I didn't notice you (active perfect infinitive).
The child was happy to have been brought to the circle. The child was happy to be taken to the circus (passive perfect infinitive).

Compare the use of a simple (Simple Infinitive) and a perfect (Perfect Infinitive) infinitive in the active voice: to see - to have seen
I am happy to see you. - Glad to see you. (Glad to see you.)
I am happy to have seen you. - I'm glad I saw you.

Long infinitive. Continuous Infinitive

infinitive in the form continuous or long infinitive emphasizes the duration of the action that occurs simultaneously with the action of the verb-predicate. This form is used only in the active voice.

He seems to be writing something. - He seems to be writing something now (long infinitive in the active voice).

Perfectly continuous infinitive. Perfect Continuous Infinitive

infinitive in the form Perfect Continuous or perfect continuous infinitive emphasizes that the action began earlier than the action of the verb-predicate, lasted for some period of time and is still going on. This form is also not used in the passive voice.

He seemed to have been writing all day. He seemed to have been writing all day.

Forms of the infinitive in the table

The meaning of different forms of the infinitive in the table
Infinitive forms	What am I happy about?
Simple	I am happy to speak to you.	Glad to talk to you. (I always rejoice when I talk to you).
continuous	I am happy to be speaking to you.	I'm glad I'm talking to you now.
Perfect	I am happy to have spoken to you.	I'm glad I talked to you.
Perfect Continuous	I am happy to have been speaking to you.	I am glad that I have been talking to you for a long time (all this time).
simple passive	I am (always) glad to be told the new s.	I'm always glad when they tell me the news.
Perfect Passive	I am happy to have been told the news.	I'm glad I got the news.

The use of the infinitive without the particle to

Most often, the infinitive in English is used with the particle to, but there are cases when the particle to not used before the infinitive.

The infinitive is used without particle to in the following cases:

After can, could, must, may, might, will, shall, should, would And need (in the value of modal). Exceptions are modal verbs have to, ought to, be to.

IN complex addition after verbs of sense perception feel(feel), hear(hear), see(see), watch(observe), notice(notice):
I saw him leave the office. — I saw him leave the office.
I heard him go down the stairs. — I heard him come down the stairs.
But: if the listed verbs feel, see, hear, watch, notice are used in the passive voice, then the infinitive is preceded by a particle to:
He was seen to leave the office. We saw him leave the office.
In complex addition after verbs make(meaning "force, compel") And let(meaning "permit, allow"). Again, if these verbs are in the passive voice, then the infinitive is used with the particle to.
I can't make you take this medicine. “I can't force you to take this medicine.
We let her go to the party. We let her go to the party.
She was made to rewrite the test. - She was forced to rewrite the test (was made is a passive verb).
After the verb help(to help) the infinitive can also be used with the particle to, and without it. Both options are acceptable, while the option without to less formal.

Not to miss new useful materials,

I have already written about this impersonal form of the verb in English. The article is called " ". I recommend reading it first, as it helps you get a general idea of the infinitive. Remember that the infinitive is the indefinite form of the verb. The standard form of the infinitive in English is formed using the base (dictionary) preceded by a particle to. But there are a certain number of cases where it is used without this particle. Here we are already talking about such a thing as "naked infinitive" - bare infinitive. To articulate when we need particle infinitive to , and when without it, I am writing this article.

But before we go directly to listing these cases, I would like to repeat what forms the English infinitive can have (for example, the verb to leave- leave, leave

Present Active– (to) leave
I'm ready to see him now. - I'm ready to see him now (real)

George wants to find a new job next month. George wants to find new job next month (future)
present passive– (to) be left
She expects to be presented a special gift on the anniversary. She is waiting for a special present for her anniversary.

He hopes to be invited to his daughter's wedding. He hopes to be invited to his daughter's wedding.
Present Continuous Active– (to) be leaving
My mother seems to be painting the walls. It seems my mother paints the walls.

They seem to be building a house. It looks like they are building a house.
Perfect Active– (to) have left
He claims to have infected with flu about 10 people. He claims that he has infected about ten people with the flu.

