Verb + object + to + infinitive

Verb, object, to + infinitive

We use this structure to report requests, advice, encouragement and warning.

In today's challenge, Ehsan from Iran hears clips from a children's party and tells us what advice his parents gave him when he left Tehran...

Listen to the programme!

Verb, object, to + infinitive

Certain verbs may be followed by an object and then by an infinitive with to – I told you to do it. The negative infinitive is formed with not – I told you not to do it.

subject	verb	object	(not) to + infinitive
Marco's mother	ordered	him	to get into	the car.
Elena	told	the children	not to touch	the glasses.

The following verbs take this pattern:
advise allow ask beg command encourage	forbid force instruct invite oblige order	permit persuade remind tell want warn

In this exercise you will practise verbs which are followed by an object + to + infinitive structure. 

Verb + object + to + infinitive
After some verbs we use the object, followed byto + infinitive. Verbs which can be followed by this form include: advise, ask, allow, expect, encourage, force, help, invite, order, persuade, teach, tell.	They helped their neighbour to repair his car.
	She asked me to give her some advice.
	I told my assistant to send the letter. I advised my friend not to sell his house.

Instructions: The following sentences all have a verb + object + to + infinitive structure. Complete each sentence by putting the words in brackets into the correct form. 

VERB + OBJECT + TO-INFINITIVE OR GERUND.

1) Verb + object + to-infinitive

After the following verbs, we normally use the object before a to-infinitive. These verbs include force, persuade, ask, convince, get, expect, invite, teach, want, suggest, order, tell, assign, remind…

Example:

- They force him to go away.

- I expect you to come to my party.

- She suggests me to learn English.

2) Verb + object + ing-form

Some verbs must have an object before an ing-form. Other verbs like this include catch, discover, feel, hear, leave, notice, observe, see, spot, watch, find, overhear…

Example:

- The police found the man climbing the wall.

- She overheard them talking about the closure of the factory.

NOTE: However, this is not the case when these verbs are in the passive.

Example: The man was found climbing the wall.

3) Verb + (object) + ing-form

Some verbs can have an object or no object before an ing-form. Other verbs like this include detest, dislike, dread, envisage, hate, imagine, like, love, mind (in questions and negatives), miss, recall, regret, resent, risk, start, stop, stand, remember…

Example:

- They can’t stand (him) driving his old car.

- I remember (you) buying that jumper.

4) Verb + object + ing-form/bare infinitive

A few verbs such as feel, hear, notice, observe, overhear, see, and watch can be followed either by an ing-form or a bare infinitive, but the meaning may be slightly different.

COMPARE:

ç Verb + object + ing-form: We use verb + object + ing-form to suggest that the action is repeated or happens over a period of time.

Example: Did you hear those dogs barking most of the night?

ç Verb + object + bare infinitive: We use verb + object + bare infinitive to suggest that the action happens only once.

Example: I noticed him throw a sweet wrapper on the floor, so I asked him to pick it up.

ç Verb + object + ing-form: We use verb + object + ing-form to suggest that we watch, hear, etc. some of the action, but not from start to finish.

Example: I was able to watch them building the new car park from my office window.

ç Verb + object + bare infinitive: We use verb + object + bare infinitive to suggest that we watch, hear, etc. the whole action from its start to its finish.

Example: I watched him climb through the window, and then I called the police.