offer - decide - hope - deserve - promise - agree - plan - manage - afford - threaten - refuse - arrange - fail - forget - learn - prepare - attempt - try - aim
After these verbs you use TO... (infinitive):
He learnt TO look after himself.
She refused TO leave.
She decided to look for a new job.
The negative is NOT TO:
We decided NOT TO go out because of the weather.
I promised NOT TO be late.
We also use TO...after:
seem - appear - tend - pretend - claim
He pretended TO be angry.
Prices always tend TO go up.
He seems TO have plenty of money.
After some verbs TO...is not possible. For example, enjoy / think / suggest:
He suggested going to the cinema. (not suggested TO go)
He suggested that we go to the cinema.
I'm thinking of buying a new car. (not TO buy)
I enjoy reading books. (not TO read)
Some verbs can also be followed by a that-clause:
I promise to wait = I promise that I will wait.
He pretended to be angry = He pretended that he was angry.
The bare infinitive (infinitive without TO) after verbs and expressions:
- can, could, do, must, should, shall, will:
They could do it today.
He may be ill.
- "need" and "dare", except when they are conjugated with do / did or will / would:
You needn't say anything. (but You don't need TO say anything)
- feel, hear, see and watch:
I heard him lock the door.
- "let": They let him use the internet.
- "make": He made me move my car.
- "had better": You'd better hurry up.
- "have": She has the house-maid do the housework.