Bare infinitive after “help” with intervening past participle phrase
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Which is correct?
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy thrive.
or
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy to thrive.
I know that technically help can admit the bare infinitive, but something about the presence of the intervening past participle phrase makes it strike my ear as incorrect. Thoughts?
participles bare-infinitive
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Which is correct?
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy thrive.
or
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy to thrive.
I know that technically help can admit the bare infinitive, but something about the presence of the intervening past participle phrase makes it strike my ear as incorrect. Thoughts?
participles bare-infinitive
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Which is correct?
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy thrive.
or
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy to thrive.
I know that technically help can admit the bare infinitive, but something about the presence of the intervening past participle phrase makes it strike my ear as incorrect. Thoughts?
participles bare-infinitive
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
Which is correct?
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy thrive.
or
Our mission is to help everyone touched by tragedy to thrive.
I know that technically help can admit the bare infinitive, but something about the presence of the intervening past participle phrase makes it strike my ear as incorrect. Thoughts?
participles bare-infinitive
participles bare-infinitive
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
asked Jul 2 at 21:17
englishfox
1
1
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 5 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
1
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38
add a comment |
1
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38
1
1
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
I think your instinct is correct, because everyone touched by tragedy is a longish phrase and has its own verb that could distract a reader from the wider context of the sentence. The presence of to provides a clue to help readers get back on track.
You want them to parse the sentence as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by tragedy] thrive.
but they might see it as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by [tragedy thrive]].
or even
[Our mission is to help everyone] touched by [tragedy thrive].
neither of which make any sense, so they would need to go back and think again. On the other hand, if the sentence was simply
Our mission is to help you thrive.
then leaving out the to would be fine, if slightly more informal than the other option.
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
I think your instinct is correct, because everyone touched by tragedy is a longish phrase and has its own verb that could distract a reader from the wider context of the sentence. The presence of to provides a clue to help readers get back on track.
You want them to parse the sentence as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by tragedy] thrive.
but they might see it as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by [tragedy thrive]].
or even
[Our mission is to help everyone] touched by [tragedy thrive].
neither of which make any sense, so they would need to go back and think again. On the other hand, if the sentence was simply
Our mission is to help you thrive.
then leaving out the to would be fine, if slightly more informal than the other option.
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I think your instinct is correct, because everyone touched by tragedy is a longish phrase and has its own verb that could distract a reader from the wider context of the sentence. The presence of to provides a clue to help readers get back on track.
You want them to parse the sentence as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by tragedy] thrive.
but they might see it as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by [tragedy thrive]].
or even
[Our mission is to help everyone] touched by [tragedy thrive].
neither of which make any sense, so they would need to go back and think again. On the other hand, if the sentence was simply
Our mission is to help you thrive.
then leaving out the to would be fine, if slightly more informal than the other option.
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I think your instinct is correct, because everyone touched by tragedy is a longish phrase and has its own verb that could distract a reader from the wider context of the sentence. The presence of to provides a clue to help readers get back on track.
You want them to parse the sentence as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by tragedy] thrive.
but they might see it as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by [tragedy thrive]].
or even
[Our mission is to help everyone] touched by [tragedy thrive].
neither of which make any sense, so they would need to go back and think again. On the other hand, if the sentence was simply
Our mission is to help you thrive.
then leaving out the to would be fine, if slightly more informal than the other option.
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
I think your instinct is correct, because everyone touched by tragedy is a longish phrase and has its own verb that could distract a reader from the wider context of the sentence. The presence of to provides a clue to help readers get back on track.
You want them to parse the sentence as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by tragedy] thrive.
but they might see it as
Our mission is to help [everyone touched by [tragedy thrive]].
or even
[Our mission is to help everyone] touched by [tragedy thrive].
neither of which make any sense, so they would need to go back and think again. On the other hand, if the sentence was simply
Our mission is to help you thrive.
then leaving out the to would be fine, if slightly more informal than the other option.
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
answered Jul 2 at 21:33
Selcaby
111
111
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f453029%2fbare-infinitive-after-help-with-intervening-past-participle-phrase%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
Our mission is to help those touched by the tragedy thrive.
– Lambie
Jul 2 at 21:40
Purely between your two examples (forgetting about rephrasing) I'd say your first is more natural.
– Jason Bassford
Jul 2 at 23:04
The verb "help" does (for some speakers at least) permit a bare infinitival complement. But because of the amount of material between the matrix verb "help" and the subordinate verb "thrive", I would stick with the to- infinitival in this instance.
– BillJ
Jul 3 at 7:51
It's not a question of grammar. Both are grammatical, both can mean the same. Dropping the to doesn't matter in syntax. However, the sentence reads better with it. It's because of the long noun phrase "everyone touched by tragedy". HTH.
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:35
It's not about participles or bare infinitives but about readability. To that extent, this Q belongs on Writing
– Kris
Aug 2 at 8:38