Study vocabulary from this article
Use flashcards with SRS system for long-term retention
When you’re learning English, verb patterns are one of the trickiest things to get right. My students often mix up verbs followed by infinitives, gerunds, and bare verbs — and the mistake costs them clarity and, sometimes, native-like fluency. Understanding which verbs take infinitives (the “to” form) is one of the quickest wins you can make in your grammar arsenal.
I’ll walk you through 50+ verbs that take infinitives, organized by meaning, with practical examples and classroom-tested memory tricks. You’ll also find a dialogue between two learners and a quiz to test yourself. By the end, you’ll recognize infinitive patterns instantly.
Key Takeaways
- Infinitives follow action verbs — verbs like want, plan, decide, promise always take “to + verb”.
- Pattern recognition saves time — group verbs by meaning (desire, ability, intention) to internalize them faster.
- Modal verbs break the rule — can, should, will, must take bare infinitives (no “to”).
- Context clues help — if a verb describes what someone intends or wants to do, the infinitive usually follows.
- Practice with contrasts — some verbs take infinitives, others take gerunds; mixing them up changes the meaning.
Understanding Verbs Followed by Infinitives
An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by “to” — to run, to speak, to study. When a verb takes an infinitive as its object, the grammar pattern is:
Subject + Infinitive Verb + to + Base Verb
Example: She promised to call me after work.
Not all verbs work this way. Some take gerunds (-ing forms), and some take bare infinitives (no “to”). Knowing which is which saves you from awkward mistakes.
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives — Organized by Meaning
Verbs of Desire & Preference
These express what someone wants, wishes for, or prefers to do:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| want | Desire to do something | I want to learn Spanish. |
| wish | Hope or desire (often unrealistic) | She wishes to travel the world. |
| prefer | Like one thing more than another | He prefers to work in the morning. |
| like | Enjoy doing something (can take infinitive or gerund) | I like to cook healthy meals. |
| love | Very much enjoy or adore | She loves to dance. |
| hate | Strongly dislike (can take infinitive or gerund) | He hates to wait in traffic. |
| desire | Wish for or want formally | They desire to make a difference. |
Verbs of Intention & Planning
These describe what someone intends, plans, or arranges to do:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| plan | Arrange or intend to do something | We plan to visit France next summer. |
| decide | Make a choice to do something | She decided to quit her job and travel. |
| aim | Have a goal or intention | He aims to become a doctor. |
| intend | Plan or have as a purpose | I intend to finish this project by Friday. |
| arrange | Organize or set up something | They arranged to meet at the café. |
| agree | Consent to do something | She agreed to help with the presentation. |
| promise | Commit to doing something | He promised to call me tomorrow. |
Verbs of Ability & Attempt
These show whether someone can, tries, or succeeds in doing something:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| manage | Succeed in doing something difficult | She managed to finish the race despite her injury. |
| attempt | Try to do something | They attempted to climb Mount Everest. |
| try | Make an effort to do something | I’m trying to eat healthier. |
| fail | Not succeed in doing something | He failed to complete the assignment on time. |
| learn | Gain knowledge of how to do something | She learned to play the piano when she was young. |
| strive | Make a serious effort | We strive to provide excellent service. |
| care | Be willing or interested (usually negative) | He doesn’t care to attend the meeting. |
Verbs of Communication & Perception
These are about saying, asking, appearing, or seeming:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ask | Request to do something | She asked to borrow my book. |
| demand | Insist on doing something | They demanded to speak to the manager. |
| claim | State or assert something | He claimed to have seen a UFO. |
| say | Express in words | The sign says to turn left here. |
| appear | Seem to be or do something | He appears to be tired. |
| seem | Give the impression of | She seems to enjoy her new job. |
| report | State or give information | They reported to have found the missing item. |
Verbs of Obligation & Necessity
These show what someone must do, needs to do, or is expected to do:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| need | Require something to be done | We need to buy groceries this week. |
| expect | Think something will happen or should happen | She expects to graduate next year. |
| prepare | Get ready to do something | He prepared to give a presentation. |
| hesitate | Pause or be reluctant before doing something | She hesitated to speak in front of the class. |
| refuse | Decline to do something | They refused to let him enter without a ticket. |
| dare | Challenge or be brave enough to do something | He dared to jump off the high dive. |
| threaten | Warn that you will do something harmful | She threatened to call the police. |
Verbs of Emotion & Mental States
These describe feelings and reactions:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hope | Wish or desire for something to happen | I hope to visit Paris someday. |
| regret | Feel sorry about something (can take infinitive or gerund) | She regrets to inform you of the cancellation. |
| forget | Fail to remember (can take infinitive or gerund) | He forgot to buy milk at the store. |
| remember | Recall something (can take infinitive or gerund) | I remember to take my vitamins every morning. |
| beg | Ask earnestly or desperately | She begged to stay up late. |
Other Common Verbs
Additional verbs that frequently take infinitives:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| choose | Select or decide on something | She chose to study abroad for a semester. |
| offer | Propose to do something | He offered to give me a ride home. |
| invite | Ask someone to do something | They invited us to their wedding. |
| hurry | Move or act quickly | We need to hurry to catch the train. |
| tend | Have a tendency or inclination | She tends to overthink things too much. |
| swear | Promise solemnly | He swore to keep the secret. |
| pretend | Act as if something is true | They pretended to be asleep. |
Complete List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives
- agree
- aim
- appear
- arrange
- ask
- attempt
- beg
- care
- choose
- claim
- dare
- decide
- demand
- desire
- expect
- fail
- forget
- hate
- hesitate
- hope
- hurry
- intend
- invite
- learn
- like
- love
- manage
- need
- offer
- plan
- prepare
- prefer
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- regret
- remember
- report
- say
- see
- seem
- strive
- swear
- tend
- threaten
- try
- want
- wish
The Infinitive Pattern — How It Works
The structure is always the same: Subject + Verb + to + Base Form
✓ Correct: She wants to study medicine.
