Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
please (v.)
in the passive voice can take either a that clause or the preposition or function word to plus an infinitive: We were pleased that we got [to get] an invitation. When followed by a direct object, please takes to plus an infinitive: It pleased them to learn of his achievement. The once-common please to plus infinitive (Please to not make a scene) is still found in British English but is rare in the United States.
