Easy Word | Luyện ngữ pháp


Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate ((Unit 54: Verb to ...))


A

offer        agree           refuse         decide        plan        arrange   manage

fail              deserve       afford     forget      promise       threaten     learn


After these verbs you can use to ... (infinitive):
  • It was late, so we decided to take a taxi home.
  • Simon was in a difficult situation, so I agreed to help him.
  • How old were you when you learnt to drive? (or learnt how to drive)
  • I waved to Karen, but failed to attract her attention.

The negative is not to ... :
  • We decided not to go out because of the weather.
  • promised not to be late.

After some verbs to ... is not possible. For example, enjoy/think/suggest:
  • enjoy reading. (not enjoy to read)
  • Andy suggested meeting for coffee. (not suggested to meet)
  • Are you thinking of buying a car? (not thinking to buy)

For verb + -ing, see Unit 53. For verb + preposition+ -ing, see Unit 62.

B After dare you can use the infinitive with or without to:
  • I wouldn't dare to tell him. or I wouldn't dare tell him.

But after dare not (or daren't), you must use the infinitive without to:
  • daren't tell him what happened. (not I daren't to tell him)
C

We also use to ... after:

seem     appear         tend          pretend          claim


For example:
  • They seem to have plenty of money.
  • I like Dan, but I think he tends to talk too much.
  • Ann pretended not to see me when she passed me in the street.

There is also a continuous infinitive (to be doing) and a perfect infinitive (to have done):
  • pretended to be reading the paper. (= I pretended that I was reading)
  • You seem to have lost weight. (= it seems that you have lost weight)
  • Joe seems to be enjoying his new job. (= it seems that he is enjoying it)
D

After some verbs you can use a question word (what/whether/how etc.) + to .... We use this structure especially after:

ask       decide          know               remember         forget

explain            learn           understand           wonder


We asked how to get to the station.
Have you decided where to go for your holidays?
I don't know whether to apply for the job or not.
Do you understand what to do?  

Also
show/tell/ask/advise/teach somebody what/how/where to do something:
  • Can somebody show me how to use this camera?
  • Ask jack. He'll tell you what to do.


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