I seem to have made a short film. “I think I made a little film.
Perfect Passive– (to) have been left
A famous journalist said to have been killed in Egypt. - They say that a well-known journalist was killed in Egypt.

The unique painting is said to have been sold for $20 millions. - They say that a famous painting was sold for 20 million dollars.
Perfect Continuous– (to) have been leaving
courtney claims to have been working for this company for 3 years. Courtney states that she has been working for this company for three years.

They are known to have been developing a new medicine for several years. It is known that they have been developing a new drug for several years.

infinitive with particle to

So, we move on to the main topic of this article. I would like to list the cases when it is necessary to use the standard form of the particle infinitive to. This particle will come before the infinitive if:

We express any purpose defined by the infinitive verb.
She returned home to ask for some extra money. She returned home to ask for more money.

We are leaving in ten minutes to catch the train to London. We are leaving in 10 minutes to catch the train to London.
The infinitive will follow these verbs: advise, agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, promise, refuse, seem, want, allow, pretend and etc.
He offered me to stay at home instead of going out. Instead of going somewhere, he suggested that I stay at home.

Why did you refuse to conduct these negotiations? Why did you refuse to negotiate?
The infinitive is preceded by the combination "certain verb +". A list of words acts as certain verbs: know, decide, ask, learn, remember and etc.
She wants to know why you decided to spend your vacation abroad. She wants to know why you decided to spend your holiday abroad.

I explained how to use the new washing machine. I explained how to use the new washing machine.

By the way, if a sentence has two infinitives with a particle to, which are connected by English unions and, or, particle to before the second can be omitted.

I didn't decide where to go and stay. I haven't decided where to go and where to stay.

My boss explained how to write an article and take photos. My boss explained how to write an article and take photos.
The infinitive is used after such as happy, nice, happy, sorry, willing, afraid, ashamed and etc.
I am willing to overlook your mistakes, but I can't do this. “I want to ignore your mistakes, but I can’t do it.

It is nice to see you again. - Nice to see you again.
It is preceded by:
My friend is too shy to take the initiative in acquainting with people. My friend is too shy to take the initiative when meeting people.

I've got enough money to buy a flat downtown. I have enough money to buy an apartment in the city center.
We make a proposal based on the construction " it+be+ adjective "(+ of+ or ).
It was nice of him to tell the truth about his past. It's very good that he told the truth about his past.

It's important to receive all necessary books before we start our lessons. It is important that all the necessary books arrive before we start studying.
It is accompanied by the expression would like / would love / would prefer. Each of them implies that someone would like to do something.
I would like to move to London. - I would like to move to London.

I would prefer to go by car. – I would prefer to go by car.
The sentence contains the word only, which helps to express dissatisfaction with some result or event.
She went to work only to meet her angry boss. She went to work only to meet an angry boss.

I rushed to the railway station only to make sure that the train had already left. I rushed to the station just to make sure the train had already left.
We use it after such nouns and pronouns as something, somewhere, anyone, nothing. Usually in this way we show that something is necessary or possible.
Let's give them something to talk about. Let's give them a topic to talk about.

take something to eat on our trip. Take some food for the journey.
The sentence contains a combination be+the first / the second, etc. / next / last / best and etc.
You were the first to congratulations me with my birthday. You were the first to wish me happy birthday.

I am the next to choose where to go on holidays. Next I choose where to go on vacation.

Infinitive without particle to

Cases in which we use infinitive without particle to , that is bare infinitive, far less. But you need to know them. After all, you do not want to make grammatical errors in this topic? So we use the bare infinitive after:

( , , , , etc). The exception is modal verbs. / / / , which are used with the infinitive with to.
We should tell our parents about the party. We should tell our parents about the party.

He must apologize for his words. He should apologize for his words.

She ought to be more polite to other people. She should be more polite to people.
After verbs let, make, see, hear, feel.
We saw them kiss. We saw them kissing.

I won't let her marry without my blessing. “I will not let her marry without my blessing.

But, if these verbs are used in, they are accompanied by an infinitive with a particle to.

He was heard to say either he was trying to kill someone or someone was trying to kill him. “He was heard to say that either he was trying to kill someone, or someone was trying to kill him.
After expressions / would rather .
You'd better sit down. - You'd better sit down.

