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Explaining Ideas

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Speaking about Objects

Wondering about Situations

I Hope To Do It

Verbs + Infinitive

A number of verbs take the infinitive when directly following another verb. Unfortunately, there are no rules as to which verbs take the infinitive and which verbs take the 'ing' or gerund form. Here is a list of common verbs which are always followed by the infinitive.

Common Verbs + Infinitive

afford
agree
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
bear
begin
care
choose
consent
decide
determine
expect
fail
forget
happen
hate
help
hesitate
hope
intend
learn
like
love
manage
mean
offer
prefer
prepare
pretend
promise
propose
refuse
regret
remember
seem
start
swear
trouble
try
want
wish

Example:

He hoped to improve his computer skills.

We agreed to shift away from fast food and toward vegan dishes.

We hoped to fill our retirement homes with rich widowers.

Adjective + Infinitive

Any verb following an adjective takes the infinitive.

Example:

It is immoral to give comps to your friends.

It is important to follow safety precautions in amusement parks.

Courses
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