Verbs that can be followed by infinitives - part 2

After many non-auxiliary verbs we can use the infinitives of other verbs. Some of these verbs can be followed by an object + infinitive. Note that most of these verbs cannot be followed by ing forms. Common verbs that can be followed by infinitives are given below. Example sentences are given to provide context. Which verbs can be followed by infinitives? Well, there are no specific rules so you have to memorize them. Afford -I cant afford to buy a car. - We cant afford to miss the train. Agree --She has agreed to come. Appear --She appears to be crying. They appear to have a problem. Arrange -Arrange is followed by an object + infinitive. -I arranged for her to have music lessons. Ask -I asked to go home. (= I asked permission to go home.) I asked her to go home. (= I asked her that I would like her to go home.) Attempt -They attempted to run away. -She attempted to commit suicide. Beg --I beg to differ. I begged him to help me. Begin -Suddenly the girl began to cry. -I slowly began to understand how she felt. -Note that begin can also be followed by an ing form. -She began teaching / to teach when she was eighteen. Choose --She chose to remain silent. Continue -She continued to talk about her illnesses. -She continues to be an enigma. Dare -Do you dare to touch me? - Do you dare to jump across the stream? Decide -I decided to go home because I was feeling lonely. -I have decided to quit smoking. Expect -She expects to get a bike for her birthday. -We expect to spend the summer in Switzerland. Fail -She failed to win the contest. -I failed to understand her motive. Forget -I forgot to take my keys. -She forgot to switch off the lights. Happen --I happened to be there. Hate -I hate to work at weekends. -Note that hate can also be followed by an ing form. -There is usually no difference of meaning. -I hate working at weekends. Help -After help, we can use object + infinitive. -Can you help me to find my ring? -After help, the infinitive is often used without to. -Can you help me find my keys? Hesitate -Please dont hesitate to come. -Dont hesitate to seek help if you need it. Hope -I hope to see Jane while I am there. -I hope to get a raise next month. Intend -I intend to ask her out one of these days. -I intend to start a business.

Learn -Learn is followed by an infinitive when we are talking about the result of a study. She learnt to read German at school. Learn is followed by an ing form when we are referring to subjects of study. She goes to college twice a week to learn typing and shorthand. Like -I would like to tell you something. I like to climb mountains. Like can also be followed by an ing form. Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailShare on printMore Sharing Services0

Verb patterns and structures

{I}Subject + intransitive verb
Some sentences have just two words a noun and an intransitive verb. Birds fly. Dogs bark. Fire burns. Time flies.

Subject + transitive verb + direct object

A transitive verb must have an object. The normal order of words in an English sentence is subject + verb + object. John likes milk. The principal punished the boy. The unruly demonstrators invaded the platform. The scoundrels should be given a good thrashing. The government should ban all military organizations. John likes what? Milk. The principal punished whom? The boy. The direct object is the answer to the question whom or what.

Subject + verb + object + adverb particle

Some verbs are followed by particles (e.g. put on, take off, give away, bring up, call in). Sometimes the particle is detached from the verb and put after the object. John put his hat on. They called the doctor in. He threw it away. You must send them back. The particle is put after the object, when the object is a personal pronoun (e.g. him, them, me, us, it) or when it is comparatively short. When the object is long or has to be made prominent or when it is qualified by an adjectival phrase or clause, the particle comes before the object. The principal gave away the prices. He put on an air of innocence. We will not throw away anything useful. The poor widow had to bring up all three children. The sailors put out the fire in the hold of the ship. They called in Dr Smith, a famous specialist.

Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object

This order is preferred when the indirect object is shorter than the direct object or when the direct object has to be made prominent. The president awarded him a gold medal. He told us an interesting story.

Subject + verb + direct object + preposition + indirect object

This order is preferred when the direct object is shorter than the indirect object, or when the indirect object has to be stressed. He distributed sweets to all the boys in the class. I dont lend books to anybody. She bought a present for her mother. She ordered a new dress for herself. He made coffee for all of us.

The robber dealt the traveller a heavy blow. We promised our guide a handsome reward. The teacher wished the boys all success.

(II)Subject + verb + object + complements

Some transitive verbs are followed by an object and an object complement. The people wanted to crown Caesar king. They named the baby Christopher. You may call it what you will. They chose him their leader. Note that in the examples given above, the complement of the object is a noun or noun equivalent. The preposition as or for is sometimes used with verbs elect and chose, but not with the others. Whom will they chose for their leader? I wonder whom they will elect as President. Consider the examples given below. The noise drove him mad. He painted the car red. We found the house empty. We consider the matter very important. Here the complement of the object is an adjective. Sometimes to be is used before the complement. I consider the plan (to be) unwise. Most people supposed him (to be) innocent. I knew him to be conscientious. They have proved themselves (to be) worthy of our trust.

