Verb + Infinitive

Examples

afford

We can’t afford to buy a new car right now.

agree

She agreed to help me after school.

aim

What do you aim to do next?

appear

Miranda appears to be tired.

arrange

The secretary arranged to meet me at the train station.

ask

They asked to come with us.

attempt*

Mother attempted to be patient.

beg

She begged to buy her a new toy.

begin*

I began to run when I saw the dog.

bother* (negative)

She did not bother to look at the ring.

(can’t) bear*

He can’t bear to look at her.

(can’t) stand*

I couldn’t stand to look at him.

care (negative)

I don’t care to see that show.

cease*

She ceased to exist for him.

choose

Why did you choose to live in this city?

claim

She claims to know a famous singer.

commence*

I opened the book and commenced to read.

condescend

She condescends to speak to me only when she needs something.

consent

Sarah finally consented to marry Henry.

continue*

Many people continue to believe this man.

dare

Anna didn’t dare to break her mother’s rules.

decide

We decided to move to Miami.

decline

I respectfully decline to answer.

demand

The principle demanded to know who was responsible.

deserve*

She deserves to win the prize.

desire

This is not something I desire to do.

be determined

The boys were determined to fight.

dread**

Your punishment is so hard, I dread to speak it.

endeavour

The school endeavours to teach students to be good citizens.

expect

I expect to pass the driving test.

fail

I failed to turn in my term paper on time.

fear*

Do you fear to die?

fight

He was going to fight to save her life.

forget**

I forgot to mail the letter.

go on*

Not every student will go on to have a career in music.

guarantee

I guarantee to give you the money back.

happen

Did you happen to see anyone in the park?

hate*

I hate to spoil the surprise.

help***

Older children helped (to) clean the house.

hesitate

Don’t hesitate to ask for any help.

hope

I hope to see you again soon.

intend

I intend to stay here for a month.

know

How did you know to find me?

learn

He learned to speak Spanish when he was a child.

like*

Would you like to join me for lunch?

long

Oh, how I long to see someone from my own village.

love*

I’ve discovered that I love to drive

manage

She managed to finish her work early.

mean

Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

need

I need to return this book to the library.

need (passive)*

The grass in the front yard needs to be cut.

neglect*

Do not neglect to wash your hands thoroughly.

offer

Jane offered to help me.

plan

We’re planning to get married in summer.

pledge

I pledge to protect and lead you.

prefer*

I prefer to be an optimist.

prepare

We prepared to welcome new employees.

pretend

Tom pretends not to understand.

proceed

Then she proceeded to tell me about her and Grandpa.

promise

She promised to be here by two.

propose*

How do you propose to solve this problem?

prove

The task proved to be very difficult.

refuse

Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus.

regret**

I regret to tell you that you failed.

remember**

I remembered to turn off the gas.

resolve

Jack resolved to spend more time outside.

seem

That dog doesn’t seem to be friendly.

start*

Suddenly, it started to rain.

stop**

On the way home, I stopped to chat with my neighbor.

struggle

The driver struggled to stay awake.

swear

He swore to tell the truth.

tend

Kelly tends to blush easily.

threaten*

Mr. Green threatened to tell my parents.

trouble (negative)

Being polite, I will not trouble to enquire.

try* (=attempt)

They didn’t try to stop the robber.

undertake

He personally undertook to instruct his daughter in physics.

volunteer

She volunteered to water the plants.

vow

She vowed to marry only for love.

wait

I waited to ask her a question.

want

John wanted to tell me something.

wish

Rudy wishes to come with us to the show.

would like

I would like to say a few words.

would love

We would love to show you our new house.

yearn

I yearn to publish my first book.