Reference List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Verbs with a symbol {+ +}

can also be followed by gerunds

 

  1. Advise + (pro)noun
  2. Afford
  3. Agree
  4. Allow + (pro)noun
  5. Appear
  6. Arrange
  7. Ask + (pro)noun
  8. Can’t bear + +
  9. Beg + (pro)noun
  10. Begin + +
  11. Care
  12. Cause + (pro)noun
  13. Challenge + (pro)noun
  14. Claim
  15. Consent
  16. Continue + +
  17. Convince + (pro)noun
  18. Dare + (pro)noun 
  19. Decide
  20. Demand
  21. Deserve
  22. Encourage + (pro)noun
  23. Expect + (pro)noun
  24. Fail
  25. Forbid + (pro)noun
  26. Force + (pro)noun
  27. Forget + +
  28. Hate + +
  29. Hesitate
  30. Hire + (pro)noun
  31. Hope
  32. Instruct + (pro)noun
  33. Intend
  34. Invite + (pro)noun
  35. Learn
  36. Like+ +
  37. Love+ +
  38. Manage
  39. Mean
  40. Need + (pro)noun
  41. Offer
  42. Order + (pro)noun
  43. Permit + (pro)noun
  44. Persuade + (pro)noun
  45. Plan
  46. Prefer + +
  47. Prepare
  48. Pretend
  49. Promise
  50. Refuse
  51. Regret + +
  52. Remember + +
  53. Remind + (pro)noun
  54. Require + (pro)noun
  55. Seem
  56. Can’t stand + +
  57. Start + +
  58. Struggle
  59. Swear
  60. Talk
  61. Teach + (pro)noun
  62. Tell + (pro)noun
  63. Threaten
  64. Try + +
  65. Urge + (pro)noun
  66. Volunteer
  67. Wait
  68. Want + (pro)noun
  69. Warn + (pro)noun
  70. Wish

 

Examples:

What do you want to do this evening?

I need to tell him something.

Bye! I hope to see you again.

He forgot to switch off the light when he went out.

My sister is learning to drive.

I tried to read my newspaper, but I was too tired. 

Don’t hesitate to ask for my help.

It began to snow.

Would you like to sit down?

I hate to be late.

I can’t bear to wait.

She loves to go to theatres.

I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.

He allowed me to use his notes.

 

 

 Infinitives:

An Infinitive = to + the simple verb form (to walk, to study, to be, to do, etc.)

Some verbs are followed by an infinitive (like to eat, agree to help, etc.)

In negative forms, do not precede the infinitive (promise not to go, decide not to be late, etc.)

 

Verb + (pro)noun + infinitive:

Encourage someone to try

My teacher encouraged me to try again.

 

Expect someone to come

We expected them to come yesterday. 

 

Order someone to finish 

The boss ordered his workers to finish their work on time. 

 

Ask someone to lend 

She asked a friend to lend her some money.

 

Tell someone to be

I told him to be careful.

 

Advise someone to do

What do you advise me to do in this situation?

 

Persuade someone to come

They persuaded us to come to the party.

 

Teach someone to swim

I am teaching my brother to swim.

 

 

It + An Infinitive Phrase as the Subject of a Sentence:

It is difficult to get up early in the morning.

(The word It refers to and has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase; It means “to get up early”).

 

It is dangerous to go out alone in unsafe cities. (The word It refers to and has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase; 

It means “to go out alone”).

 

It is nice to see you again. (The word It refers to and has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase; It refers “to see again”).  

 

Infinitives as Subject:

An infinitive can also be used as the subject of a sentence.

Examples:

To learn Russian is not easy.

To speak English like a native is impossible for many people.

To skate is pleasant.

The Phrase For (pro)noun + An Infinitive:

is used to specify who the speaker is and what the speaker is doing.

Examples:

It is necessary for the goods to be packed in strong cases.

The first thing for me to do is to find her address.

This is for you to decide.

The water was too cold for the children to swim.

 

Infinitive of Purpose: In Order To (conjunction)

In order to is used to express purpose and answers to the question “Why?” but is often omitted.

She came here in order to see her parents.

She came here to see her parents.

Adjectives Followed by Infinitives:

These adjectives are followed by infinitives, and they describe a person, not a thing. Many of these adjectives describe a person’s feelings or attitudes. 

 

Glad to

Happy to

Pleased to

Delighted to

Content to

Relieved to

Lucky to

Fortunate to

Sorry to

Sad to

Upset to

Disappointed to

Embarrassed to

Proud to

Ashamed to

Ready to

Prepared to

Anxious to

Eager to

Willing to

Motivated to

Determined to

Careful to

Hesitant to

Reluctant to

Afraid to

Certain to

Likely to

Unlikely to

Surprised to

Amazed to

Astonished to

Shocked to

Stunned to

 

Examples:

I was happy to see him.

He was sorry to hear about his failure.

She felt sad to leave her hometown.

My friend got anxious to go away. 

He looked ashamed to say about his foolishness.

Tom was sad to feel alone.

 

Infinitives with Too and Enough:

Too implies a negative result.

Examples:

That bag was too heavy for me to carry.= It is impossible for me to carry that bag. 

She is too young to stay at home alone. = It is impossible for her to stay at home alone.

 

 

Enough follows an adjective and a noun, though it usually precedes a noun.

Examples:

He was enough strong (an adjective) to swim in cold water.

She has enough power (a noun) to solve this problem.

She has power (a noun) enough to solve this problem.

 

Passive Infinitives:

To be + Past Participle

Examples:

He didn’t hope to be invited (indefinite infinitive passive) to the party.

I always expect to be told (indefinite infinitive passive) the truth by everyone at all times.

He seems to have finished (perfect infinitive passive) his work.

This writer is said to have written (perfect infinitive passive) a new book.

 

Need + Active / Passive Infinitives:

I need to repair my bike (an active infinitive).

I need to be told his address (a passive infinitive).

 

 

Verbs followed by Infinitives

Verbs followed by Gerunds

THE IMPERATIVE MOOD AND NON-FINITE FORMS OF “TO HAVE”

Verb Exercises