bare infinitive required after causative verbs or verbs of perception

Use the bare infinitive (verb without to) after causative verbs like make, let, have and after many perception verbs like see, hear, watch when you report a whole action. Get usually takes to + verb. Below are clear rules, many wrong/right pairs, rewrites, and real work/school/casual examples so you can fix sentences fast.

Quick rule

Make / let / have + object + bare infinitive (no to). Perception verbs (see, hear, watch, feel, notice) + object + bare infinitive to report a complete action; use -ing to show it was in progress. Get usually takes object + to + verb.

Correct: She made him apologize.
Wrong: She made him to apologize.
Correct: I saw her leave.
Wrong: I saw her to leave.
Exception: They got him to apologize (get + to-infinitive).

Core explanation: the patterns you need

Causative meaning: someone causes someone else to act. Pattern: make / let / have + object + bare infinitive. Example: She had the intern file the report.

Perception meaning: you observe an action. Pattern: see / hear / watch / notice / feel + object + bare infinitive for a complete action; use -ing to stress it was ongoing (I saw him running).

Get differs: get + object + to + verb when you persuade or arrange (They got him to sign).

make / let / have + object + verb (bare infinitive)
see / hear / watch + object + verb (bare infinitive) = whole action; + -ing = ongoing action
get + object + to + verb (usually)

Real usage: work, school, and casual examples

Each pair shows a common error and the correct construction for everyday contexts.

Work - Wrong: I had the contractor to inspect the roof.
Right: I had the contractor inspect the roof.
Work - Wrong: They made the team to redo the slide.
Right: They made the team redo the slide.
Work - Wrong: We got the client agree to the terms.
Right: We got the client to agree to the terms.
School - Wrong: The professor let us to submit late without penalty.
Right: The professor let us submit late without penalty.
School - Wrong: I saw James to hand in the assignment.
Right: I saw James hand in the assignment.
School - Wrong: She had the student to rewrite the abstract.
Right: She had the student rewrite the abstract.
Casual - Wrong: Let me to help you with that bag.
Right: Let me help you with that bag.
Casual - Wrong: I watched him to skateboard all afternoon.
Right: I watched him skateboard all afternoon.
Casual - Wrong: He got her agree to go to the party.
Right: He got her to agree to go to the party.

Examples: focused wrong/right pairs (quick reference)

Compact wrong/right pairs for fast scanning.

Wrong: I saw her to leave early.
Right: I saw her leave early.
Wrong: She let to borrow my car.
Right: She let him borrow my car.
Wrong: He had me to sign the form.
Right: He had me sign the form.
Wrong: We heard them to argue outside.
Right: We heard them argue outside.
Wrong: The manager made her to apologize.
Right: The manager made her apologize.
Wrong: They got him fix the computer.
Right: They got him to fix the computer.
Wrong: I watched her to paint the wall.
Right: I watched her paint the wall.
Wrong: Let me to explain the plan.
Right: Let me explain the plan.

Rewrite help: step-by-step checks and many rewrites

Quick checklist: 1) Identify the main verb (make, let, have, get, see, hear, watch, notice, feel). 2) Find the object that follows. 3) Choose bare infinitive, -ing, or to-infinitive per the rule. 4) Read the sentence aloud to confirm the meaning.

If the main verb is make / let / have → use a bare infinitive after the object.
If it's a perception verb → bare infinitive for a complete event, -ing for an ongoing scene.
If it's get → expect to + verb after the object.

Rewrite:
Original: He made to fix the printer. →
Fixed: He made him fix the printer.
Rewrite:
Original: I heard her to sing in the hall. →
Fixed: I heard her sing in the hall.
Rewrite:
Original: We got him finish the budget. →
Fixed: We got him to finish the budget.
Rewrite:
Original: Let me to know your decision. →
Fixed: Let me know your decision.
Rewrite:
Original: She had the files to print. →
Fixed: She had the files printed. (passive causative) or She had the assistant print the files. (active causative)
Rewrite:
Original: I saw him to cross the finish line. →
Fixed: I saw him cross the finish line.

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context-meaning usually clarifies which form fits. Paste sentences into a checker for batch fixes if you have many to clean up.

Memory trick and short checks

Two quick reminders to edit faster.

Mnemonic: MLH = Make / Let / Have → no TO after the object.
Mnemonic: GET = Give 'Em To → get usually needs to + verb.
Quick test: Remove the object; if the remaining phrase needs no to, use the bare infinitive after the object.

Usage: MLH in practice: Make + her + (no to) → She made her apologize.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Common confusions involve bare infinitive vs to-infinitive vs gerund, and verbs that behave differently (help, get). Watch passive causative forms too.

Don't add to after make / let / have: wrong: She made him to wait.
right: She made him wait.
Don't drop to after get: wrong: They got him sign.
right: They got him to sign.
Help is flexible: help him (to) do it - both forms are accepted in many dialects.
Use gerunds after verbs like enjoy, avoid, consider (I enjoy reading).

Wrong: She made him to promise to be on time.
Right: She made him promise to be on time.
Wrong: They got him sign the contract.
Right: They got him to sign the contract.

Hyphenation and spacing: small editing tips that matter

Line breaks and extra spaces can hide errors when you scan quickly. Keep object and verb visually connected so you catch causative structures.

Keep object + verb on the same line in narrow columns when possible.
Use single spaces; multiple spaces make scanning harder.
Avoid inserting hyphens between the object and verb.

Usage: Good: She had her assistant file the report. (object + verb unobstructed)

Grammar notes: passive causatives, tense, and exceptions

Active causative: have / make / let + object + bare infinitive. Passive causative: have + object + past participle (I had my car repaired).

Tense does not change the pattern: She made him apologize (past) vs She makes him apologize (present). Perception verbs keep the bare infinitive in past tense when reporting a complete action.

Exception: help commonly accepts both to-infinitive and bare infinitive (help her (to) finish the report).

Passive: have + object + past participle → I had the document translated.
Active: have + object + bare infinitive → I had the assistant translate the document.
Help: She helped him (to) move the boxes.

Right: Active causative: I had John arrange the meeting.
Right: Passive causative: I had the meeting arranged.
Right: Help: She helped him (to) move the boxes.

FAQ

Can I use -ing after see / hear / watch?

Yes. Use -ing to show an ongoing or background action (I saw him running). Use the bare infinitive to report a complete action (I saw him run). The choice changes aspect and nuance.

Why is "She made him to leave" wrong?

Make as a causative requires the object followed by the bare infinitive. Adding to is incorrect. Correct: She made him leave.

Does get always require to + verb?

Usually yes when get means to persuade or arrange: get someone to do something. Some dialects drop to in speech, but standard written English uses get + to-infinitive.

Is "have someone do something" formal or informal?

'Have someone do something' is neutral and common in both formal and informal registers to indicate instruction or arrangement. The passive 'have something done' is often used for an indirect or more formal tone.

How can I quickly check my sentence?

Identify the main verb. If it is make / let / have and an object follows, use the bare infinitive. If it is a perception verb, choose between bare infinitive (complete action) and -ing (ongoing). If it is get, expect to + verb. Use the rewrite checklist above and run a batch check for repeated errors.

Need help fixing many sentences at once?

Search your documents for patterns like "made him", "had the", "saw her", "got him" and apply the rewrite templates above. A grammar tool can automate exact rewrites and fix repeated errors across a whole text quickly.