Let me borrow gives permission; made us repeat imposes an action. Make also describes causes without a command, such as smoke causing eyes to water. Help makes an action easier.
The idea
In these active patterns, use let/make + object + base verb, without to. Passive be made takes to + base verb: were made to wait. After help + object, both understand and to understand are possible.
Examples
- Rosa let me borrow her folding chair.
- The smoke made my eyes water.
- The instructor made us repeat the last step.
- We were made to wait outside.
- These diagrams help me understand the instructions.
- Omar helped me to carry the display boards.
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Watch out
Do not write let me to borrow or made us to repeat in the active pattern. Do not mark helped me to carry wrong. For ordinary passive permission, use was allowed to.... Help someone doing is not the assistance pattern taught here.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct option. Rosa let me ___ her folding chair. (borrow / to borrow)
Show answer or example answer
borrow
Active let + object takes the bare infinitive borrow, without to. Rosa is giving permission.
Choose the correct option. We were made ___ outside. (to wait / wait)
Show answer or example answer
to wait
In the passive, were made requires to wait. The active equivalent would be someone made us wait.
Which pair gives two correct forms? Omar helped me ___ the boards. (carry or to carry / carrying or carried)
Show answer or example answer
carry or to carry
Both carry and to carry are correct after helped me. Neither carrying nor carried fits this assistance construction.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct option. Rosa let me ___ her folding chair. (borrow / to borrow)
Choose the correct option. We were made ___ outside. (to wait / wait)
Which pair gives two correct forms? Omar helped me ___ the boards. (carry or to carry / carrying or carried)
carry or to carry
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write one sentence giving permission with let, one showing a cause with make, and one describing assistance with help. Give both accepted infinitive versions of the last sentence.