"believe to improve" vs "believe improve"

Question

Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve  their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.Hello,It seems to me that the highlighted part needs "to infinitive" rather than "bare infinitive". Is it a standart form to use believe preceeding a bare infinitive? (.................that they believe TO improve? Or ............that they believe improve? Which one?many thanks!

Inchoateknowledge · Accepted Answer

Sometimes people select certain foods that -- they believe -- improve their physical appearance
and avoid those (that) -- they believe -- might be detrimental.

You need not use 'to'

Philip · Answer

KilimanjaroSometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

Hello,

It seems to me that the highlighted part needs "to infinitive" rather than "bare infinitive". Is it a standart form to use believe preceeding a bare infinitive? (.................that they believe TO improve? Or ............that they believe improve? Which one?

many thanks!

The original sentence is correct. If you changed it to the passive voice, you would need the full infinitive: people select certain foods that are believed to improve..........

Cool Breeze · Answer

Philip
KilimanjaroSometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

Hello,

It seems to me that the highlighted part needs "to infinitive" rather than "bare infinitive". Is it a standart form to use believe preceeding a bare infinitive? (.................that they believe TO improve? Or ............that they believe improve? Which one?

many thanks!
The original sentence is correct. If you changed it to the passive voice, you would need the full infinitive: people select certain foods that are believed to improve..........

The only infinitive in the original sentence is be after might. Believe and improve are both in the present tense.

Cheers
CB

Kilimanjaro · Answer

Can you please be more spesific? Sorry, I just can't make it out from your comments. Can you give me some more examples epitomising the use of "believe"  in this respect?

Anonymous · Answer

which ones are wrong?

a) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

b) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe they improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

c) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

d) Sometimes people select certain foods that improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

e) Sometimes people select certain foods that are believed to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

Diamondrg · Answer

which ones are wrong?

a) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

b) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe they improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

c) Sometimes people select certain foods that improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

d) Sometimes people select certain foods that are believed to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

e) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Hi Kilimanjaro

I think you find it difficult to analyze the sentence, perhaps you are confused by that, which is a relative pronoun in this sentence, not a conjunction. Which could be used instead of that.

They is the subject for believe and that is the subject for improve. Their physical appearance is the object for improve. They believe could be left out and the rest of the sentence would still be good English.

I am sorry, this is the best I can do. I hope this helps you.

Cheers
CB

Cool Breeze · Answer

Diamondrgwhich ones are wrong?

a) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

b) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe they improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

c) Sometimes people select certain foods that improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

d) Sometimes people select certain foods that are believed to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

e) Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe to improve their physical appearance and avoid those they believe might be detrimental.

b) and e) are incorrect.

Cheers
CB

CalifJim · Answer

It's not

Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance

It's

Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance

Compare:

People select certain foods that improve their physical appearance -- or at least they believe that those foods improve their physical appearance.

And these:

The student that I think improved the most this year was George.
He was the student that everybody thought could be a real success.
It was an old clock that nobody knew was there.
Julia bought the paintings that we said looked best in her home.

Or even:

The student that, in my judgment, improved the most this year was George.
He was the student that, according to everyone, could be a real success.

Does that help?
CJ

CalifJim · Answer

It's not

Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance

It's

Sometimes people select certain foods that they believe improve their physical appearance

Compare:

People select certain foods that improve their physical appearance -- or at least they believe that those foods improve their physical appearance.

And these:

The student that I think improved the most this year was George.
He was the student that everybody thought could be a real success.
It was an old clock that nobody knew was there.
Julia bought the paintings that we said looked best in her home.

Or even:

The student that, in my judgment, improved the most this year was George.
He was the student that, according to everyone, could be a real success.

Does that help?
CJ

"believe to improve" vs "believe improve"

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