Infinitives Verbs Level 4.docx

Many different verbs are followed, or can be followed, by a second verb in the infinitive. All of the verbs listed on on this page are followed by a to-infinitive when the infinitive is used. Verbs marked with an asterix can also be followed by a that-clause, as shown in the examples. Verbs marked with two asterix can only be followed by a that-clause when the subject of the primary verb is "it".

VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE afford

agree*

aim

appear**

arrange*

bother

care

claim*

condescend

consent

decide*

demand*

determine*

endeavour

fail

guarantee*

happen*

hasten

have (= be obliged)

hesitate

hope*

learn

long

manage

offer

prepare

pretend*

proceed

promise*

propose

prove (= turn out)

refuse

resolve*

seek

seem**

strive

swear*

tend

threaten*

trouble

undertake

volunteer

vow*

EXAMPLES      

I hope to see you next week. I hope that I'll see you next week. He claimed to be an expert. He claimed that she was an expert. I managed to reach the top of the hill. Would you care to swim?

EXAMPLES    

It appeared that no-one had locked the door. He appeared to be lost. It seems that she is running late. She seems to be running late.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY A NOUN + THE INFINITIVE

accustom

aid

appoint

assist

cause

challenge

command*

defy

direct*

drive

empower

enable

encourage

entice

entitle

entreat

force

get

implore*

incite

induce

inspire

instruct*

invite

lead

leave (= make someone responsible)

oblige

order*

persuade*

press

prompt

provoke

remind*

require*

stimulate

summon

teach

tell

tempt

trust*

warn*

EXAMPLES     

The professor challenged his students to argue with his theory. This law empowers the government to charge higher taxes. You can't force me to do something I don't agree with. I invited the new student to have dinner with me. What inspired you to write this poem?

VERBS WITHOUT A NOUN BEFORE A THAT-CLAUSE When certain verbs are followed by a that-clause, there is no noun before the that clause even though there is a noun before the infinitive. This is the case for the verbs command, direct, entreat, implore, order, require, & trust.

EXAMPLES    

I trust you to tell the truth. I trust that you are telling the truth. The general commanded his men to surrender. The general commanded that his men surrender.

VERBS WITH A NOUN BEFORE A THAT-CLAUSE Other verbs, when followed by a that-clause require a noun before the that-clause, just as before the infinitive. This is the case for the verbs persuade & remind.

EXAMPLES  

You can't persuade people to buy small cars. You can't persuade people that small cars are better.

 

He reminded me to take my notebook to school. He reminded me that I would need my notebook.

VERBS WITH AN OPTIONAL NOUN BEFORE A THAT-CLAUSE A final group of verbs when followed by a that-clause take an optional noun before the that clause. This is the case for the verbs instruct, teach, & warn.

EXAMPLES   

She taught her students to appreciate poetry. She taught her students that poetry was valuable. She taught that poetry was valuable.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE OR A NOUN + THE INFINITIVE ask*

beg*

choose

dare

desire*

help

mean* (=intend)

request*

want

wish*

elect

expect*

EXAMPLES        

I asked him to show me the book. I asked to see the book. She helped me to put away the dishes. She helped to put away the dishes. We expect you to do your best in the exam. We expect to do well on our exams. Do you want to go to the beach? Do you want me to go with you to the beach?

USING TO DARE In negative and interrogative sentences the infinitive with or without 'to' is possible as long as the subject of both verbs is the same, though it is more common to omit the 'to'. If the subject of the two verbs is different, you must include to.

EXAMPLES     

I never dared tell him what happened. Do you dare tell him? Would you dare (to) jump out of a plane? I dare you to tell him the truth. She dared me to jump off the wall.