THE INFINITIVE VERBS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE A.

The to-infinitive is used after the verbs in this group, without a preceding noun. The verbs marked * can also be followed by a 'that-clause' Example:

VERB I hope...

TO-INFINITIVE to see you next week. THAT- CLAUSE

I hope... that I'll see you next week

afford agree* aim appear arrange* bother care claim* condescend consent decide* demand* determine* endeavour

fail guarantee* happen hasten have (= be obliged) hesitate hope* learn long manage offer prepare pretend* proceed

promise* propose prove (= turn out) refuse resolve* seek seem strive swear* tend threaten* trouble undertake volunteer vow*

These verbs can only be followed by a 'that-clause' when they have the subject 'it'. e.g. 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.

Hesitate She didnt hesitate to tell the boss that some employees were stealing office supplies. Offer The Martin Family offered to watch their neighbors dog for the whole week. Promise The school promised to help me find an apartment. Want We want to visit all of the historic sites in Tehran.

Common Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

Example: I refuse to lie to my customers. Verb Infinitive

afford agree appear arrange ask attempt begin cant afford cant bear cant stand cant wait care chance choose claim

come consent continue dare decide deserve determine elect endeavor expect fail get grow up guarantee hate

hesitate hope hurry incline intend learn like long love manage mean need offer pay plan

prefer prepare pretend profess promise prove refuse request resolve say seek seem shudder start strive

swear tend threaten turn out venture volunteer want wish would like yearn

EXAMPLE OF VERB PHRASES: A helping verb works with the main verb to express action or being. Sometimes a verb is made up of two or more words. This kind of verb is called a verb phrase. Verb: The ship sailed away. Verb: The ship had sailed there before. Phrases: The ship could have been sailing east or west. The most important verb in a verb phrase is called the main verb. In the sentences above, the main verbs are sailed and sailing. The other verbs are called helping verbs. The chart below lists common helping verbs. am are was were be been has have had can could do does did shall should will would may might must

Some helping verbs can also be main verbs. Note how is and has are used in the following examples. Main Verb: He is a sailor. Helping Verb: He is sailing. She has the boat. She has bought the boat.

Verb phrases are sometimes interrupted by other words. Notice that not, n't, and certainly are not part of the verb phrases in the sentences below. We have not gone to sea before. They couldn't have been searching for a New World. I should certainly have not become a sailor.