go, come, try etc, see 52...

282 infinitive clauses: other uses
1 / came home to find...
Infinitive clauses can be used to say what somebody found out or learnt at the end of a journey or task.
/ arrived home to find that the house had been burgled. The idea of surprise or disappointment can be
emphasised by using only before the infinitive.
After driving all night we got to Amy's place, only to discover that she was
away. He spent four years getting a degree, only to leam that there were no jobs
for graduates.
2 to hear her talk, you'd think...
. "ifinitives of see and hear can be used to explain the reason for a false topression. The infinitive structure
is usually followed by you'd think or a
^milar expression.
0 see them together, you'd think they were an old married couple. But
they only met yesterday.
0 see him walk down the street, you'd never know he was blind. 0 hear her talk, you'd think she was made of
money.
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_ ,_——„.—,———^———«~«t»CT^.^^.tttiorTci[)S 281
283 infinitive complements (1): after verbs
verbs that can be followed by infinitives
After many non-auxiliary verbs, we can use the infinitives of other verhn
It's beginning to rain.
I don't want to see you again.
She seems to be crying.
I expect to have finished by tomorrow evening.
The car needs to be cleaned. Common verbs that can be followed by infinitives (for more detailed entri
nri *;omp nfthpop c^f* Tnrlovl'
on some of these, see Index):
afford begin fail intend agree care forget learn appear choose goon like arrange consent happen love ask
• continue hate manage attempt dare help mean (can't) bear decide hesitate neglect beg expect hope
offer
prefer seem prepare start pretend swear promise trouble propose try refuse want regret wish remember
Some of these verbs can be followed by object + infinitive (e.g. / want her to be happy). For details, see
284. A few verbs are followed by verb +/or+ object + infinitive (e.g. / arranged for her to have violin
lessons}. For details of these, see 280.7.
After some verbs we can use not only an infinitive but also an -ing form (sometimes with a difference of
meaning). For details, see 296.
After some verbs, it is not possible to use an infinitive. Many of these can be followed by -ing forms.
I enjoy sailing. (NOT I enjoy to sail.) For details of verbs that can be followed by -ing forms, see 293.
For infinitive clause objects with preparatory it (e.g. I'll leave it to you to lock up; I find tt
difficult to run fast), see 302. For perfect infinitives after verbs, see 278. For have + infinitive (e.g. I have to
go now), see 243. For be + infinitive (e.g. You are to start tomorrow), see 90. For fee able + infinitive, see
3. For go + infinitive as future auxiliary, see 220. For and + verb instead of an infinitive after try, come, go
etc, see 52. For general information about 'verb + verb' structures, see 579. For information about the
structures that are possible with a particular verb, see a good
dictionary.
284 infinitive complements (2): after verb + object
1 verbs that can be followed by object + infinitive
Many verbs in English are followed by object + infinitive, rather than by that-c\a\ise.
She didn 't want me to go. (NOT She didn 't want that I go.)
They don't allow people to smoke.
(NOT They don't allow that people smoke.)
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/ didn't ask you to pay for the meal.
(NOT I didn't ask that you pay for the meal.) Some common verbs that can be followed by object +
infinitive:
advise hate persuade
allow help (see also 247) prefer
ask instruct recommend
(can't) bear intend remind
^ga invite request
cause leave teach
command like tell
compel love tempt
encourage
expect
forbid
force
get (see also 228)
mean
need
oblige
order
permit
trouble
want
warn
wish (see also 601)
Some verbs (e.g. let, make, see, hear, feel, watch, notice, have, and sometimes know and help), are
followed by object + infinitive without to.
Why won't you let me explain?
I heard her open the door and go out. For details, see 277.
Many of the verbs listed above can also be followed by other constructions such as an -ing form or a that-
d&use.
Some verbs cannot be followed by object + infinitive; for example suggest. I suggested that she should go
home. (NOT I suggested her to go home.)
For verbs that are followed by for + object + infinitive (e.g. / arranged for her to go early),
see 295.3.
2 passive structures
Many of the verbs listed in paragraph 1 can be used in passive structures with infinitives. The normal
structure is subject + passive verb + infinitive.
We were advised to come early.
You are expected to start work at 8.00 every morning. However, some verbs can be used with infinitives in
active structures but not passives - for example like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, wish and verbs with similar
meanings.
She likes people to be happy.
(BUT NOT People arc liked to be happy by her.)
I prefer you to call me by my first name. (BUT NOT ^ourorc preferred to call...)
or general information about passive structures, see 407-414. ror object + to be + complement after verbs
of thinking and feeling (e.g. I considered Mm to
be an excellent choice), see 580. For ^niciures with take (e.g. The ferry took two hours to unload), see 551.
r ^tailed information about the structures that are possible with a particular verb, see a
good dictionary.
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285 infinitive complements (3): after adjectives
1 reactions and feelings
Infinitives are often used after adjectives which describe people's react" and feelings. lons
I'm pleased to see you. John was surprised to get Ann's letter
She's anxious to go home. We're happy to be here.
I was shocked to see how ill he was.
Most people are afraid to hear the truth about themselves. Not all adjectives of this kind are followed by
the infinitives of other verh some are followed by preposition + -ing form (see 294), or by that-clawp (see
12). Some adjectives (e.g. afraid, sure) can be followed by either an infinitive or an -ing form, often with a
difference of meaning: for details
For structures with/or (e.g. She's anxious for the children to go home), see 280.
2 other adjectives
Besides adjectives referring to reactions and feelings, many other common adjectives can be followed by
infinitives. Examples are right, wrong, stupid,
certain (see 296.15), welcome, careful, due, fit, able (see 3), likely (see 321), lucky.
We were right to start early. I was stupid to believe h im. She's certain to win. You're welcome to stay as