Infinitives after Certain Verbs

The Life of an English Student

10

Focus on Grammar 3Part VII, Unit 29By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

What Students Are ThinkingWhat 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.

I decided to study English this year.

FormForm

An infinitive is to + base form of the verb. Form the negative by placing not before the infinitive.

Infinitiveto + base form of the verb

Negative Infinitivenot +to + base form of the verb

I decided not to study chemistry this year.

Infinitives after Verbs 1Infinitives 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

Infinitives after Verbs 2Infinitives 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

Infinitives after Objects 1Infinitives after Objects 1

Some verbs need an object (noun or pronoun) before the infinitive.

Our teacher advises them to take notes.

She She doesn’t allow students to do their homework in class.

Infinitive

Examples: advise, allow, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell, warn

Object

InfinitiveObject

Infinitives after Objects 2Infinitives 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

Complete the sentences with infinitives and your own information. Use objects where needed.

Maria invited …

Practice 1Practice 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:

Infinitives with or without ObjectsInfinitives 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

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 2Practice 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

ReferencesReferences

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