English Mastery
Module 4 · Gerunds & Infinitives

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Intermediate50 min25 questions8 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The other camp. After WANT, DECIDE, HOPE, REFUSE, PROMISE and their allies, the next verb takes TO + base form. This chapter also unlocks the pattern that fixes one of the deepest Hindi-transfer errors in Indian English: verb + PERSON + to (I want YOU TO come — never ‘I want that you come’).
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
The pattern
verb+to+V1
She decided to renovate the kitchen first.
Verb + person + to
want/ask/tell/advise+someone+to+V1
I want you to check the file.
Negative
verb+not+to+V1
He promised not to reveal the price.

The golden rule: with want, tell, ask, advise, remind, allow and their group, the person goes BETWEEN the verbs — ‘I want you to come’. Hindi builds this thought with ‘कि’ (‘main chahta hoon KI tum aao’), so the brain writes ‘I want that you come’ — which does not exist in English. Kill the ‘that’; insert the person.

The infinitive camp on the map
VERB + -INGVERB + TO + V1BOTH WISH · PLANwant · hope · decide PROMISE · REFUSEpromise · offer · refuse EFFORT · OUTCOMEmanage · afford · seem VERB + PERSON + TOask · tell · adviseenjoy · avoidfinish · suggest← Chapter 2begin · likestop · try→ Ch 4 · 5
Four families, one shape: verb + to + V1 — and in the last family a person goes in between.
Step 2

When to Use It

WISHES & PLANSto + V1wanthopeplandecideaimintendwould like
Use 1

Wishes and plans

want, hope, plan, decide, aim, intend, would like
  • We plan to launch bookings after the map approval.
  • She hopes to shift before the school session starts.
  • I’ve decided to keep the corner unit unsold.
PROMISES, REFUSALSto + V1promiseagreeofferrefusethreatenswear
Use 2

Promises, agreements, refusals

promise, agree, offer, refuse, threaten, swear
  • He promised to release the margin within a week.
  • They agreed to split the brokerage equally.
  • The tenant refused to vacate before March.
  • The vendor threatened to stop supply over the pending bill.
EFFORT & OUTCOMEto + V1managefaillearnaffordseemappeartendprepare
Use 3

Ability, effort, outcome

manage, fail, learn, afford, seem, appear, tend, prepare
  • We managed to get the file cleared in one visit.
  • He failed to disclose the existing loan.
  • She’s learning to read site drawings.
  • I can’t afford to block funds for two years.
  • The seller seems to be in a hurry — useful.
verbasked+personme+to + V1to bringTHE PERSON GOES BETWEEN THE VERBSShe asked me to bring the originals.
Use 4

Verb + PERSON + to — making others act

want, ask, tell, advise, allow, remind, warn, expect, invite, encourage, force, teach
  • I want the accountant to recheck the TDS entry.
  • She asked me to bring the originals.
  • The lawyer advised us to add a penalty clause.
  • Remind him to carry two witnesses.
  • They don’t allow visitors to park inside.
letmetoexplainmadeeveryonetosignhelpme(to)carry
Use 5

The bare-infinitive exceptions: LET and MAKE

These two drop the ‘to’ — preview of causatives in Module 6.
  • Let me explain the payment plan. (NOT let me to explain)
  • The guard made everyone sign the register. (NOT made everyone to sign)
  • Help works both ways: Help me carry / help me to carry — both correct.
Extra

The Infinitive Camp — Reference List (24 core verbs)

