to-infinitive: • The shop
refused to accept a cheque.
• • He
threatened to report their behaviour to the
(not He threatened them to report
their behaviour...)
Other verbs like this include
agree, consent, decide, fail, hope, pretend, start, volunteer. After some verbs, an object might or might not be included before a
to-infinitive. Compare:
• I prefer to drive. (= I do the driving)
and • I prefer
you to drive. (= you do the driving)
• We need to complete this report by Friday. (= we complete it)
and • We need
them to complete this report by Friday. (= they complete it)
Other verbs like this include
can bear (in negative sentences and in questions),
hate, help, like, love, want, wish. Notice that after
help we can use either a
to-infinitive or
bare infinitive (see
E): • I'll help you
(to) arrange the party if you like.
With some verbs in the pattern
verb + object + to-infinitive we have to put the word
for immediately after the
verb: • We
waited for the taxi to come before saying
(not ...waited the taxi to come...)
• They
arranged for Jane to stay in
(not ...arranged Jane to stay...)
Other verbs like this include