All these verbs can be followed by “to + infinitive”
| offer | decide |
| agree | plan |
| refuse | arrange |
| hope | afford |
| manage | forget |
| fail | promise |
| deserve | threaten |
| learn | attempt |
- It was getting dark, so we decided to go back home early.
- She was struggling with the project, so I agreed to support her.
- At what age did you learn to drive?
- I tried to call her, but I failed to get her attention.
The negative is not to …:
- We decided not to leave the house because it was raining heavily.
- I promised not to arrive late for the meeting.
After some verbs, “to + infinitive” is not used. We use the -ing form instead (e.g. enjoy reading, suggest going, think about changing).
- I enjoy spending time reading books.
- Andy suggested going for a coffee together.
- Are you thinking about getting a new car?
After dare you can use the infinitive with or without to:
- I wouldn’t dare to tell him. or I wouldn’t dare tell him.
But after dare not (or daren’t), you must use the infinitive without to:
- I darent’t him what happened. (not I darent to tell him)
We also use “to + infinitive” after:
| seem | appear |
| tend | pretend |
| claim | happen |
- They seem to have a lot of money.
- The situation appears to be under control.
- I like Mark, but he tends to speak too much.
- She pretended not to notice me when she walked past me.
- He claimed to know the answer.
There is also a continuous infinitive (to be doing) and a perfect infinitive (to have done).
- She pretended to be working when the manager arrived.
(= she pretended that she was working) - You seem to have forgotten your keys.
(= it seems that you have forgotten them) - He seems to be enjoying the course.
(= it seems that he is enjoying it)
After some verbs, we can use a question word (what / whether / how / when / /where / who) followed by “to + infinitive“.
Question words are words we use to ask about information. For example, ‘what’ asks for something specific, ‘how’ asks about the manner, ‘when’ asks about time, and so on.
We use this structure especially after:
| ask | explain |
| decide | learn |
| know | understand |
| remember | wonder |
| forget | choose |
- We asked how to reach the city centre.
- Have you decided where to spend your summer holiday?
- I don’t know whether to apply for the job or not.
- Did you remember how to fix the printer?
- He forgot how to log in.
- She explained how to use the new software.
- They learned what to say during the presentation.
- Do you understand what to write in this section?
- She wondered what to do next.
- She couldn’t choose whether to stay or leave.
Also
show / tell / ask / advise / teach somebody what / how / where to do something.
- Can someone show me how to operate this device?
- Ask Sarah. She’ll tell you what to do.
