Verbs that require an infinitive in the complement

                       Verbs that require an infinitive in the complement

 

   Remember that the following verbs require an infinitive for a verb in the complement.

   Agree, appear, arrange, ask, claim, consent, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, forget,   

   hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, 

   refuse, seem, tend, threaten, wait, want.

 Avoid using an ing form after the verbs listed. Avoid using a verb word after want.

   1.Incorrect: He wanted speak with Mr. Brown.

      Correct: He wanted to speak with Mr. Brown.

  2. Incorrect: We demand knowing our status.

      Correct: We demand to know our status.

  3. Incorrect: I intend the inform you that we cannot approve your application.

     Correct: I intend to inform you that we cannot approve your application.

  4. Incorrect: They didn’t plan buying a car.

     Correct: They didn’t plan to buy a car.

   5. Incorrect: The weather tends improving in May.

      Correct: The weather tends to improve in May.

   6. Incorrect: One of the least effective ways of storing information is learning repeating it.

       Correct: One of the least effective ways of storing information is learning to repeat it.

   7. Incorrect: Representative democracy seemed evolve simultaneously during the eighteenth 

      and nineteenth centuries in Britain, Europe and the United States.

      Correct: Representative democracy seemed to evolve simultaneously during the eighteenth  

      and nineteenth centuries in Britain, Europe and the United States.