I'd rather go to jail than serve in the military. “I'd rather go to jail than serve in the armed forces.
IN interrogative sentences that start with the words why not? (why not).
Why not go to the cinema? Why not go to the cinema?

At first it may seem that there is no end to the information here! But actually it is not. When studying English, you somehow come across the mentioned verbs, phrases, constructions, and remember which infinitive goes with them in the complex. Here is just a list of situations that may come your way. Don't get lost!

Test

The use of the infinitive with the particle to and without the particle to

The infinitive is usually used with the particle to, which is its grammatical feature. However, the particle to is sometimes omitted, and the infinitive is used without it:

1. After auxiliary and modal verbs: can, could, must, may, might, will, shall, would, should (and their negative forms cannot= can't, must not= mustn't, etc.).

She can dance. - She can dance.
I must see you at once. - I need to meet you now (immediately).
He might help me. - He could help me.

After need and dare, if used as modal:
You needn't go there. - You don't have to go there.
How dare you ask me? How dare you ask me?

Exception: After ought (to) and have (to), be (to) is used as a modal infinitive with the particle to:
He ought to answer you. He should answer you.
I had to send him money. - I should have sent him money.
We are to see her tonight. - We should see her tonight.

2. After the expressions had better - better (would), would rather - I prefer; better be:
You had (=You'd) better help her. - You'd better help her.
I would (=I'd) rather go by train. - I prefer to travel by train.

3. In the object infinitive turnover (complex addition) after the verbs:
a) expressing perception with the help of the senses: to feel to feel, to hear to hear, to notice to notice, to see to see, etc.:
I felt my pulse quicken. - I felt my pulse quicken.
She heard the clock strike eight. She heard the clock strike eight.
I saw him jump. - I saw him jump.

But if these verbs are used in the passive voice, then the infinitive is used with to:
She was seen to go to the institute. - We saw how she went to college.

b) After the verbs: to make in the meaning - force, force and to let - allow, allow:
He made me help him. He made me help him.
What makes you think so? - What makes you think so?
He let me take his book. He allowed me to take his book.
We let him do it. - We let him do it.

But if these verbs are used in the passive voice, then the infinitive is used with to:
She was made to repeat the story. She was forced to repeat (her) story.

V) After the verb to help - to help the particle to can either be used or not used - both options are valid. The variant without to is more common in informal communication:
He helped me do the exercise. - He helped me do the exercise.
Could you help me (to) unload the car? - Could you help me unload the car?

Note 1: After the why that starts the question. This is a rare type of one-part sentences, where of the two main members of the sentence (subject and predicate) there is only one - the predicate represented by the infinitive.
Why not go there right away? - Why not go there now?
Why not take a holiday? - Why not take a vacation?
Why worry? - Why bother?

Note 2: If there are two infinitives in the sentence, united by the union and or or, then the particle to is used only before the first infinitive:
I want to come and see your new house. - I want to come (and) see your new house.
She decided to go and buy something for supper. She decided to go and buy something for dinner.

Note 3: At the end of a sentence, the particle to is sometimes used without an infinitive in order to avoid repeating the same verb in one sentence, and also if the meaning of the infinitive is clear from the context:
He wants me to go there but I don't want to (go). - He wants me to go there, but I don't want (to go).
Why didn't you come? You promised to (come). - Why didn't you come? You promised (to come).
Come and see us. – I'd love to. (come, see) - Come to us. - With pleasure. (I'll come)

14.04.2010, 04:34

Examples with "to":

Examples without "to":

14.04.2010, 08:11

Who here is strong in English spelling? I asked native speakers - they did not even understand the question. A Google search gave only one result, where the poor fellow (on yahoo answers) was also not understood. I think there are people on the forum and they can explain or point out the spelling rule (if any).

Examples with "to":

1) It is hoped that this book will help you to expand as an individual...

2) This will serve as a good review, and will help you to remember what you have read.

Examples without "to":

1) Use Your Head is written to help you (?) do just that.

2) These include books which will help you (?) develop your general knowledge...

