He taught us to drum

[Talab1234]

Is this sentence grammatically correct?

He taught us to drum.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[Skrej]

You might also see it with "how to drum", but it's not necessary.

 

[emsr2d2]

Or "He taught us how to play the drums".

 

[TheParser]

Is this sentence grammatically correct?

He taught us to drum.

NOT A TEACHER

Talab, I am very interested in knowing why you think that sentence may not be grammatically correct.

Thank you.

 

[Phaedrus]

You might also see it with "how to drum", but it's not necessary.

I wonder if the version without "how" gives, strictly speaking, the same meaning as the version with "how." In my experience, there is normally a "should" meaning associated with the "how"-less construction: "She taught me to breathe"; "He taught me to think." Sometimes we even add things that make the "should" meaning unmistakeable: "She taught me to breathe deeply"; "He taught me to think before acting." Such sentences aren't about technique or about the imparting of a new ability.

Here's an interesting contrast:

"They taught me how to speak proper English."
"They taught me to speak proper English."

Those two sentences are both grammatically correct, but do they have the same meaning?