Infinitive: Knowing More

 By: TOEFL consultant

Infinitives define basic form of a verb without inflections and with or without “to.” Verbs followed by infinitives instead of gerund would be presented here. In general, the indication of the infinitive is that the action verb hasn’t started.

For example:

She offers to help us.

It means that she will help us later.
In other words, the action of helping does not happen yet.

Afford
Agree
Appear
Arrange
Ask

Beg

Care
Claim
Consent

Decide
Demand
Deserve

Expect

Fail
Forget

Hesitate
Hope

Learn

Manage
Mean

Need

Offer

Plan
Prepare
Pretend
Promise

Refuse
Regret
Remember

Seem
Struggle
Swear

Threaten

Volunteer

Wait
Want
Wish

Moreover, some other verbs usually precede nouns or pronouns before infinitives.

For example:

She allowed [me] to rent her house.

Advise
Allow
Ask

Beg

Cause
Challenge
Convince

Dare

Encourage
Expect

Forbid
Force

Hire

Instruct
Invite

Need

Order

Permit
Persuade

Remind
Require

Teach
Tell

Urge

Want
Warn


References

Azar, Betty Schrampfer. 1989. Understanding and Using English Grammar. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.

Manser, Martin H. 1995. Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary: New Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.