Made (to) do something

Question

Hi1. I was made to stand up.2. He made me stand up.--- Why do I need "to" in the first example and don't need it in the 2nd example.

Dokterjokkebrok · Accepted Answer

NewguestHi

1. I was made to stand up.

2. He made me stand up.

--- Why do I need "to" in the first example and don't need it in the 2nd example.

Hi

Sentence 1 requires the infinitive with 'to' because it's passive. Sentence 2 is not passive, hence the construction made + object + infinitive without 'to'.

In short,

Use the infinitive with 'to' if the subject of the sentence undergoes the action, as is the case in S1

Use the infinitive without 'to' if the sentence is active; i.e., the subject performs the action, as in S2.

Kind regards

Dokterjokkebrok

Mr Wordy · Answer

Note also that only certain verbs take the "bare infinitive" (without "to") in sentences with the structure of #2.

For example, while "He made me stand up" is fine, "He asked me stand up" is wrong. You have to say "He asked me to stand up".

Why this difference should exist I have no idea. I also don't know how you can tell which verbs take the "to-infinitive" and which the "bare infinitive" except just by learning them individually.

Newguest · Answer

Thanks guys!

Anonymous · Answer

Mr WordyI also don't know how you can tell which verbs take the "to-infinitive" and which the "bare infinitive"

I've been learned that make and let take the bare infinitive, while other verbs require an infinitive with "to".

Anonymous · Answer

Hi.

causative verbs (except get) plus help and let need to be followed by a bare infinitive; but if they are used as passive, they need to (because of passive structure).

Made (to) do something

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