1.30 Verbs followed by the infinitive

For can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must and ought, see modals.

Main verbs that are followed by to and the infinitive include: afford, agree, arrange, decide, deserve, hope, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, prefer, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, want, e.g.:

Can we afford to buy a new car? (Ens podem permetre el luxe de comprar un cotxe nou?)

They decided to invite Anne. (Van decidir convidar l'Anne.)

She didn't mean to hurt you. (No tenia la intenció de fer-te mal.)

The company is not planning to sack workers. (L'empresa no té plans per a acomiadar treballadors.)

James refused to help us. (En James es va negar a ajudar-nos.)

Did you want to see me? (Em volies veure?)

Notice that an infinitive is negated with not, not don't, e.g.:

We pretended not to be looking. (Vam fer veure que no miràvem.)

They decided not to invite Anne. (Van decidir no convidar l'Anne.)

	See also verbs followed by the –ing form, verbs followed by the infinitive and the –ing form, verbs followed by an object and the infinitive, reported requests and orders.