Infinitive Objects
Expressing Intent and Wishes
The Scream by Edvard Munch
An infinitive:
- is a noun created from a verb form.
- can take the place of a noun.
- comes after a specific group of verbs that express intent or possibility about a future event.
Object Infinitive Phrase
| A NOUN AS THE OBJECT | AN INFINITIVE VERB PHRASE AS THE OBJECT |
|---|---|
Ed needs some help. |
Ed needs to get some help. |
Ed hopes for some peace and quiet. |
Ed hopes to find some peace and quiet. |
Ed likes attention from others. |
Ed intends to receive attention from others. |
Verbs Followed by Infinitives
| VERBS FOLLOWED BY INFINITIVES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
afford I can afford to buy it. |
continue* I continue to work there. |
like* I like to swim. |
regret I regret to tell you this. |
agree I agreed to help her. |
decide I can afford to buy it. |
would like I'd like to go with you. |
remember** I remembered to lock it. |
appear You appear to be lost. |
demand He demanded to know. |
love* I love to dance. |
seem He seems to be relaxed. |
arrange I arranged to meet them. |
deserve* You deserve to win. |
manage I'll manage to survive. |
start* It started to snow. |
ask I asked to go along. |
desire She desires to see you. |
mean I didn't mean to hurt you. |
struggle I struggle to do well. |
attempt* I attempted to explain. |
expect I expect to be a little late. |
need I need to ask them. |
swear I swear to be true. |
beg I begged to go too. |
fail I failed to get an A. |
neglect* I neglected to do my work. |
tend I tend to be on time. |
begin* I began to take classes. |
forget I forgot to call you. |
offer I offered to pay for it. |
threaten I hope to see you soon. |
can't bear I can't bear to leave. |
hate I hate to miss your show. |
plan I plan to leave soon. |
try* I try to help often. |
can't stand* I can't stand to wait. |
hesitate* I hesitate to say anything. |
prefer* I prefer to pay less. |
volunteer I volunteered to cook. |
care I don't care to see them. |
hope I hope to leave soon. |
pretend I pretend to be confident. |
wait I wanted to see the show. |
choose I choose to live here. |
intend* I intend to win the game. |
prepare I will prepare to leave. |
want I want to leave now. |
claim He claims to be smart. |
learn I learned to speak Swahili. |
promise I promise to be on time. |
wish I hope to go to Italy. |
consent She consented to marry him. |
hope I hope to see you soon. |
refuse I refuse to believe lies. |
|
* This verb can be used before an infinitive or a gerund with similar meaning. (e.g. I began to
plan my trip last week. /
I began planning my trip last week.)
** This verb changes its meaning when placed before a gerund. More explanation: Gerunds vs. Infinitives (means something different)
Also see indirect objects and infinitives
Negatives
| NEGATIVE MAIN VERB | NEGATIVE INFINITIVE |
|---|---|
Use a negative verb if the speaker has no particular intention to do something. |
Use a negative infinitive if the speak has a clear intention to avoid something. |
I don't plan to shop downtown. |
I plan not to shop downtown. |
Exceptions
| OPTIONAL to | OMIT to |
|---|---|
Use to optionally after dare and help. |
Do not use to after would rather. |
I didn't dare (to) go on vacation without asking first. |
I would rather [to] go on vacation than work. |
They helped (to) get the project done. |
|
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
I hope you to have a good trip. |
I hope to have a good trip. (Remove the indirect object - you.) |
I promise you to be careful. |
I promise to be careful. (I promise that I will be careful.) |
Also see indirect objects and infinitives | Command Clauses
Practice
Global Warming
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.