Main points
*Some verbs are followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause. Others are followed by an object and a ‘to’- infinitive clause.
*Some verbs are followed by a ‘wh’- word and ‘to’- infinitive clause. Others are followed by an object, a ‘wh’- word, and a ‘to’- infinitive clause.
*Nouns are followed by ‘to’- infinitive clauses that indicate the aim, purpose or necessity of something, or that give extra information.
a) Some verbs are followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause. The subject of the verb is also the subject of the ‘to’-infinitive clause.
*verbs of saying and thinking
agree expect learn plan choose hope mean promise decide intend offer refuse - She had agreed to let us use her flat.
- I decided not to go out for the evening.
*other
fail pretend want manage tend
- England failed to win a place in the finals.
b) Some verbs are followed by an object and a ‘to’- infinitive clause. The object of the verb is the subject of the ‘to’ infinitive clause.
*verbs of saying and thinking
advise expect persuade tell ask invite remind encourage order teach
- I asked her to explain.
- They advised us not to wait around too long.
*other verbs
allow get want force help
- I could get someone else to do it.
- I didn’t want him to go.
Note that ‘help’ can also be followed by an object and a base form.
- I helped him fix it.
Remember that you don’t use ‘want’ with a ‘that’- clause. You don’t say ‘I want that you do something’.
c) Some verbs are followed by ‘for’ and an object, then a ‘to’- infinitive clause. The object of ‘for’ is the subject of the ‘to’- infinitive clause.
appeal ask pay wish arrange long wait
- Could you arrange for a taxi to collect us?
- I waited for him to speak.
d) Some link verbs, and ‘pretend’ are followed by ‘to be’ and an ‘-ing’ form for continuing actions, and by ‘to have’ and a past participle for finished actions.
- We pretend to be looking inside.
- I don’t appear to have written down his name.
e) Some verbs are normally used in the passive when they are followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause.
believe find say consider know think feel report understand - He is said to have died a natural death.
- Is it thought to be a good thing?
f) Some verbs are followed by a ‘wh’- word and a ‘to’- infinitive clause. These include:
ask forget lean wonder decide imagine remember explain know understand
- I didn’t know what to call him.
- She had forgotten how to ride a bicycle.
Some verbs are followed by an object, then a ‘wh’- word and a ‘to’- infinitive clause
ask show tell remind teach
- I asked him what to do.
- Who will show him how to use it?
Some verbs only take ‘to’- infinitive clauses to express purpose.
- The captain stopped to reload the gun.
- He went to get some fresh milk.
g) You use a ‘to’- infinitive clause after a noun to indicate the aim of an action or the purpose of a physical object.
- We arranged a meeting to discuss the new rules.
- He had nothing to write with.
You also use a ‘to’- infinitive clause after a noun to say that something needs to be done.
- I gave him several things to mend.
- ‘What’s this?’ – ‘A list of things to remember.’
h) You use a ‘to’- infinitive clause after a noun group that includes an ordinal number, a superlative, or a word like ‘next’, ‘last’, or ‘only’.
- She was the first woman to be elected to the council.
- Mr. Holmes was the oldest person to be chosen.
- The only person to speak was James.
i) You use a ‘to’- infinitive clause after abstract nouns to give more specific information about them.
- All it take sis a willingness to learn.
- He’d lost the ability to communicate with people.
The following abstract nouns are often followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause:
ability desire need willingness attempt failure opportunity chance inability unwillingness
Note that the verbs or adjectives which are related to these nouns can also be followed by a ‘to’- infinitive clause. For example, you can say ‘I attempted to find them’, and ‘He was willing to learn’.
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Top Tips Abz Ingles: Part A - Part B
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See also:
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