English Grammar Drills - Mark Lester 2009
8. Object + base form
11 Multiple Verb Complements
Part 2 Verb Phrases
Only a few verbs take this complement type, but they are commonly used. Here is an example:
The term base form is also called an unmarked or bare infinitive. All of these terms refer to the same thing: a verb phrase that contains a base-form verb followed by that verb’s complements and modifiers (if any). We can see that this complement type is indeed a base form by using the verb be. For example:
If the verb be were not in its base form, it would be is to agree with its subject Mary:
X They let Mary is the leader in the new project.
Nonnative speakers commonly make mistakes with this complement type because it is easily confused with the much more frequent object + infinitive complement. That is, nonnative speakers sometimes overgeneralize the to of the object + infinitive complement to the less-common object + base form complement. For example, compare the following two sentences:
Object + infinitive: We allowed them to finish.
Obj + base form: X "We let them to finish.
In the second example, the to has been added to the base form in mistaken analogy to the more common infinitive complement.
Here are some more examples of the correct and incorrect use of the object + base form complement and object + infinitive complement:
Most of the verbs in the group refer to sense perception: for example, hear, see, and watch. Another common group refers to causation: for example, cause and make. A particularly common verb in this group is have, which in this context means to “cause someone to do something.” For example:
I had my assistant take notes during the meeting.
Here is a list of the more common verbs that take the base-form complement:
feel let observe
have listen to overhear
hear make see
help notice watch
Exercise 11.11
Choose the correct complement type (base form or infinitive) from the two forms in parentheses.
1. The doctor felt the patient’s pulse (fl utter/to fl utter) irregularly.
2. Would you call them and have them (make/to make) a reservation for us?
3. Please watch the kids (play/to play) in the backyard for a few minutes, will you?
4. Did you actually hear him (say/to say) that we might quit?
5. I consider them (be/to be) ready to go.
6. We listened to them (discuss/to discuss) what they should do.
7. You will notice the car’s performance gradually (get/to get) worse over time.
8. I need to help the kids (get/to get) ready for bed.
9. Have them (give/to give) me a call.
10. We couldn’t help overhearing them (talk/to talk) about the incident.