As far as I know, the "to" particle is usually placed before an infinitive verb. But why not in the last two examples? And there are many of these.
to (preposition) acts a function word such as to indicate
1) direction
2) recipient of an action

14.04.2010, 10:13

he made me do it
he had her do it
he let her do it

14.04.2010, 10:54

Examples with "to":

1) It is hoped that this book will help you to expand as an individual...

2) This will serve as a good review, and will help you to remember what you have read.

Examples without "to":

1) Use Your Head is written to help you (?) do just that.

2) These include books which will help you (?) develop your general knowledge...

As far as I know, the "to" particle is usually placed before an infinitive verb. But why not in the last two examples? And there are many of these.

Take a look at grammer in use, not for beginners, but more advanced - I remember from a practical point of view, such questions were explained - "on which mare" is it better to drive up to them

14.04.2010, 11:23

Examples with "to":

1) It is hoped that this book will help you to expand as an individual...

2) This will serve as a good review, and will help you to remember what you have read.

Examples without "to":

1) Use Your Head is written to help you (?) do just that.

2) These include books which will help you (?) develop your general knowledge...

As far as I know, the "to" particle is usually placed before an infinitive verb. But why not in the last two examples? And there are many of these.

IMHO both the first two examples and the last ones could be written both with and without to, just the first option is school, and the second is used in everyday life.

14.04.2010, 11:55

IMHO both the first two examples and the last ones could be written both with and without to, just the first option is school, and the second is used in everyday life.

14.04.2010, 11:59

take a look at grammer in use, not for beginners, but more advanced - I remember from a practical point of view, such questions were explained - "on which mare" is it better to drive up to them

I didn’t find it anywhere, it seems that this is a matter of course and everyone understands except me ...

14.04.2010, 12:18

Grammar textbooks say that to after help is optional.
Well, you know that not after all verbs before the infinitive is put to
he made me do it
he had her do it
he let her do it

14.04.2010, 12:24

I didn’t find it anywhere, it seems that this is a matter of course and everyone understands except me ...
For myself, I am guided by - what is important for me to say, that is, if in the first examples "help" refers to the action "help what to do?" - expand, remember.
In the last two examples, "help" refers to the person "help whom?" - you and then to clarify what exactly to help, the main thing is that you (me, her) I suspect that this is just my personal approach and it doesn’t have much in common with the rules, but it helps me :)

14.04.2010, 12:33

to (preposition) acts a function word such as to indicate
1) direction
2) recipient of an action
3) upper limit (to count to twenty)
3) and as a function word used in infinitives. It's time to go
last example you got should be written:

These include books which will help you with the development of your general knowledge.

The whole idea of me opening an entire thread for this question came from the fact that the general rule concerning the use of this particular proposition doesn't seem to apply here, or applies with certain exceptions.

As to the example, I didn't make it up. The guy who wrote it is a well-known writer and I guess is familiar with English grammar ;)

14.04.2010, 12:41

I suspect that this is just my personal approach and it doesn’t have much in common with the rules, but it helps me :)

Helps in what? To speak correctly or to assume that you are speaking correctly?

Sometimes it makes me laugh when someone says it wrong, the British never correct and often repeat a deliberately wrong option.

14.04.2010, 12:43

I'm just interested in which textbooks and where exactly this is said, or as a rule or an exception is called.

I understand that not everywhere "to" is put before the infinitive, BUT, try replacing "help" with "assist" or another verb that fits the meaning - the absence of "to" will immediately cut the ear. Accordingly, the point is in the verb "help".

In your examples, the absence of "to" is obvious and without rules IMHO.
I was not too lazy, they say hunting is worse than bondage: lol: I found my own grammar in use - that's what they say about it in the section verb + somebody + to reprint the part related specifically to the verb help:

Tom helped me carry the box
or

14.04.2010, 12:53

Helps in what? To speak correctly or to assume that you are speaking correctly?
Yes, I'm probably too frivolous about the language, I just say what I think is right. Previously, sometimes in the evening I looked into textbooks, to clarify something that I was not sure about, but now I even stopped doing that. I'm sure that there are mistakes, though this does not prevent me from receiving compliments about my English: shy67:

14.04.2010, 12:55

I was not too lazy, they say hunting is worse than bondage: lol: I found my own grammar in use - that's what they say about it in the section verb + somebody + to reprint the part related specifically to the verb help:
You can say help somebody do or help somebody to do
Tom helped me carry the box
or
Tom helped me to carry the box.

