The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Reporting verb + TO-infinitive

VERB + TO-INFINITIVE

Examples of reporting verbs used with the to-infinitive:

agree, claim, decide, demand, hope, offer, prefer, promise, refuse, threaten

Jim: All right, I'll do it.

Jim

agreed

to do it.

Al-Qaida: We have captured two US marines.

Al-Qaida

claims

to have captured two US marines.

Customer: I don't think I'll buy this notebook after all.

The customer

decided

not to buy the notebook.

Judge: I want to see the documents.

The judge

demanded

to see the documents.

Susan: I hope I'll get to the airport in time.

Susan

was hoping

to get to the airport in time.

Ben: I can take you home if you want.

Ben

offered

to take me home.

Spokesman: Well, I would rather not say anything at this point.

The spokesman

preferred

not to say anything.

Jill: I will be on time, I promise.

Jill

promised

to be on time.

Sportsman: No, I won't answer any questions about my private life.

The sportsman

refused

to answer questions concerning his private life.

Young man on the bridge: Don't come any closer or I'll jump.

The disturbed young man

threatened

to jump off the bridge.

Related topics:

The forms of the infinitive

Verb + TO-infinitive