Skype English School

Learning English Verbs

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Certain verbs conjugated in the present or the past tense can be followed by another verb in its infinitive form. Some verbs that can be followed by an infinitive are to attempt, to hope, to forget, to remember, to try, and to want. Compare the similarity of how some of these verbs are used with direct objects and infinitives.

Direct Object: Jack attempted a leap from one cliff to another.

Infinitive: Jack attempted to leap from one cliff to another.

Direct Object: She forgets her keys and purse.

Infinitive: She forgets to take her keys and purse.

Direct Object: I remember the last time I saw her.

Infinitive: I remember to send her a birthday card.

Direct Object: He tries some tapioca pudding.

Infinitive: He tries to swallow some tapioca pudding.

Direct Object: Nobody wants cold pizza.

Infinitive: Nobody wants to eat cold pizza.

Rewrite each sentence, changing the direct object to any appropriate infinitive phrase. For example:

She attempted a difficult move.

She attempted to do a backflip.

1. Bill wanted a piece of pizza.

2. No one remembers her birthday.

3. I tried a spoonful of the soup.

4. Uncle James forgot his wallet again.

5. Tina attempts a dangerous trick.