In English grammar, it is sometimes possible to use a verb (the first verb in the clause) together with a second verb. If such a first verb is one of the ones listed in the table below, it usually requires the second (following) verb to appear in its infinitive form with ‘to’.

• Some of the verbs that need the to-infinitive:
  • afford to travel
  • hope to see
• Examples of such verb-infinitive combinations in sentences:
  • “Peter arranged to meet the Chinese clients next Monday.”
    • Here, ‘arranged’ is the first verb directly followed by the infinitive ‘to meet’.
  • “My friend John promised to give up smoking.”
    • In this statement, the base form ‘to give’ comes right after ‘promised’.
• Information: If you need more details on the general usage, have a look at the English infinitive.

The following explanations relate to the topic ‘English verbs that require the to-infinitive’ and might also be interesting:

• Use of the infinitive without ‘to’
• Use of the English gerund
• Use of auxiliary verbs in English
• Main verbs in English
• List of exercises about parts of speech