Verb + Infinitive
Many verbs are followed by a to-infinitive rather than a gerund. These include 'decide', 'hope', 'promise', 'agree', 'manage', and 'offer'.
Level B1
Verbs & Verb Patterns
Summary
- Many verbs are followed by a to-infinitive rather than a gerund. These include 'decide', 'hope', 'promise', 'agree', 'manage', and 'offer'.
Structure
verb + to + base verb
Examples
- We decided to stay another night.
- She hopes to study abroad.
- They agreed to share the costs.
- He managed to fix it himself.
Common mistakes
- • Using a gerund after these verbs: 'decided staying' should be 'decided to stay'.
- • Dropping 'to': 'hope study abroad' should be 'hope to study abroad'.
More verbs & verb patterns
Used To (Past Habits and States)
A2
Use 'used to' to talk about habits or states that were true in the past but are not true now.
Gerunds vs Infinitives
B2
Some verbs are followed by a gerund (-ing form) and others by an infinitive (to + verb). The choice depends on the first verb, and a few verbs change meaning depending on which form follows.
Phrasal Verbs (Introduction)
B1
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a particle (like up, off, on, out) that often creates a new meaning. Some can be separated by their object, and some cannot.
Have Got
A2
'Have got' is a common British way to talk about possession, relationships, and characteristics. It means the same as 'have' but forms questions and negatives without 'do'.
Imperatives
A1
Imperatives give orders, instructions, invitations, and warnings. They use the base form of the verb with no subject; for negatives, put 'don't' first.
Like, Love, Hate + Verb-ing
A2
After verbs of liking and disliking such as like, love, enjoy, and hate, we usually use the -ing form of the next verb to talk about activities in general.