Unit 52. Verb + infinitive

agree	offer	decide	appear	forget	need
refuse	attempt	plan	seem	learn (how)	mean
promise	manage	arrange	pretend	dare	intend
threaten	fail	hope	afford	tend

If these verbs are followed by another verb, the structure is usually verb + infinitive:

It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.

I like George, but I think he tends to talk too much.

How old were you when you learned to drive? (or learned how to drive)

They agreed to lend me some money when I told them the position I was in.

He’s lazy. He needs to work harder.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Note these examples with the negative not to…:

We decided not to go out because of the weather.

She pretended not to see me as she passed me on the street. With other important verbs you cannot use the infinitive. For example think and suggest:

Are you thinking of buying a car? (not thinking to buy)

Jill suggested going to the movies (not suggested to go)

B.
There is a continuous infinitive (to be doing) and a perfect infinitive (to have done). We use these especially after seem, appear, and pretend:

I pretended to be reading. (= I pretended that I was reading)

You seem to have lost weight. (= it seems that you have lost weight)

He appears to be doing a good job. (= it appears that he is doing a good
job)

C. Dare: You can say dare to do or dare do (without to):

I wouldn’t dare to ask him. or I wouldn’t dare ask him.

D.
After the following verbs you can use a question word (what/where/how, etc.) + infinitive:
ask decide know remember forget explain understand

We asked	how	to get	to the station.
Have you decided	where	to go	for your vacation?
Tom explained (to me)	how	to change	the tire on the car.
I don’t know	whether	to go	to the party or not.

Also: show/tell/ask someone what/how/where to do something:

Can someone show me how to change the film in this camera?

Ask Jack. He’ll tell you what to do.

For verbs + infinitive see also Units 53-55.