Verbs followed by Infinitives
Reference List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Verbs with a symbol {+ +}
can also be followed by gerunds
- Advise + (pro)noun
- Afford
- Agree
- Allow + (pro)noun
- Appear
- Arrange
- Ask + (pro)noun
- Can’t bear + +
- Beg + (pro)noun
- Begin + +
- Care
- Cause + (pro)noun
- Challenge + (pro)noun
- Claim
- Consent
- Continue + +
- Convince + (pro)noun
- Dare + (pro)noun
- Decide
- Demand
- Deserve
- Encourage + (pro)noun
- Expect + (pro)noun
- Fail
- Forbid + (pro)noun
- Force + (pro)noun
- Forget + +
- Hate + +
- Hesitate
- Hire + (pro)noun
- Hope
- Instruct + (pro)noun
- Intend
- Invite + (pro)noun
- Learn
- Like+ +
- Love+ +
- Manage
- Mean
- Need + (pro)noun
- Offer
- Order + (pro)noun
- Permit + (pro)noun
- Persuade + (pro)noun
- Plan
- Prefer + +
- Prepare
- Pretend
- Promise
- Refuse
- Regret + +
- Remember + +
- Remind + (pro)noun
- Require + (pro)noun
- Seem
- Can’t stand + +
- Start + +
- Struggle
- Swear
- Talk
- Teach + (pro)noun
- Tell + (pro)noun
- Threaten
- Try + +
- Urge + (pro)noun
- Volunteer
- Wait
- Want + (pro)noun
- Warn + (pro)noun
- 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).
THE IMPERATIVE MOOD AND NON-FINITE FORMS OF “TO HAVE”