Wish/PlanPromise/RefuseEffort/OutcomeVerb + person + to
wantpromisemanagewant / expect
hopeagreefailask / tell
plan / intendofferlearnadvise / warn
deciderefuseaffordallow / permit
would likethreatenseem / appearremind / invite
aimsweartend / prepareencourage / force / teach
Exceptions to brand into memory: LET and MAKE take the bare verb (let him go, made her wait). HELP accepts both (help me carry / to carry).
Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
इन verbs के बाद to + verb आता है: वह बेचना चाहता है He wants to sell. हमने रुकने का फ़ैसला किया We decided to stay.
अब सबसे बड़ी बीमारी का इलाज — हिंदी का ‘कि’ वाला ढाँचा:
मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम आओ।
I want YOU TO come. (‘I want that you come’ English में है ही नहीं!)
उसने मुझसे कहा कि मैं papers लाऊँ।
He told ME TO bring the papers.
Formula: verb + आदमी + to + काम। ‘कि’ को मारो, आदमी को बीच में रखो।
दो exception याद रखो: LET और MAKE के बाद ‘to’ नहीं — मुझे जाने दो Let me go. उसने मुझे इंतज़ार करवाया He made me wait.
Kill the ‘ki’, insert the person
HINDI THINKSमैं चाहता हूँकितुम आओWRONG ENGLISHI wantthatyou comeRIGHT ENGLISHI wantyouto comeKILL THE ‘THAT’ — INSERT THE PERSONverb+PERSON+to+V1I want you to check the file.He told me to bring the papers.
Hindi builds the thought with ‘कि’; English puts the person between the two verbs: verb + person + to + V1.
Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
I want that you meet the buyer tomorrow.
I want you to meet the buyer tomorrow.
The ‘ki’-transfer error. Verb + person + to — no ‘that’.
He told to me bring the file.
He told me to bring the file.
Person first, then to: told me to bring.
She decided selling the old flat.
She decided to sell the old flat.
Decide is infinitive-camp — always + to.
The manager let us to leave early.
The manager let us leave early.
Let takes the bare verb — no ‘to’.
His jokes made everyone to laugh.
His jokes made everyone laugh.
Make also drops the ‘to’.
I can’t afford buying a second car right now.
I can’t afford to buy a second car right now.
Afford + to, always.
Step 6

Signal Words

Infinitive-camp anchors:
Wish/plan: want, hope, plan, decide, would like to + V1
Promise/refuse: promise, agree, offer, refuse, threaten to + V1
Effort/outcome: manage, fail, learn, afford, seem to + V1
Making others act: want/ask/tell/advise + PERSON + to + V1
Bare-verb rebels: let, make (and help, optionally)
Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    We hope (hand) over possession before Holi.
  2. 2
    The owner refused (lower) the price by even a rupee.
  3. 3
    I want you (double-check) the khatauni entries.
  4. 4
    She reminded me (carry) passport photos for the registry.
  5. 5
    He can’t afford (miss) another EMI.
  6. 6
    The RWA doesn’t allow tenants (keep) commercial vehicles inside.
  7. 7
    Let him (finish) — then we’ll respond point by point.
  8. 8
    They offered (bear) the transfer charges themselves.
  9. 9
    The long queue made us (rethink) the online option.
  10. 10
    The bank asked us (submit) three years’ ITR.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I want that he comes with us to the site.
  2. 12
    She advised me buying instead of renting.
  3. 13
    The teacher made the students to rewrite the essay.
  4. 14
    He promised calling me after the hearing.
  5. 15
    Please let me to explain the delay.
  6. 16
    They expect that we finish by Friday. (use ‘expect us’)
  7. 17
    My father taught me drive when I was eighteen.
  8. 18
    The guard didn’t allow us entering after 10.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    मैं चाहता हूँ कि तुम कल जल्दी आओ।
  2. 20
    उसने मुझसे कहा कि मैं इंतज़ार करूँ।
  3. 21
    हमने नया office खोलने का फ़ैसला किया।
  4. 22
    मुझे जाने दो।
  5. 23
    उसने बच्चों को हँसा दिया... मतलब, उसकी बात ने सबको हँसा दिया।
  6. 24
    वकील ने हमें केस लड़ने की सलाह दी।
  7. 25
    वह वादा करके भूल गया... मतलब, उसने फ़ोन करने का वादा किया था पर किया नहीं।
Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
to hand
2
to lower
3
to double-check
4
to carry
5
to miss
6
to keep
7
finish
8
to bear
9
rethink
10
to submit
Answers · Set B
11
I want him to come with us to the site. (Kill ‘that’; insert the person.)
12
She advised me to buy instead of renting. (Advise + person + to.)
13
The teacher made the students rewrite the essay. (Make bare verb.)
14
He promised to call me after the hearing. (Promise + to.)
15
Please let me explain the delay. (Let bare verb.)
16
They expect us to finish by Friday. (Expect + person + to.)
17
My father taught me to drive when I was eighteen. (Teach + person + to.)
18
The guard didn’t allow us to enter after 10. (Allow + person + to.)
Answers · Set C
19
I want you to come early tomorrow.
20
He told me to wait. / She asked me to wait.
21
We decided to open a new office.
22
Let me go.
23
His words made everyone laugh. / He made the children laugh.
24
The lawyer advised us to fight the case.
25
He promised to call but didn’t. / He had promised to phone me, but he never did.

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Next up · Chapter 4Verbs That Take Both — Same Meaning

Verbs that accept BOTH forms with the same meaning: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate.