Question 1

What is the difference between "tell someone to do" and "say to do"?

Accepted Answer

"Tell" requires an object — you must say who you are telling: "I told him to wait." You cannot say "I told to wait." "Say" does not take a direct object in this way: you can say "I said to wait" (no person specified) but not "I said him to wait." In reported commands, "tell" is much more common: "She told me to be quiet" reports a command directed at me. "Say" is more general and often introduces reported speech without a command: "She said that I should be quiet." For verb + object + infinitive patterns, use "tell," not "say."

Question 2

What is the difference between "advise" and "recommend" with objects?

Accepted Answer

"Advise" and "recommend" both give suggestions, but they follow different patterns with objects. "Advise" takes object + infinitive: "I advise you to wait" — you are telling a specific person what to do. "Recommend" is more flexible: "I recommend waiting" (gerund) or "I recommend that you wait" (that-clause), but NOT "I recommend you to wait" (this is wrong). The difference is that "advise" is more direct and personal, while "recommend" is more general. Cambridge exams test this distinction because learners often confuse the two. Remember: "advise someone to do" but "recommend doing" or "recommend that someone do."

Question 3

Why does "allow" sometimes appear with different structures?

Accepted Answer

"Allow" has two common patterns. With an object + infinitive: "They allowed us to leave" (they gave us permission). Without an object, "allow" takes a gerund: "They don't allow smoking here" (smoking is not permitted). Compare: "They allowed him to smoke" (gave him personal permission) vs "They don't allow smoking" (general rule). The version with an object emphasises who receives permission; the gerund version states a general rule. Cambridge exams test both patterns: "Smoking is not allowed" or "They don't allow smoking" (gerund) vs "We were allowed to leave" (object + infinitive).

Gerunds and Infinitives: Verb + Object + Infinitive (Part 1)

Quick Rule

Continue Practising

Gerunds and Infinitives Error Correction

Common Gerund and Infinitive Verbs

Preposition + Gerund

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect