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? (¿Nos podemos permitir el lujo de comprar un coche nuevo?)

They decided to invite Anne. (Decidieron invitar a Anne.)

She didn't mean to hurt you. (No tenía la intención de hacerte daño.)

The company is not planning to sack workers. (La empresa no tiene planes para despedir a trabajadores.)

James refused to help us. (James se negó a ayudarnos.)

Did you want to see me? (¿Me querías ver?)

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

We pretended not to be looking. (Hicimos ver que no estábamos mirando.)

They decided not to invite Anne. (Decidieron no invitar a 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.