Subject + be + complement

The verb be is followed by a subject complement. The subject complement may be a noun, an adjective, an adverb or an adverbial phrase. He is an engineer. They are our friends. The play was interesting. He is in the next room. God is everywhere. Some intransitive verbs are also followed by subject complements. She remained a spinster. The crowd turned violent. That sounds funny. I felt miserable. He went abroad.

(III)Subject + verb + question word + infinitive

In this structure we use question word + infinitive as direct object. I dont know where to turn for help. We must find out what to do next. Let us decide when to start. Have you been told where to stay? I dont know how to stop it. We must remember where to turn off the main road. Do you know what to look for? Note that it is wrong to use What to do? as a question. You must say What shall we do? or What is to be done? The question word + infinitive can be changed into a noun clause. I dont know where to turn for help. (= I dont know where I should turn for help. ) We must find out what to do next. (= We must find out what we should do next. ) Let us decide when to start. (= Let us decide when we should start. )

Subject + verb + indirect object + question word + infinitive

Have (or get) + object + past participle

I will show you how to manage it. Could you tell me where to find a good hotel? Someone should teach you how to behave. A good dictionary tells you how to pronounce words. Please direct me how to get there.

Getting something done by somebody else is expressed by the structure have (or get) + object + past participle. I must have my shoes mended. (OR I must get my shoes mended.) We got our house designed by a famous architect. She has had her photographs taken. She got her son trained as a mechanic.

The the with comparative adjectives

Comparison and contrast are expressed by the use of the the with comparative adjectives in parallel clauses. This structure is used to show proportionate increase or decrease. The less I see him the more I like him. The more he reads the less he understands. The older we grow the wiser we become. The richer one grows the greater ones worries. The higher you climb the colder it gets.

{IV}Subject + present perfect + adverbials/complements

They have lived here since 1960. They have lived here for twelve years now. The boy has grown enormously in the last two years. Has the peon gone to the post office already? I have been there this morning.

Grammar notes

The present perfect is a present tense. So when we use the present perfect, the action cannot be placed at a point of time in the past. But a period of time extending up to the time of speaking may be mentioned (e.g. for two hours, for three years, in the last two

years etc.) Adverbs like just, recently, as yet, ever, never, already, today, this morning etc., can also be used. If you have to mention a finished point of time in the past, you have to use a simple past tense. I saw him yesterday. (NOT I have seen him yesterday.) We lived here till 1990. (NOT We have lived here till 1990.) The present perfect is used in the subordinate clause only when the verb in the main clause is either in the present or future tense not in the past tense. We will not begin the work until they have agreed to our conditions. I /b>shall come back after I have had my lunch. I understand that you have resigned from the committee.

Verb patterns with present perfect progressive tense

The present perfect progressive shows that an action started in the past, has continued up to the present and is still continuing. Alice has been knitting a sweater for her brother. The anxious father has been waiting for a call from his son in the US. The leaning tower of Pisa has been leaning more and more every year. The Americans have been spending billions of dollars on space research.

Grammar notes

Since the action started in the past and has been continuing ever since, the only point of time that can be mentioned in such a sentence is the time when the action started. He has been working here since 1998. She has been waiting for a bus since 8 oclock. You can also mention the period of time during which the action has been going on. He has been working here for seven hours. She has been waiting for a bus for one hour. But it is wrong to say: We have been working all yesterday. It has been raining during the whole of last week. You must say: We worked all yesterday. It rained the whole of last week.

Verb patterns with the past perfect

The past perfect denotes an action completed some time in the past before another past action or event started. The Prime Minister had visited Moscow before she went to London. The visitors had left by the time I reached home. The patient had died before the doctor arrived. The rebels had already been shot before the UN could intervene. Note that the past perfect tense is not used to simply say that something happened sometime ago. We use the simple past to convey this meaning. We went to Mumbai last week. (NOT We had been to Mumbai last week.) We went to the pictures last night. (NOT We had been to the pictures last night.)

{V}The infinitive is often used after is, am, are, was and were to indicate an agreement or arrangement, to ascertain the wishes or orders of someone else, to express a complaint, protest etc.
The Assembly is to meet on the 15th of April. John and Alice are to be married next month. Where are we going to go for our holiday? How long are we to wait like this? When am I to come again?

 Be +

Subject + verb + object + infinitive

Am I type all those letters? to-infinitive is also used as a mild form of command. Teacher says you are to learn the poem by heart. The scouts are to wear their uniforms for the parade. Father says you are not to go to the pictures tonight. Newton saw the apple fall to the ground. I watched the servant light the fire. We heard her sing a lovely song. They made the child drink the milk. We saw the criminal break open the door. Did you notice anyone come in?

Grammar notes
After certain verbs like bid, watch, see, let, make and hear, infinitives are used without to. They made me wait. (NOT They made me to wait.) He bade me come. (NOT He bade me to come.) I saw her light the lamp. (NOT I saw her to light...) We heard her sing a song. (NOT We heard her to sing...) We watched them play. Let him go.