VERB + TO + VERB

Welcome to your VERB + TO + VERB lesson! In this topic we talk about:
• What verbs can I use with this form?
• Other verbs that use this form
• Using “Dare”
• Using question words
Take the quizzes when you’re ready! If you’re having problems, use the comment box to contact our English Teachers.

What verbs can I use with this form?

Here are a few verbs that you can use with the form “Verb + to + verb”:

“We hope to go away this weekend.”

“Jim learned to drive when he was seventeen.”

“I promise to do the washing up when I get home.”

“They decided to cook spaghetti tonight.”

The negative form is “Verb + not to + Verb”:

“They decided not to go to the beach.”

“Luckily, I managed not to get lost.”

Careful, because after some verbs “to” is not possible:

“We enjoy surfing.“
(not “We enjoy to surf.”)

“Brian is thinking of moving to the coast.”
(not “…is thinking to move to the coast.”)

“Marie suggested going to the beach.”
(not “…suggested to go to the beach.”)

Other verbs that use this form

Other verbs that use “Verb + to + verb” include:

“They seem to be very happy.”

“My brother tends to speak too loudly.”

“My friend pretends to like his parents-in-law.”

Here are some examples of continuous infinitive and perfect infinitive forms:

“He pretended to be watching the TV.”
(He pretended that he was watching the TV.)

“You seem to have lost weight.”
(It seems that you have lost weight.)

Using “Dare”

After “dare” you can use the infinitive with, or without “to”:

“I wouldn’t dare run the marathon.” or “I wouldn’t dare to run the marathon.”

With the negative “dare not” or “daren’t” you must use the infinitive without “to”:

“I daren’t run the marathon.”
(not “I daren’t to run the marathon.”)

Using question words

After some verbs, you can use a question word. We do this especially with the following verbs:

You also use the form: “advise/ask/show/teach/tell” somebody “how/what/where” to do something’:

“Can you show me how to turn the radio on?”

“She advised him where to go this weekend.”