When learning English, you may have noticed sentences like:
✅ I want to learn English.
✅ She decided to go home early.
✅ He promised to help me with my homework.
In all these examples, the verbs are followed by to + infinitive. But what does this mean, and when do we use it? Let’s explore the Verb + To + Infinitive structure in detail.
📌 What is “Verb + To + Infinitive”?
In English, some verbs are followed by another verb in the to + infinitive form (to + base verb).
✅ Structure:
Verb + to + base verb (V1)
✅ Examples:
• I want to visit Paris.
• She decided to study medicine.
• They hope to travel next year.
Here, want, decide, and hope are verbs that require to + infinitive after them.
📌 When Do We Use “Verb + To + Infinitive”?
We use to + infinitive after certain verbs. These verbs can be categorized into different groups:
1️⃣ Verbs of Desire & Decision
These verbs express a wish, plan, or choice.
Verb | Example |
Want | I want to buy a new phone. |
Decide | She decided to stay at home. |
Plan | We plan to visit Italy next summer. |
Hope | He hopes to pass the exam. |
Expect | They expect to finish the project soon. |
Intend | I intend to learn French. |
Choose | She chose to study engineering. |
2️⃣ Verbs of Advice & Obligation
These verbs show that someone is telling or advising another person to do something.
Verb | Example |
Need | I need to buy some food. |
Have (to) | You have to do your homework. |
Ought (to) | We ought to help others. |
Attempt | She attempted to lift the box. |
Agree | They agreed to meet at 6 PM. |
3️⃣ Verbs of Promises & Offers
These verbs show commitments, refusals, or willingness to do something.
Verb | Example |
Promise | She promised to call me. |
Agree | They agreed to help me. |
Offer | He offered to drive me to work. |
Refuse | She refused to give me her notes. |
Threaten | He threatened to tell the teacher. |
4️⃣ Verbs Related to Learning & Trying
These verbs show effort, ability, or skills someone is learning.
Verb | Example |
Learn | I learned to swim last summer. |
Try | She tried to open the door. |
Manage | He managed to fix the computer. |
Fail | I failed to complete the task. |
📌 Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
🚫 Incorrect: He suggested to go to the cinema.
✅ Correct: He suggested going to the cinema. (“Suggest” is followed by -ing, not “to + infinitive.”)
🚫 Incorrect: She enjoys to read novels.
✅ Correct: She enjoys reading novels. (*“Enjoy” is always followed by -ing.)
🚫 Incorrect: They made me to study all night.
✅ Correct: They made me study all night. (“Make” does not take “to” before the verb.)
📌 Practice Exercises
🔹 Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in parentheses (to + infinitive).
1. I want _______ (learn) a new language.
2. She decided _______ (visit) her grandparents.
3. They agreed _______ (help) us.
4. He promised _______ (call) me later.
5. We hope _______ (travel) to Spain next year.
🔹 Sentence Rewriting
Rewrite the sentences using to + infinitive.
1. “I will help you.” → She promised ______________.
2. “We will come early.” → They agreed ______________.
3. “You should take this medicine.” → The doctor advised me ______________.
4. “I will study harder for the exam.” → She decided ______________.
📌 Summary
✅ Use to + infinitive after verbs that express desire, decision, promise, obligation, learning, and effort.
✅ Common verbs: want, decide, plan, hope, need, agree, promise, offer, learn, try, manage.
✅ Avoid common mistakes where some verbs require -ing instead of “to + infinitive.”
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