1. Infinitives after Certain Verbs10
Infinitives after Certain Verbs
The Life of an English Student
Focus on Grammar 3
Part VII, Unit 29
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. What Students Are Thinking
I want to learn.
I plan to get to class on time.
I try to get only “A” grades!
I refuse to give up.
I hope to succeed.
I promise to study hard.

3. to + base form of the verb not +to + base form of the verb
An infinitive is to + base form of the verb. Form the negative by placing not before the infinitive.
Infinitive
to + base form of the verb
I decided to study English this year.
Negative Infinitive
not +to + base form of the verb
I decided not to study chemistry this year.

4. Infinitives after Verbs 1
Certain verbs can be followed by an infinitive.
Examples: ask, advise, tell, want
Infinitive
I want to get a good grade in my English class.
Infinitive
I told her to go to bed.

5. Infinitives after Verbs 2
Some verbs can be followed directly by an infinitive.
Examples: begin, decide, fail, learn, plan, promise, refuse, seem, try
Infinitive
He is learning to spell correctly.
Infinitive
He refuses to be uncomfortable when studying.

6. Infinitives after Objects 1
Some verbs need an object (noun or pronoun) before the infinitive.
Examples: advise, allow, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell, warn
Object
Infinitive
Our teacher advises them to take notes.
Object
Infinitive
She doesn’t allow students to do their homework in class.

7. Infinitives after Objects 2
Some verbs need an object (noun or pronoun) before the infinitive.
Examples: advise, allow, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell, warn
Object
Infinitive
My teacher tells us to pay attention.
Object
Infinitive
She warns students not to cheat on tests.

8. Practice 1 Example: Maria invited …
Complete the sentences with infinitives and your own information. Use objects where needed.
Practice 1
Example:
Maria invited …
Maria invited me to go to a party with her.
1. I plan to…
2. My mother plans …
3. Our teacher encourages us to……
4. My friends decided …
5. My father always tells me to…

9. Infinitives with or without Objects
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or an object + infinitive.
Examples: ask, expect, help, need, want, would like
Infinitive
He expected to get an “A.”
Object
Infinitive
He expected the teacher to give him an “A.”

10. Practice 2 Example: expect I expected to do well on the test.
Form sentences with the verbs. Use infinitives and use each verb twice: First without an object, and then with an object.
Practice 2
without object
Example:
expect
I expected to do well on the test.
My teacher expected me to do well on the test.
with object 1.
need 2.
help 3.
would like 4.
ask

11. Discussion Questions
How good is your memory? Give examples to show how good (or bad) it is.
Have you ever forgotten something very important? What happened?
How do you remember important things that you have to do?
What are some ways you can improve your memory?
Would you like to have a perfect memory? Why/why not?
What is your earliest memory? Describe it in as much detail as you can.
What is something you will never forget? Why is it so memorable for you?
What do you hope to do after you graduate?
What are you trying very hard to do these days?
What do you want to learn to do?
What do you plan to do this weekend?
What do you want your English teacher to do?

12. Homework
You have no homework for this week, but I recommend studying the grammar and vocabulary from Units 1-5 for the written midterm exam. You can also get more practice by doing the grammar and vocabulary Self-Study exercises on Good luck on my midterm, and on all of your midterm exams!