Page 83 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

V e r b + t o - i n f i n i t i v e o r b a r e i n f i n i t i v e

Verb + (object) + to-infinitive
After some verbs, we need to include an object before a to-infinitive:
• I considered her to be the best person for the job.
• The police warned everyone to stay inside with their windows closed.
There are many verbs like this including allow, believe, cause, command, enable, encourage,
entitle, force, invite, order, persuade, show, teach, tell.

After some verbs, we can't include an object before a to-infinitive:
о • The shop refused to accept a cheque.
• • He threatened to report their behaviour to the principal, (not He threatened them to report
their behaviour...)
Other verbs like this include agree, consent, decide, fail, hope, pretend, start, volunteer.

After some verbs, an object might or might not be included before a to-infinitive. Compare:
• I prefer to drive. (= I do the driving) and • I prefer you to drive. (= you do the driving)
• We need to complete this report by Friday. (= we complete it) and
• We need them to complete this report by Friday. (= they complete it)
Other verbs like this include can bear (in negative sentences and in questions), hate, help, like,
love, want, wish. Notice that after help we can use either a to-infinitive or bare infinitive (see E):
• I'll help you (to) arrange the party if you like.

With some verbs in the pattern verb + object + to-infinitive we have to put the word
for immediately after the verb:
• We waited for the taxi to come before saying goodbye, (not ...waited the taxi to come...)
• They arranged for Jane to stay in London, (not ...arranged Jane to stay...)
Other verbs like this include appeal, apply, campaign, long (= want), plan. After apply and
campaign, the to-infinitive is usually passive:
• They applied for the hearing to be postponed.

Verb + (object) + bare infinitive
Some verbs are followed by a bare infinitive after an object:
a • She noticed him run away from the house, (not ...noticed him to run...)
• «I made Peter wait outside, (not ...made Peter to wait...)
Other verbs like this include feel, hear, observe, overhear, see, watch; have, let. Notice, however,
that in passive sentences with these verbs, we use a to-infinitive:
• He was overheard to say that he hoped John would resign.
After some of these verbs (feel, hear, notice, observe, overhear, see, watch) we can use either the
bare infinitive or the -ing form, but usually there is a difference in meaning (see Unit 39F).

A few verbs can be followed directly by a bare infinitive in fairly idiomatic phrases, including
hear tell, make believe, and let (it) slip:
• He made believe that he had caught the huge fish himself. (= pretended)
• She let (it) slip that she's leaving. (= said it unintentionally) s
Notice also the phrases make do and let go: ('Don't let go!'
• Jim borrowed my new bike; I had to make do
with my old one. (= it wasn't the one I wanted)

Verb + to-infinitive or-ing?: