Verbs followed by infinitives

Verbs followed by infinitives
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'>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__I_asked_him_to_show'>Examples__She_taught_her_students_to_appreciate'>Examples__You_cant_persuade_people_to_buy'>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*	elect	expect*
help	mean* (=intend)	request*	want	wish*

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.
  

Verbs Followed by Gerunds and Infinitives
In English, if you want to follow a verb with another action, you must use a gerund or infinitive. For example:

• 
  We resumed talking. (gerund – verb + ing)
  
• 
  I want to see a movie. (infinitive – to + base verb)
  

There are certain verbs that can only be followed by one or the other, and these verbs must be memorized. Many of these verbs are listed below.
COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND:
Example: He misses playing with his friends.

• 
  abhor
  
• 
  acknowledge
  
• 
  admit
  
• 
  advise
  
• 
  allow
  
• 
  anticipate
  
• 
  appreciate
  
• 
  avoid
  
• 
  be worth
  
• 
  can’t help
  
• 
  celebrate
  
• 
  confess
  
• 
  consider
  
• 
  defend
  
• 
  delay
  
• 
  detest
  
• 
  discontinue
  
• 
  discuss
  
• 
  dislike
  
• 
  dispute
  
• 
  dread
  

• 
  endure
  
• 
  enjoy
  
• 
  escape
  
• 
  evade
  
• 
  explain
  
• 
  fancy
  
• 
  fear
  
• 
  feel like
  
• 
  feign
  
• 
  finish
  
• 
  forgive
  
• 
  give up (stop)
  
• 
  keep (continue)
  
• 
  keep on
  
• 
  mention
  
• 
  mind (object to)
  
• 
  miss
  
• 
  necessitate
  
• 
  omit
  
• 
  permit
  
• 
  picture
  

• 
  postpone
  
• 
  practice
  
• 
  prevent
  
• 
  put off
  
• 
  recall
  
• 
  recollect
  
• 
  recommend
  
• 
  report
  
• 
  resent
  
• 
  resist
  
• 
  resume
  
• 
  risk
  
• 
  shirk
  
• 
  shun
  
• 
  suggest
  
• 
  support
  
• 
  tolerate
  
• 
  understand
  
• 
  urge
  
• 
  warrant
  

COMMON VERBS FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE:
Example: She threatened to quit if she didn't get a raise.

• 
  agree
  
• 
  appear
  
• 
  arrange
  
• 
  ask
  
• 
  attempt
  
• 
  beg
  
• 
  can/can’t afford
  
• 
  can/can’t wait
  
• 
  care
  
• 
  chance
  
• 
  choose
  
• 
  claim
  
• 
  come
  
• 
  consent
  
• 
  dare
  
• 
  decide
  
• 
  demand
  
• 
  deserve
  
• 
  determine
  
• 
  elect
  
• 
  endeavor
  
• 
  expect
  

• 
  fail
  
• 
  get
  
• 
  grow (up)
  
• 
  guarantee
  
• 
  hesitate
  
• 
  hope
  
• 
  hurry
  
• 
  incline
  
• 
  learn
  
• 
  manage
  
• 
  mean
  
• 
  need
  
• 
  neglect
  
• 
  offer
  
• 
  pay
  
• 
  plan
  
• 
  prepare
  
• 
  pretend
  
• 
  profess
  
• 
  promise
  
• 
  prove
  
• 
  refuse
  

• 
  remain
  
• 
  request
  
• 
  resolve
  
• 
  say
  
• 
  seek
  
• 
  seem
  
• 
  shudder
  
• 
  strive
  
• 
  struggle
  
• 
  swear
  
• 
  tend
  
• 
  threaten
  
• 
  turn out
  
• 
  venture
  
• 
  volunteer
  
• 
  wait
  
• 
  want
  
• 
  wish
  
• 
  would like
  
• 
  yearn
  

VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND OR INFINITIVE WITH LITTLE TO NO CHANGE IN MEANING:
Example: It started to rain. / It started raining.

• 
  begin
  
• 
  can’t bear
  
• 
  can’t stand
  
• 
  continue
  
• 
  hate
  
• 
  like
  
• 
  love
  
• 
  prefer
  
• 
  propose
  
• 
  start
  

VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND OR INFINITIVE WITH A CHANGE IN MEANING:

forget	I forgot to meet him. (I didn’t meet him because I forgot to do it.)
	I forgot meeting him. (I don’t have the memory of meeting him before.)
go on	He went on to learn English and French. (He ended one period of time before this.)
	He went on learning English and French. (He continued learning the languages.)
quit	She quit to work here. (She quit another job in order to work here.)
	She quit working here. (She quit her job here. She doesn’t work here anymore.)
regret	I regret promising to help you. (I’m sorry that I made the promise.)
	I regret to tell you that we can't hire you. (I’m telling you now, and I’m sorry.)
remember	She remembered to visit her grandmother. (She didn’t forget to visit.)
	She remembered visiting her grandmother. (She had memories of this time.)
stop	I stopped to call you. (I interrupted another action in order to call you.)
	I stopped calling you. (I stopped this activity. Maybe we had a fight.)
try	I tried to open the window. (I attempted this action but didn’t succeed.)
	I tried opening the window. (This was one option I sampled. Maybe the room was hot.)