absence makes the heart grow fonder

[hat123]

why is it not "absence makes the heart grows fonder"?

[RonBee]

Examine phrases that begin "makes the" and you will see that they are similar. Examples:

Fertilizer makes the grass grow faster.
Having a deadline makes Tom work faster.
Giving him encouragement makes Ron work harder.

What do you think is the principle at work here? (And does it matter?)

[hat123]

Examine phrases that begin "makes the" and you will see that they are similar. Examples:

Fertilizer makes the grass grow faster.

Having a deadline makes Tom work faster.

Giving him encouragement makes Ron work harder.

What do you think is the principle at work here? (And does it matter?)

am i right to say that "grow" and "work" in the above examples are not verb? if not what are they? adjectives?

[hat123]

anyone?

[Philly]

Hi hat123
.
The verb make is used as a "causative verb" in your sentence. Make someone/something do (something) means "force or cause someone/something to do (something)". As you can see, after using the words cause or force, you need the "to infinitive". But when make is used as a causative, it is used in combination with a "bare infinitive".
.
make + someone/something + bare infinitive
.
So, in your original sentence, grow is a bare infinitive.
.

[Teia]

why is it not "absence makes the heart grows fonder"?

Hi

As Philly has already written ,"make' is a causative verb and it is followed by a short or bare infinitive.
Other causative verbs are "help" and "let" :
e.g.

Help him do his homework.
Let me help you with your homework.

Hope it helps.

All the best,

[RonBee]

am i right to say that "grow" and "work" in the above examples are not verb? if not what are they? adjectives?

Say:

Am I right to say that "grow" and "work" in the above examples are not verbs? If not what are they? Adjectives?