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Rule "'afford', 'choose', etc. used with base form instead of infinitive"

This is one of many errors that LanguageTool can detect.

Description: 'afford', 'choose', etc. used with base form instead of infinitive
Message: This verb is used with the infinitive.
Category: Grammar (ID: GRAMMAR)
Incorrect sentences
that this rule can detect:
  • We cannot afford spend the whole month in the Alps.
    Correction suggestion: to spend
Correct sentences
for comparison:
  • We cannot afford to spend the whole month in the Alps.
  • He didn't deserve to lose his job.
  • ...that gorillas are intelligent enough to learn sign language.
  • I choose uniform objects.
  • I failed him and he deserved better.
  • These carefully chosen marketing images ...
  • Old people deserve respect.
  • On that point the learned disagree.
  • When destiny calls, the chosen have no choice.
  • Pretend please you're my husband.
  • Some CEOs we've chosen haven't made money for shareholders.
  • Can the current techniques of machine learning be deployed successfully to solve even the simplest version of this environment?
ID: AFFORD_VB [1]
Version: 6.8-SNAPSHOT (2025-10-31 22:33:08 +0100)