Many English verbs are

followed by object +

infinitive, rather than by

a that-clause.

Example: They invited me to go to the party.

Verb Object Infinitive Compl

•Examples are: advise, allow,

ask, beg, cause, command,

encourage, expect, forbid,

force, get, hate, help,

instruct, intend, invite,

leave, like, love, mean,

need, obligate, order,

permit, prefer, recommend,

remind, request, teach, tell,

• I don’t want him to go. (NOT I don’t want

that he goes.)

• We don’t allow people to smoke in the

kitchen.

• I asked him to pay for the meal.

• I advised him to stop smoking.

• He taught us to forgive.

• I requested him to help me.

• We expect them to turn up in time.

• My parents always encouraged me to

explore newer horizons.

Some verbs are followed by object + infinitive without to. Examples are: let, make, see, hear, feel, watch, notice, have etc.

•Why don’t you let me

go? (NOT Why don’t you let

me to go?)

•I heard her sing a lovely

song. (NOT I heard her to

sing a lovely song.)

EXERCISE 1: READ THE FIRST SENTENCE, AND CHOOSE THE MOST SUITABLE VERB TO COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE.

• 1. "Ellie, would you like to come to my party?"

Ellie's friend invited / instructed / obliged her

to go to the party.

• 2. "Mum, will you let me go to the party?" Ellie

encouraged / begged / asked her mum to let

her go to the party.

• 3. "Please, please, please mum, PLEASE let me

go to the party!" She forced / begged /

persuaded her mother to let her go to the

party.

• 4."Ellie, you are absolutely NOT allowed to go

to the party." Ellie's mum forbade / forced /

allowed her to go to the party.

• 5. "Now go upstairs and do your homework."

Ellie's mum advised / trained / ordered her to

go upstairs and do her homework.

• 6. "And don't forget to tidy your room" Ellie's

mum reminded / begged / instructed her to

tidy her room.

• 7. "Don't forget to clean under the bed, or

there will be trouble!" Ellie's mum advised /

warned / encouraged her not to forget to clean

under the bed.

Reporting verbs used with an object and the to-infinitive

askadviseallowbegcommand

encourageforbidinstructinviteorder

permitpersuadepreferrecommendremind

requesttellurgewarnwant

1.Customs officer: Please empty your pockets, madam.

* The officer asked the woman to empty her pockets.

2.Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.

* Carlos …………me …………….a specialist.

3.Professor: You mustn't use a dictionary in the test.

* The professor did not ……… us …….. a dictionary in

the test.

4.Chris: Please tell me what really happened.

Chris ………… her …………….. him what had happened.

5.Sergeant: Fire!

The sergeant …………… the soldiers ………………….

6.Uncle Joe: Have you ever thought of learning french?

I guess you'd love it!!!

* My uncle Joe ………………….. me …………… french.

7.Mother to Luke: You must not talk to Ely again.

* Luke's mother …………… him ………… to Ely again.

8. Doctor to patient: You must exercise at least 30

minutes a day.

* The doctor ……………. the patient …………….. at least

30 minutes a day.

9. I: Why don't you come in for a coffee?

I …………..him …………………. inside and have a cup

of coffee.

10.Police to photographers at an accident scene: No

pictures!

The police …………. the photographers not ……………..

any pictures of the accident scene.

11. David: Don't forget to buy some milk.

* David …………… me ………… some milk.

12.Teacher to pupils: Open your books to page 10.

* The teacher ………… the pupils …………. their

books to page 10.

13.Mother to child: Don't tease that dog! It will bite

you!

* The mother ………… her child not …………. the

dog.

14.Green activists: The nuclear plant must be shut

down immediately.

* Green activists ……….. the government

……………. down the nuclear plant.

15.Boss to secretary: Will you rewrite this letter,

please? There are far too many mistakes in it.

* The boss ……….. her secretary …………. the

letter.