Verb + Object + Infinitive

• In English, we often use a verb, an object (like a person), and an infinitive to talk about how parents influence their children. Some verbs use the bare infinitive without 'to', while others use the full infinitive with 'to'.
• Verb Pattern
• Rule
• Example
• let / make / help + object + bare infinitive
• No 'to' after the object with let, make, and help (help can also take 'to').
• Mom let him stay up late in Seattle.
• allow / expect / encourage + object + full infinitive
• Use 'to' before the infinitive with allow, expect, and encourage.
• Dad encouraged her to study hard in Boston.
• persuade / enable + object + full infinitive
• Use 'to' with persuade and enable to show influence or capability.
• The trip enabled them to see Chicago.
• Remember
• Use let, make, and help with a bare infinitive (without 'to').
• Use allow, expect, encourage, persuade, and enable with a full infinitive (with 'to').
• The object always comes directly between the main verb and the infinitive.
• In the passive voice, verbs like make take the full infinitive ('to be made to do').
• Examples
• Our teacher made us finish the homework before lunch in Denver.
• Parents should encourage children to develop healthy habits in Austin.
• Good schools enable students to achieve great success in London.
• She let her son play video games for an hour in Portland.
• Common mistakes
• They made him to apologize for his behavior in Manchester.
• They made him apologize for his behavior in Manchester.
• She allowed him stay up late watching TV in Miami.
• She allowed him to stay up late watching TV in Miami.

Complete the sentences

• The strict father made his teenager (clean) ____ the entire garage in Seattle.
• Our parents always encouraged us (pursue) ____ our dreams in Chicago.
• The teacher helped the young student (solve) ____ the complex math problem in Boston.
• Do you allow your kids (eat) ____ candy before dinner in Denver?
• Good technology enables students (learn) ____ much faster in New York.
• The mother persuaded her daughter (wear) ____ a warm jacket in Chicago.

Sources: photo by Ramesh Kambattan on Pexels