50+ Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives in English (With Examples)

Understanding which verbs are followed by infinitives is essential for speaking and writing English naturally and correctly. Many learners struggle with verb patterns, especially when deciding whether to use “to + verb” after certain verbs. In this article, you’ll learn the most common verbs followed by infinitives, see clear examples, and practice with easy exercises to help you use them with confidence.

Table of Contents

What Is an Infinitive?

Definition

An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually with “to” in front of it.

Examples:

to eat
to go
to study
to travel

When certain verbs come first, the next verb must be in the infinitive form.

Example:
She hopes to get the job.
She hopes get the job. (wrong)

Common Structure

There are two basic patterns:

1. Verb + to-infinitive
S + Verb + to + V

I want to learn English.
They decided to travel next month.

2. Verb + Object + to-infinitive
S + Verb + Object + to + V

She asked me to help her.
They told him to wait outside.

Most Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Here are the most frequently used verbs that must be followed by “to + verb”:

Verbs of Desire or Intention

want
hope
plan
wish
expect
aim
intend
would like

Examples:

I want to rest after work.
They plan to visit Japan.

Verbs of Decision or Effort

decide
try
manage
promise
refuse
prepare
agree
fail

Examples:

She decided to quit her job.
He managed to fix the computer.

Verbs About Asking, Ordering, or Telling

ask
tell
advise
remind
order
encourage
persuade
expect (someone) to
want (someone) to

Examples:

My teacher told me to study harder.
They asked her to join the team.

Verbs About Emotions and Preferences

love
like
prefer
hate
can’t wait
would like

Examples:

I love to cook on weekends.
She hates to wait for long.

Verbs About Chance or Tendency

seem
appear
happen
tend
pretend
claim

Examples:

He seems to understand the problem.
I happened to meet her yesterday.

Full List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Verb	Verb	Verb
Agree	Aim	Appear
Ask	Arrange	Attempt
Begin	Care	Choose
Claim	Continue	Decide
Demand	Deserve	Expect
Fail	Forget	Get
Hate	Help	Hesitate
Hope	Intend	Learn
Like	Love	Manage
Mean	Need	Offer
Plan	Prefer	Prepare
Pretend	Promise	Propose
Refuse	Regret	Remember
Seem	Start	Tend
Try	Want	Wish
Would like	Yearn