Intermediate grammar · Unit 54 · B1

Verb + to ... (decide to ... / forget to ... etc.)

-ing and to ...

Many verbs (decide, agree, refuse, promise, manage, afford and others) are followed by to + infinitive. The unit also covers dare, seem/appear/pretend/claim with continuous and perfect infinitives, and question word + to ....

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A decide, agree, refuse and others + to ...

After these verbs you can use to ... (the infinitive):

offer, agree, refuse, decide, plan, arrange, hope, forget, manage, fail, promise, threaten, deserve, afford, learn, tend

The negative is not to ...

Take care, because some verbs take -ing and not to .... enjoy, suggest and think of are three of them (see Units 53 and 62).

Correct Not
I enjoy swimming. enjoy to swim
Tom suggested going for a curry. suggested to go
Are you thinking of selling the house? thinking to sell
  • The last bus had gone, so we decided to walk home.
  • My neighbour was moving house, so I offered to help her.
  • I rang the council three times but failed to get an answer.
  • My brother tends to exaggerate.
  • When did you learn to swim?
  • When did you learn how to swim?
  • We decided not to go to the fireworks because of the rain.
  • I promised not to tell anyone.

B dare

After dare you can use the infinitive with or without to.

After dare not (or daren't), do not use to.

  • I didn't dare to ask for a pay rise.
  • I didn't dare ask for a pay rise.
  • I daren't tell Mum about the scratch on her car.

C seem, appear, pretend, claim + to ...

seem, appear, pretend and claim are also followed by to ...

They can take a continuous infinitive, to be -ing, and a perfect infinitive, to have done:

Sentence Meaning
I pretended to be working. I pretended that I was working.
I seem to have left my wallet at home. It seems that I have left my wallet at home.
He claimed not to have heard the alarm. He claimed that he had not heard the alarm.

The alarm, it should be said, was audible in the next street.

  • Our new neighbours seem to be very friendly.
  • Lee pretended not to notice me in the supermarket.
  • I pretended to be working when the boss walked in.
  • I seem to have left my wallet at home.
  • He claimed not to have heard the alarm.

D Question word + to ...

After these verbs you can use a question word (what / how / where / whether etc.) + to ...:

ask, know, decide, remember, forget, learn, explain, understand, wonder

The same pattern follows show / tell / ask / advise / teach + somebody.

  • We asked how to get to the leisure centre.
  • Have you decided where to have the party?
  • I can't decide whether to sell my car or not.
  • Do you understand what to do?
  • Could you show me how to use the photocopier?
  • Ask Brenda. She'll tell you what to do.

Exercises

54.1 Complete the sentence for each situation.

  1. "Shall we buy a dog?" "Yes, let's." (They decided ...)

    They decided to buy a dog.

    They decided to buy a dog.

  2. "Please lend me your car." "OK." (She agreed ...)

  3. "Shall I wash up?" "No, thanks. It's fine." (He offered ...)

  4. "Let's meet outside the cinema." "OK, fine." (They arranged ...)

  5. "How much did it cost?" "I'm not going to tell you." (She refused ...)

  6. "Please don't be late." "I won't. I promise." (She promised ...)

54.2 Complete the sentences. Use a suitable verb.

  1. Don't forget to close the windows before you go out.

    Don't forget to close the windows before you go out.

  2. The roads were icy, but we managed home safely.

  3. We can't afford on holiday this year. Money's too tight.

  4. I've never been on a horse, but I'd like to learn .

  5. I didn't want to upset Carys, so I decided not her what had happened.

  6. The head teacher was furious. Nobody dared a word.

54.3 Put the verb into the correct form, to ... or -ing. (See Unit 53 for verbs + -ing.)

  1. When I'm on holiday, I enjoy sleeping late. (sleep)

    When I'm on holiday, I enjoy sleeping late.

  2. I've decided a new car. My old one is falling to bits. (buy)

  3. I'm staying exactly where I am! I refuse . (leave)

  4. There's no rush. I don't mind . (queue)

  5. Lewis entered the baking competition, but he failed . (win)

  6. I wish the people next door would stop . It's driving me up the wall. (shout)

  7. I didn't want to talk to the man next to me on the train, so I pretended busy. (be)

  8. It was cold outside, so I suggested indoors. (eat)

  9. Let's get there early. I don't want to risk our seats. (lose)

  10. Ellie is very shy. She tends not much in meetings. (speak)

54.4 Make a new sentence using the verb in brackets.

  1. I've forgotten my password. (seem)

    I seem to have forgotten my password.

    I seem to have forgotten my password.

  2. Hamid is upset about something. (appear)

  3. You have lots of friends here. (seem)

  4. The weather is improving. (seem)

  5. The printer has run out of ink. (appear)

  6. Joel is enjoying his new course. (seem)

  7. They have finished the work. (claim)

54.5 Complete each sentence using what/how/where/whether + one of these verbs.

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  1. Can you tell me where to find a decent café round here?

    Can you tell me where to find a decent café round here?

  2. Would you know if your car broke down on the motorway?

  3. Once Gran has shown you a proper roast dinner, you'll never forget it.

  4. I've been offered a place on the course, but I haven't decided or not.

  5. I've got hundreds of books and I don't know them all.

  6. We've got a new coffee machine at work. Can you show me it?

See also