So it will be grammatically correct with or without a particle? It doesn't seem to be that simple...

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=118783

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1098634

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=745066

14.04.2010, 13:01

I'm sure that there are mistakes, though this does not prevent me from receiving compliments about my English: shy67:

Are you a pretty girl/woman? Of course you will get all sorts of compliments :)

14.04.2010, 14:14

So it will be grammatically correct with or without a particle? It doesn't seem to be that simple...

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=218353

It looks like the problem is sucked from the finger.

The syntax is..

That, in fact, is all.

14.04.2010, 14:43

It looks like the problem is sucked from the finger.

Here is an opinion from the thread you cited, consonant with mine previously voiced:

The syntax is..

To help someone do something..

It "s just the "to" is optional and can be ommited, and we both ommit it sometimes.

That, in fact, is all.

Here is another opinion from the same forum that is not entirely in tune with yours:

14.04.2010, 15:41

Here is another opinion from the same forum that is not entirely in tune with yours:

For whatever it's worth, I agree it's optional in the U.S., too. But I think we'd usually omit the "to" when actually making the request ("please help me do that"). But both ways sound fine when describing something already done: "She helped me do that", "She helped me to do that".

Edit: I was proofreading my post (I know, I should have done that first), and I realized that despite what I just said, there is a subtle difference in the way I would use the two forms. I would say "please help me do that" when asking for help with a task, and "please help me to do that" when asking for help in changing some personal trait or to do something that involves a sustained effort. examples. "I need to carry these boxes downstairs. Please help me do that." "I need to lose some weight. Please help me to do that." I don't know if this is just my personal usage or if it is more general.

It seems that both options are grammatically suitable, but in practice there are certain rules for using one or the other. Interestingly, many native speakers have difficulty answering a question that you consider to be made up out of thin air.

Difficulties with answering your question for native speakers may arise due to the fact that the use of both options in practice is taken for granted and for granted, so you simply may not understand what you want from them. But the real difficulties arise if you start to rack your brains and create your own interpretations, as in the above fantasy. I do not think that in practice the use of one form or another is preceded by such a rigorous mental analysis. Everything is much simpler: it "s just a matter of personal choice.

Of course, you have the right to disagree and continue to dig further. Good luck.

14.04.2010, 17:52

both options are valid and correct and apply everywhere. unlike other verbs, where only 1 option is correct, for example. he made me do it. So "certain rules for using this or that" simply do not exist.

14.04.2010, 21:17

I'm just interested in which textbooks and where exactly this is said, or as a rule or an exception is called.

In your examples, the absence of "to" is obvious and without rules IMHO.

The rules are that after these verbs that is not put
and after the help there are 2 options
esist is always followed by tu
there are lists of verbs that require inf with tou or gerund
the grammar of Gordon-wing there the subtleties of the infinitive and gerund are just highlighted
you will not find such a detailed analysis in advanced grammar textbooks even

And as someone already wrote on rupoint, the best compliment is when they start criticizing you for your pronunciation.
:lol: How kind you are. Now I won't be upset :lol:

14.04.2010, 23:34

:lol: How kind you are. Now I won't be upset :lol:
Only I wasn’t talking about pleasure, but about when you can believe that you already speak English really well, when, apart from the pronunciation of individual words, there’s nothing to complain about. Although, keep wearing rose-colored glasses and enjoy complimenting your grammatical errors. :hb15:
Yes, I'm good, thank you! also smart and beautiful! And got used to compliments and admiration. :sweet:

14.04.2010, 23:38

Yes, I'm good, thank you! also smart and beautiful! And got used to compliments and admiration. :sweet:

PS Constant nit-picking gives rise to complexes which, in turn, evoke compassion and sometimes words of support that, as you admit, are now "spoiling" you. But this is a personal choice.

Don't praise yourself... :lol: