English UsageComparison guide

Have Someone Do vs. Have Someone To Do

When have means arrange for or cause a person to do something, Cambridge documents have + object + bare infinitive. A following to-infinitive can occur in other have constructions, but it is not the ordinary causative complement after the person object.

Quick answer

For the causative meaning, use “have someone do something,” not “have someone to do something.”

Key details

Confusion Familygrammar-and-usage distinction
Rule Familyverb-complement and object pattern
TermsHave Someone Do, Have Someone To Do

Further guidance

Boundary

Do not treat every surface sequence “have someone to …” as the same construction; for example, have visitors to stay has a different structure and meaning.

Construction

Cambridge lists have + object + infinitive without “to” for causing someone to act.

Decision

Use have + person + bare infinitive when you mean arrange for or cause that person to perform the action.

Sources and evidence

Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.

  1. have — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Have + object + bare infinitive and have + object + -ing patterns in causative/event meanings

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When ask means request an action from a person, Cambridge documents ask + person + to-infinitive. Bare “ask doing” is not the ordinary request complement for that meaning.

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Cambridge directly documents both badger + object + into + -ing and badger + object + to-infinitive for repeated pressure or requests that push someone toward an action. The verb also covers repeated questioning, so context must show whether the sentence is about persistent persuasion or interrogation rather than assuming every use names a requested action.

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Bamboozle Someone Into Doing vs. Bamboozle Someone To Do

Cambridge directly illustrates bamboozle + object + into + -ing for deceiving someone so that the person takes an action. The cited entry does not establish bamboozle + object + to-infinitive as an equally documented alternative, so this guide does not manufacture a two-way rule.

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Beguile Someone Into Doing vs. Beguile Someone To Do

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