After some verbs, the next verb takes to + base verb (the infinitive): I want to travel. We decided to stay. She managed to finish. These verbs often point forward: to a plan, a hope or a goal. Common ones: want, decide, hope, plan, agree, refuse, promise, manage, afford, learn, need, offer.
We decided to stay at home.
The infinitive points forward: first you decide, then you stay.
| Wanting and hoping | want, would like, hope, wish, expect: I hope to see you soon. |
|---|---|
| Deciding and planning | decide, plan, intend, arrange, choose: They plan to move. |
| Agreeing and refusing | agree, refuse, promise, offer, threaten: He refused to pay. |
| Succeeding and failing | manage, fail, afford: We managed to get tickets. |
| Others | learn, need, seem, tend, pretend, deserve: She seems to be busy. |
Some verbs take a person before to: I want you to come. She asked me to help. Not I want that you come.
I've decided to learn Spanish.
First the decision, then the action.
I hope to see you soon.
Something you'd like to happen later.
She offered to help me.
Offer, promise, agree and refuse are about something to do next.
We finally managed to find a parking space.
Manage means you succeeded, even though it was difficult.
Common expressions worth learning as they are.
We can't afford _____ a new car.
Which verbs take -ing, which take to, and which change meaning.
Paste an email or an essay. Clarigram marks the mistakes you actually make, shows the rule behind each one as a picture, and builds your practice from them.
Would like is a wish for now or the future, so it points forward: I'd like to go. Like on its own is about enjoying an activity in general: I like going. (Like to is also common, especially in American English.)
That's purpose: why you did something. In order to means the same and is a little more formal: I came here in order to learn.