3.05 Misuse and omission of to

Rule: The modals (except ought to and used to) and a few other verbs are followed by infinitive clause objects without to. Other verbs require to. After help, to is optional.

Examples of errors:

1. I don't want people make a fool out of me.
2. If you want prepare for the exam, you must study hard.
3. At other universities you can't do anything else but to study.
4. An extraordinary incident made me to sit down and write you this letter.
5. Perhaps your father would rather have your brother to run the farm.
6. I want touch on some other aspects of the problem

One of the characteristics, though not a definitive criterion (cf. 2.6) of modal verbs is that, except for ought to and used to, they are followed by the infinitive without to. In active form, that is, when the subject of the infinitive is expressed, hear, see, watch, and make also require the infinitive without to:

In passive form the infinitive with to is required:

Watch and let also require the infinitive with to:

Have as part of the semi-auxiliary verb have (got) to (cf. 2.6.4) must be followed by to, but as a lexical verb meaning 'cause something to be done' it is followed by the infinitive without to, e.g.:

He had to fix it.

I had him fix it.

The second meaning of have was intended in (5). Compare:

Your father doesn't have to work so hard anymore, because now he has your brother to run the farm.

Here to run the farm is an infinitive (reduced) relative clause equivalent to who can run the farm. The intended meaning in (5). though, is: 'Perhaps he would prefer that your brother stay home and run the farm (rather than go off to college'. In this case the infinitive clause is not relative but the clausal object (with expressed subject your brother) of have, and to is required.

The fact that in (3) the infinitive is separated from can by a noun phrase and a conjunction does not affect the rule requiring to.