Verbs Followed by Infinitives in English

In this reference, you will explore a comprehensive list of verbs followed by infinitives. The main sections include a variety of verbs such as “Afford,” “agree,” “attempt,” and many others.

This reference helps you understand how to correctly use these verbs in sentences, enriching your English writing and speaking skills.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

The following verbs list in English are followed by the infinitives:

Afford

I can’t afford to spend any more money this week.

Agree

Why did you agree to meet her in the first place?

Aim

We aim to increase the speed of delivery.

Appear

Police say there appear to be signs of a break-in.

Attempt

Are you going to attempt to pass the exam?

Ask

Historians frequently ask to consult the collection.

Arrange

Have you arranged to meet Mark this weekend?

Beg

I beg to differ with you.

Begin

The leaves begin to fall when autumn comes.

Care

Would you care to join us for dinner?

Choose

Every day is beautiful if you choose to see it.

Claim

This diet claims to eliminate toxins from the body.

Consent

We hope you will consent to act in his stead.

Continue

The high street banks continue to prosper.

Dare

He didn’t dare to speak to her.

Decide

He has decided to live in France.

Demand

I demand to know what’s going on.

Deserve

They didn’t deserve to win.

Dislike

We dislike to have anyone patronize us.

Expect

What time do you expect to arrive home?

Fail

I fail to comprehend their attitude.

Forget

Don’t forget to take out the garbage.

Get

Hesitate

I hesitate to spend so much money on clothes.

Hope

I hope to see you again soon.

Hurry

We’ll have to hurry to catch the last train.

Intend

I heard they intend to marry.

Learn

Children learn to creep ere they can go.

Like

Ancient people like to have a declaration before war.

Love

Men love to hear well of themselves.

Manage

Did you manage to catch the post?

Mean

I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

Neglect

Don’t neglect to lock the door when you leave.

Need

You need to change your eating habits.

Offer

She offered to help me move my things to my new house.

Plan

Next year I plan to travel around the world.

Prefer

Would you prefer to live in the country instead of a town?

Prepare

The doctor prepared to prescribe a receipt.

Pretend

She was pretending to cry. I knew she was lying.

Proceed

They will proceed to build another laboratory building.

Promise

He promised to collect her from the airport.

Propose

We propose to deal with this subject in the following chapter.

Refuse

She refused to answer questions about her personal finances.

Remember

He had remembered to bring a pair of gloves, unlike me.

Seem

I always seem to be unlucky at cards.

Start

The child started to sob when he couldn’t find his mother.

Stop

I’m working in the garden and I stop to smoke.

Struggle

He struggled to keep his footing on the slippery floor.

Swear

Do you swear to tell the whole truth?

Threaten

They threatened to ban the book.

Try

We tried to confuse the enemy.

Volunteer

They volunteer to teach introductory courses.

Wait

I can’t wait to see you.

Want

I want to watch TV.

Wish

I wish to insert an advertisement in your newspaper.

Verbs Followed by a Noun + Infinitive

Some verbs in English are followed by a noun or pronoun and then an infinitive. These structures are common and important for building correct sentences. In this section, you’ll see how to use them properly.

Allow

• This verb means to give permission.
• She allows her children to play outside.

Ask

• When you ask someone to do something.
• Mark asked his friend to help with the project.

Expect

• This verb is used when you think something will happen.
• They expect him to arrive early.

Tell

• Used when giving instructions or orders.
• The teacher told the students to read the chapter.

Permit

• They permit visitors to take photos.

Advise

• I advise you to speak clearly.

Order

• He ordered her to leave immediately.

Want

• We want you to join us.

Note on Pronouns:

When the object is a pronoun, use the object pronoun form (me, him, her, us, them).

• Example with object pronoun:
  • I told him to stop.

Using these structures can make your sentences clear and precise. Practice them to get more comfortable with how they work in different contexts.