✗ Incorrect: She wants studying medicine.
Why: “Want” requires an infinitive, not a gerund.
✓ Correct: He promised to arrive on time.
✗ Incorrect: He promised arriving on time.
Why: “Promise” always takes an infinitive.
✓ Correct: I hope to see you next week.
✗ Incorrect: I hope seeing you next week.
Why: “Hope” requires an infinitive to express an unrealized wish.
Pro Tip: Infinitive verbs often describe intentions, desires, plans, or future actions. If the main verb shows what someone wants or intends to do, the infinitive usually follows. When in doubt, ask yourself: “Is this about an intention or plan?” If yes, use an infinitive.
Infinitive Verbs vs. Gerund Verbs
This is where most learners get confused. Some verbs take infinitives; others take gerunds (-ing forms); some take both.
| Type | Infinitive Verbs | Gerund Verbs | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | want, plan, decide, promise, hope, expect, agree | enjoy, avoid, finish, stop, practice, consider, admit | like, love, hate, regret, remember, forget |
| Pattern | Main verb + to + base verb | Main verb + -ing verb | Both patterns are correct |
| Sample sentence | I want to go skiing. | I enjoy going skiing. | I like to cook or cooking. |
Memory Hook: Infinitive verbs are about future intentions (what you plan to do). Gerund verbs are about present experiences (what you enjoy doing). This distinction isn’t always perfect, but it helps.
Common Mistakes in Using Infinitive Verbs
✗ Incorrect: She wants learning English fluently.
✓ Correct: She wants to learn English fluently.
Why: “Wants” is an infinitive verb; it always takes “to + verb”, not “-ing”.
✗ Incorrect: They promised coming to the party.
✓ Correct: They promised to come to the party.
Why: “Promise” requires an infinitive.
✗ Incorrect: He decided taking a different route.
✓ Correct: He decided to take a different route.
Why: “Decide” is followed by an infinitive, not a gerund.
✗ Incorrect: I hope seeing you next month.
✓ Correct: I hope to see you next month.
Why: “Hope” always takes an infinitive to show an unrealized wish.
Infinitive Verbs in Dialogue
Marco: Hey, what do you plan to do after graduation?
Sofia: I’ve decided to study abroad. I want to improve my English and see the world.
Marco: That’s amazing! Do you promise to keep in touch?
Sofia: Of course! I’ll make an effort to call you every week. But first, I need to save money and arrange my visa.
Marco: I believe in you. You tend to achieve everything you set your mind to.
Sofia: Thanks! I hope to have an adventure and come back with stories to tell.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blank with the correct form (infinitive or gerund):
- She wants ____________ (to visit / visiting) Japan next year.
- They promised ____________ (to finish / finishing) the project on time.
- He enjoys ____________ (to play / playing) football on weekends.
- I hope ____________ (to meet / meeting) you again soon.
- She decided ____________ (to learn / learning) Spanish this summer.
Answers: 1. to visit · 2. to finish · 3. playing · 4. to meet · 5. to learn
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Infinitives: Complete Guide — understanding all types of infinitives
- Verbs Followed by Gerunds — which verbs take “-ing” forms
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Verbs (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an infinitive verb?
An infinitive verb is the base form of a verb preceded by “to” — to run, to speak, to study. Some verbs require an infinitive as their object. For example: “She wants to travel.”
How do I know which verbs are followed by infinitives?
Infinitive verbs often express intentions, desires, plans, or future actions. Verbs like want, plan, hope, promise, decide, agree, expect, and aim all take infinitives. There’s no simple rule — you have to memorize which verbs take infinitives and which take gerunds.
Can a verb take both an infinitive and a gerund?
Yes. Verbs like like, love, hate, regret, remember, and forget can take both. For example: “I like to cook” and “I like cooking” are both correct. However, the meaning may vary slightly.
What is the difference between an infinitive and a gerund?
An infinitive is the base form of a verb with “to” (to go, to study). A gerund is the “-ing” form of a verb (going, studying). Infinitives often express future intentions; gerunds often express present activities or experiences.
Are bare infinitives also followed by “to”?
No. Bare infinitives are the base form of a verb without “to”. They’re used after modal verbs like can, should, will, must. For example: “She can swim” (not “can to swim”). Regular infinitive verbs always require “to”.
Quick Test: Check Your Understanding
5 questions to test what you've learned. No sign-up required.
Comments are closed.