- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- UK
Well, I realize everybody is tired of explaining me all these things about "I want it back". I'm sorry I really don't get why "I want it to be back" is wrong. It seems to me that my clause is grammatically right, isn't it?
Returning to the example with lost dog.
Can I say "I want him to come back to me"?
Yes, although that suggests that you want him to return of his own volition. You are hoping that he is out on the streets somewhere and that one day he will choose to walk back to your house.
"I want him back" simply means "I want to have him in my possession again".
I'm afraid I can't think of any other way of explaining why it's "I want it back", and that "I want it to be back" is wrong.