OXFORDPRACTICEGRAMMAR
60 VERB + TO-INFINITIVE
A Introduction
After some verbs we can use a
to-infinitive, e.g.
decided to have, arranged to
play. Here are some
more examples.
/ expect to get my money back.
Sarah agreed to work late at
the office.
We cant afford to go to Australia.
Are you hoping to get a job in London?
Melanie has offered to help us when we move house.
We can put not before the to-infinitive.
Some people just choose not to get married.
At least I managed not to lose my temper.
With some other verbs we use an ing-form, not a toinfinitive
(see Units 61 and 62). Mark has finished
playing golf.
B Seem and appear
We can use a to-infinitive after seem and appear.
Sarah seemed to be quite annoyed. The computer program appears to have
a bug in it. The
person I spoke to didn't seem to know anything about the company's
products.
We can use a continuous or a perfect to-infinitive.
Continuous: Andrew seems to be studying even harder these days.
Perfect: David appeared to have hurt himself.
C Tend, manage and fail
We use tend to for things that usually happen.
We tend to get up later at weekends. (= We usually get up later at
weekends.)
We use manage to for being able to do something.
Luckily I managed to find my way here all right. (= I was able to find my
way.)
We use fail to for things that don't happen.
David failed to pay his electricity bill. (= David didn't pay his electricity
bill.)
D He promised to go, his promise to go
Some nouns can come before a to-infinitive. Compare these sentences. Verb
+ to-infinitive: Mark promised to go shopping.
But then he arranged to play golf. Noun + toinfinitive:
Mark forgot about his promise to go shopping.
Sarah found out about his arrangement to play golf.
Here are some nouns we can use: agreement, arrangement, decision,
demand, desire, failure,
offer, plan, promise, refusal, tendency, threat
61-62 Verb + ing-form 65 Verb + object + to-infinitive
60 EXERCISES
1 Verb + to-infinitive (A)
Say what each speaker did. Use these verbs before a to-infinitive: decide,
demand, offer, promise,
threaten ► Henry: I really must speak to the manager. Henry demanded to
speak to the manager.
1 Trevor: I'll put the shelves up soon, I promise.
2 Claire: OK, I'll buy both the dresses.
3 Melanie: I'll cook the meal if you like.
4 Tom: If you don't control that dog, Nick, I'll shoot it.
2 Seem (B)
Complete the answers using seem and a to-infinitive. (Some
of the to-infinitives may be continuous or perfect.)
? Vicky: Have Matthew and Emma got over their quarrel?
Daniel: I think so. They seem to have got over it.
? Rita: Is Claire in love with Henry?
Sarah: Probably not. She doesn't seem to be in love with him.
1 Tom: Do Mike and Harriet really believe there's life on Mars?
David: Well, yes
there is.
2 Victor: Has Ilona's English improved?
Emma: Yes, quite a lot.
3 David: Does Rita like football?
Tom: I don't think so
it much.
4 Natasha: Is Daniel working hard, do you think?
Rachel: Yes, I think
so hard.
5 Sarah: Has Trevor made a good job of those shelves?
Laura: Not really. a very good job of them.
3 Verb + to-infinitive (A-D)
Put in the to-infinitive form. (Some may be continuous or perfect.)
Use these verbs: come, find, hang, have, invite, leave, take Harriet:
Hello, Nick. You managed (►) to find your way then? Nick: Yes,
in the end. It's a bit complicated, isn't it?
Harriet: Well you're here now. Do you want (1)
………………….your coat up?
Mick: Thank you.
Harriet: I'm glad you decided (2) to our party.
Everyone seems (3) a good time.
We tend (4) lots of people to our parties.
Nick: Is Tom here?
Harriet: No, he couldn't come. He'd already made an arrangement
(5) somebody somewhere in his taxi.
Nick: And Rita?
Harriet: Er, she was here, but she appears (6) ………………….early.
I don't know where she's
gone. She was with someone.
. OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR
60 VERB + TO-INFINITIVE
A Introduction
After some verbs we. refusal, tendency, threat
61-62 Verb + ing-form 65 Verb + object + to-infinitive
60 EXERCISES
1 Verb + to-infinitive (A)
Say what each speaker did. Use these