Grammar Practice in Context - David Bolton, Noel Goodey 1997
46 Verb + object + infinitive: He wants me to leave
Quick reference
We often use the construction verb + object (noun or pronoun) + infinitive with to when we say or do something to influence somebody else. We use it:
• with verbs like: advise, allow, ask, encourage, expect, force, get, help, invite, persuade, recommend, remind, teach, tell, warn, etc.
• with the verbs want, would like, would love, would hate, would prefer.
• Note the negative infinitive.
They asked him not to smoke. I’d prefer you not to say anything.
1 Manworth school is different from conventional schools. A teacher is telling a parent about it. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given.
Example: The students can call us by our first names. (allow)
We allow students to call us by our first names.
1 It isn’t necessary for students to attend all the lessons. (expect)
We ... attend all the lessons.
2 Students can choose what they want to do. (encourage) We ... choose what they want to do.
3 Students should have self-respect and respect for others. (teach)
We ... self-respect and respect for others.
4 Students don’t have to do homework. (force)
We ... do homework.
5 All students must help with the cooking and the cleaning. (ask)
We ... with the cooking and the cleaning.
2 Some people’s jobs are often difficult. Look at these situations and write two sentences each time. Say a) What does he/she want? and b) What does he/she say?
Example: A doctor’s examining a patient who is very tense.
He wants the patient to relax. 'I want you to relax.'
1 A mother’s talking to her child, Amy, who has only eaten a little of her lunch.
a) She ... Amy lunch.
b) ’I ... lunch.’
2 A teacher’s annoyed because the students in her class aren’t listening.
a) She ... the students ...
b) ’I ...’
3 A dentist’s talking to a very young patient who’s keeping her mouth closed.
a) He ... the patient ...
b) ’I ...’
4 A driving instructor’s annoyed because his student has just turned left instead of right.
a) He ... his student ...
b) ’I ...’
3 Jenny Kite is at college. She is training to be a teacher, but she also plays the drums. She wants to be a professional musician. She talked to her drum teacher, and now she is telling her boyfriend, Rick, what he said to her. Read the dialogue. Some of the lines are correct, and some have a word that should not be there. If a line is correct, put a tick (✓). If a line has a word that should not be there, write the word in the brackets.
1 Rick: What did he tell to you to do?
2 Jenny: He told me for to think about it for a while. He warned me not
3 to make any quick decisions.
4 Rick: What did he tell you to do about college?
5 Jenny: He advised that me not to give up my studies. He told me to get as
6 many qualifications as possible. He told me I to talk to my teachers
7 about it. He expected of my teachers to say the same thing. He
8 recommended me to keep music as a hobby.
(...)
(...)
(...) ...
4 An old man has stopped someone outside his house. Complete the dialogue, using want or would like, would prefer, would hate + object + infinitive.
’Excuse me. I (I like/you/help) ... me, please. I’ve lost my parrot.’
’Your parrot? What (2 you/want/me) ... do?’
’I (3 like/you/stand) ... here, while I go round to the back of the house to look for him there. And I (4 want/you/make) ... this noise: “Skreeeeeeee!”’
’I (5 hate/you/think) ... that I’m being unkind, but I (6 prefer/you/ask) ... someone else.’
’(7 you/prefer/go) ... round to the back of the house?’
’No, I wouldn’t. I haven’t got time. My husband (8 want/me/post) ... this letter before midday.’
’(9 you/like/me/show) ... you how to make the noise?’
’No, thank you. I’m in a hurry.’
’You see, I’m worried. He escaped from his cage about five minutes ago. I (10 want/someone/help) ... me find him.’
’Well, I’m sorry, but I can’t. And anyway, I don’t like parrots.’
’Oh dear. I (11 prefer/you/not say) ... that. If he hears you, he can be very aggressive. (12 you/want/me/show) ... you a photo of him?
In case you see him. ... Hey! Where are you going? Come back!’