Verb complementation

Rules

• Rule 1: Verb + object + to-infinitive

  Verbs like want, would like, expect, encourage, persuade, allow, advise, remind, warn, force, consider, believe take object + to + verb. Never say ~~want that you come~~!

  Pattern: verb + object + to + verb

  Example: I want you to come with me.

  Example: They consider him to be a hero.

• Rule 2: make / let / have and perception verbs

  make, let, have + object + base form (but get needs to). see, hear, watch, feel, notice + object + base form (the whole event) or -ing (the event in progress).

  Pattern: make / let / have + object + base form · see / hear + object + base form / -ing

  Example: Dad let me choose the movie.

  Example: I heard the baby crying.

• Rule 3: In the passive, to comes back

  When make and perception verbs are passive, to appears: was made to wait, was seen to leave. let has no passive; use be allowed to. After be said / believed / known, use to have + past participle for the past and to be + -ing for ongoing actions.

  Pattern: be made / seen + to + verb · be said + to have + past participle / to be + -ing

  Example: We were made to rewrite the essay.

  Example: The first tulips in Europe are said to have come from Istanbul.

• Rule 4: Prepositional to, and object + complement

  In some patterns to is a preposition, so -ing follows: be used to getting, look forward to seeing, object to being. Some verbs take an adjective or noun after the object: find it hard, elect her captain.

  Pattern: be used / committed / object to + -ing · verb + object + adjective / noun

  Example: I'm used to walking to school.

  Example: We found the test easy.

Common mistakes

• My teacher explained me the rule. → My teacher explained the rule to me.

  explain takes the person with to.

• I want that you help me. → I want you to help me.

  want + object + to-infinitive.

• Mom made me to tidy my room. → Mom made me tidy my room.

  Active make takes no to.