VERBS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE
If you remember all the verbs followed by the gerund and bare infinitive, you can use to-infinitive after all other verbs.
A. The to-infinitive is used after the verbs in this group, without a preceding noun. The verbs marked 1 can also be followed by a 'that-clause'
Examples
| VERB |
TO-INFINITIVE |
|
I hope...
|
to see you next week.
|
| |
THAT- CLAUSE
|
| I hope... |
that I'll see you next week
|
List of verbs normally followed by the infinitive
|
afford
agree1
aim
appear1
arrange1
bother
care
claim1
condescend
consent
decide1
demand1
determine1
endeavour
|
fail
guarantee1
happen 1
hasten
have (= be obliged)
hesitate
hope1
learn
long
manage
offer
prepare
pretend1
proceed
|
promise1
propose
prove (= turn out)
refuse
resolve1
seek
seem1
strive
swear1
tend
threaten1
trouble
undertake
volunteer
vow1
|
1 These verbs can only be followed by a 'that-clause' when they have the subject 'it'.
Example
- It appeared that no-one had locked the door.
Examples
- He claimed to be an expert.
- I managed to reach the top of the hill.
- I know you're only pretending to love me!
- Don't pretend that you know the answer.
- She failed to explain the problem clearly.
- The customs man demanded to search our luggage.
- I can't afford to go out tonight.