Have + object + infinitive (without to)

Question

Hi,I have a question about the sentece below. I think the sentence should be without to. according: have + object + infinitive (without to)Somehow you have the nerve, the arrogance to consistently and ruthlessly point out my shortcomings.What do you think?ThanksM

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

marix998I think the sentence should be without to.

...

Somehow you have the nerve, the arrogance to consistently and ruthlessly point out my shortcomings.

What do you think?

The sentence is correct with to. The formula you quoted is only for "causative have". This sentence does not contain a causative have.

Non-causative have:

You have the nerve to point out my shortcomings.

Jack has the skills to fix this problem.

We had the foresight to invest in gold last year.

Causative have:

Jennifer has the maid clean and vacuum every week.

Larry had the mechanic change the oil and check the tire pressure.

We had the contractors put in new plumbing.

Note that the object of causative have is someone who can do something, in other words, an agent. nerve, skills, and foresight are not people who can do anything; they are not agents.

CJ

Marix998 · Answer

CalifJim
marix998I think the sentence should be without to.
...
Somehow you have the nerve, the arrogance to consistently and ruthlessly point out my shortcomings.

What do you think?
The sentence is correct with to. The formula you quoted is only for "causative have". This sentence does not contain a causative have.

Non-causative have:
You have the nerve to point out my shortcomings.
Jack has the skills to fix this problem.
We had the foresight to invest in gold last year.

Causative have:
Jennifer has the maid clean and vacuum every week.
Larry had the mechanic change the oil and check the tire pressure.
We had the contractors put in new plumbing.

Note that the object of causative have is someone who can do something, in other words, an agent. nerve, skills, and foresight are not people who can do anything; they are not agents.

CJ

Thank you for your response,

What about senteces:

They make something to stick between a dvd player and TV.

The police will never make those charges stick.

I have something happen to me. - I had a very strange thing happen to me tonight.

We will have a car wait for you at the station. - a car is the object here, is it an agent?

Could you explain me why is there to stick/stick, could third sentence with to happen?

Thanks

M

CalifJim · Answer

marix998What about senteces:
They make something to stick between a dvd player and TV.
The police will never make those charges stick.
I have something happen to me. - I had a very strange thing happen to me tonight.
We will have a car wait for you at the station. - a car is the object here, is it an agent?
Could you explain me why is there to stick/stick, could third sentence with to happen?

I was too hasty in claiming that the object in causative have is always an agent. In the case of We will have a car wait for you the word "car" only represents an agent, namely, the person driving the car.

I had a very strange thing happen to me tonight. - Not causative. This is yet another pattern with have. The meaning here is that "I had a certain experience: A very strange thing happened to me tonight".

They make something to stick between a dvd player and TV. The infinitive clause acts like a modifier of something. It tells the purpose of this "something". There is nothing causative here. The thing is made for the purpose of sticking between a DVD player and a TV. It's a clause of purpose.

The police will never make those charges stick. This one is causative make. As you see, the object is inanimate, so it can't be an agent. Apparently inanimate objects are more common than I anticipated.

CJ

Have + object + infinitive (without to)

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