This document discusses the use of infinitives after certain verbs in English. It provides examples of verbs that can be followed directly by an infinitive without an object (e.g. "I want to learn"), verbs that require an object before the infinitive (e.g. "My teacher told us to pay attention"), and verbs that can be used with or without an object before the infinitive (e.g. "He expected to get an A" vs. "He expected the teacher to give him an A"). It also includes practice exercises for the reader to form sentences using infinitives correctly based on different verb patterns.

1. Infinitives after
Certain Verbs
The Life of an
English Student
10
Focus on Grammar 3
Part VII, Unit 29
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. What Students Are Thinking
I want to learn.
I hope to succeed.
I promise to study
hard.
I try to get only “A”
grades!
I refuse to give up.
I plan to get to class
on time.

3. I decided to study English this year.
Form
An infinitive is to + base form of the verb.
Form the negative by placing not before the
infinitive.
Infinitive
to + base form of the verb
Negative Infinitive
not +to + base form of the verb
I decided not to study chemistry this year.

4. Infinitives after Verbs 1
Certain verbs can be followed by an infinitive.
I want to get a good grade in my English
class.
I told her to go to bed.
Infinitive
Examples: ask, advise, tell, want
Infinitive

5. Infinitives after Verbs 2
Some verbs can be followed directly by an
infinitive.
He is learning to spell correctly.
He refuses to be uncomfortable
when studying.
Infinitive
Examples: begin, decide, fail, learn, plan, promise, refuse, seem, try
Infinitive

6. Infinitives after Objects 1
Some verbs need an object (noun or
pronoun) before the infinitive.
Our teacher advises them to take notes.
She doesn’t allow students to do
their homework in class.
Infinitive
Examples: advise, allow, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell, warn
Object
InfinitiveObject

7. Infinitives after Objects 2
Some verbs need an object (noun or
pronoun) before the infinitive.
My teacher tells us to pay
attention.
She warns students not to cheat
on tests.
Infinitive
Examples: advise, allow, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell, warn
Object
InfinitiveObject

8. Complete the sentences with
infinitives and your own
information. Use objects where
needed.
Maria invited …
Practice 1
Maria invited me to go to a party with her.
1. I promised …
2. My mother plans …
3. Our teacher encourages …
4. My friends decided …
5. My father always tells …
Example:

9. Infinitives with or without Objects
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or
an object + infinitive.
He expected to get an “A.”
He expected the teacher to give
him an “A.”
Infinitive
Examples: ask, expect, help, need, want, would like
InfinitiveObject

10. Form sentences with the verbs. Use
infinitives and use each verb twice:
First without an object, and then
with an object.
I expected to do well on the test.
Practice 2
expect
need
help
would like
ask
1.
2.
3.
4.
Example:
My teacher expected me to do well on the test.
without object
with object

11. References
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education
and its licensors. All rights reserved.