VERBS
Make, let, help and allow
These verbs take a person and then a second verb. Make forces, let and allow give permission, and help makes a task easier. After make and let the verb has no to, after allow it needs to, and after help it is optional.
| make | let | help | allow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| + | My boss made me work. | My boss let me leave. | My boss helped me (to) finish. | My boss allowed me to leave. |
| − | My boss didn't make me work. | My boss didn't let me leave. | My boss didn't help me (to) finish. | My boss didn't allow me to leave. |
| ? | Did he make you work? | Did he let you leave? | Did he help you (to) finish? | Did he allow you to leave? |
- make / let + person + base verb
- help + person + base verb or to + verb
- allow + person + to + verb
- Passive: be made to, be allowed to (let has no passive)
Colours in the rules
- subject Who or what does it: I, she, my brother.
- verb The action or state: walk, work, go.
- other words Time words and the rest of the pattern.
A2 Make someone do
Use make + person + base verb, without to, when someone or something forces a person to do or feel something.
The film made me cry
Examples
- The sad film made me cry.Why: Made + me + cry: no to before the base verb.
- My boss makes us work late.Why: Makes + us + work forces an action.
Common mistake
Wrong:The film made me to cry.
Right:The film made me cry.
A2 Let someone do
Use let + person + base verb, without to, when you allow someone to do something. Let has the same form in the past.
My parents let me use
Examples
- My parents let me use their car.Why: Let + me + use: permission, no to.
- The teacher let us leave early.Why: Let + us + leave: the past form is also let.
Common mistake
Wrong:Dad let me to drive.
Right:Dad let me drive.
B1 Help someone do
Use help + person + base verb or to + base verb when you make a task easier for someone. Both forms are correct, and the verb is never an -ing form.
My brother helped me carry
Examples
- My brother helped me carry the boxes.Why: Helped + me + carry: base verb without to.
- This app helps you to learn words.Why: Helps + you + to learn: to is optional.
Common mistake
Wrong:She helped me carrying the bags.
Right:She helped me carry the bags.
B1 Allow someone to do
Use allow + person + to + base verb to say that a rule or a person gives permission. Unlike let, allow always needs to.
The school allows students to use
Examples
- The school allows students to use phones at lunch.Why: Allows + students + to use: to is required.
- They allowed us to park here.Why: Allowed + us + to park gives permission in the past.
Common mistake
Wrong:They allowed us park here.
Right:They allowed us to park here.
B2 Be made to, be allowed to
In the passive, make and allow take to: be made to do, be allowed to do. Let has no passive, so use be allowed to instead.
The workers were made to wait
Examples
- The workers were made to wait outside.Why: Were made + to wait: the passive of make needs to.
- Children are not allowed to enter the lab.Why: Are not allowed + to enter: the passive stands for let.
Common mistake
Wrong:He was made work late.
Right:He was made to work late.
Practice all rules
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