Overview

These patterns place an object (me, you, her, us, them, etc.) between a main verb and the next verb. Choice of to-infinitive vs -ing depends on the main verb and meaning.

Negation comes before the infinitive: He advised me not to go. Use object pronouns (me/him/her/us/them), not subject forms.

1) V + object + to-infinitive

Common verbs

advise, allow, ask, beg, cause, convince, enable, encourage, expect, force, get, help, intend, invite, mean, order, persuade, remind, require, teach, tell, urge, warn

• They encouraged me to take the course.
• I don’t expect you to understand immediately.
• She warned us not to swim there.

“Want/need/would …”

• I need you to sign here.
• We’d like you to be on time.
• I’d prefer you to email first.

advise / allow take object + to-infinitive; without the object use -ing: They allowed us to park → They don’t allow parking.

2) Same verbs with a that-clause

advise, persuade, remind, teach, tell, warn can also be followed by a that-clause.

• Our tutor advised us that we should start early.
• He reminded me that the deadline was Friday.
• The coach told them that effort beats talent.

Register choice: object + to-infinitive is often more concise; a that-clause is useful for longer content.

3) for someone + to-infinitive

After verbs of planning/arranging

arrange, ask, plan, wait + for + person + to-infinitive: We arranged for the technician to visit.

After adjectives

essential, important, nice, difficult, possible, common…: It’s essential for us to be ready.

After nouns

advantage, idea, mistake, disaster, request…: It was a mistake for you to lend him money.

With too / enough

The file was too large for me to upload. • It was warm enough for us to sit outside.

Infinitive of purpose

The aim is for the students to practise note-taking.

4) Bare infinitive after let/make/help

• She let me leave early.
• The manager made us rewrite the report.
• Can I help you fix the door? (help + to-infinitive is also possible.)

Passive: be made to do (We were made to wait). We don’t use a passive of let; use be allowed to instead.

Perception verbs

see, hear, notice, watch, feel + object + bare inf. for a complete action: I heard her sing the anthem.

Use object + -ing for an action in progress: I heard her singing in the shower.

5) V + object + -ing

Common with verbs of liking/disliking, prevention, continuation:

dislike, hate, imagine, involve, keep, mind, prevent, (not) like, remember, resent, risk, stop

• I don’t mind you opening the window.
• They kept us waiting for an hour.
• Nothing will prevent them from leaving.
• She resents him telling her what to do.

preposition + -ing: with prevent/stop/keep use from + -ing.

Usage notes & pitfalls

• Object is required after many verbs: ✗ They allowed to leave → ✓ They allowed us to leave.
• Word order with negation: advise/tell/ask + object + not to + V.
• Passive options: be expected/allowed/required to do; be made to do.
• Meaning difference: remember/forget + to-inf. = do a duty later; + -ing = recall a past event. (e.g., Remember to lock vs Remember locking.)
• Get + object + to-infinitive = “persuade/arrange”: How did you get him to agree?

Quick verb lists

Some verbs can use either pattern with a change in meaning (e.g., try to do = attempt; try doing = experiment).