Appendix:English catenative verbs

Catenative verbs are verbs that can be followed directly by another verb — the second verb variously in the
to-infinitive, bare infinitive, or present participle / gerund form. Commonly the second verb (along with any
clause it might introduce) serves as the direct object of the first verb. For example, in He deserves to win the
cup, deserve is a catenative verb, followed directly by another verb, in this case in the to-infinitive form; and
"to win the cup" is the direct object of "deserves".

Most catenative verbs require that the verb following be in one or the other form only. A few can be followed
by either the infinitive or the gerund, but sometimes there is a difference in meaning (see list below).

The name catenative derives from these verbs' ability to form chains: We promised to agree to try practicing
playing tennis more often.

Catenatives have much in common with auxiliary verbs (such as shall, will, can, may), but unlike auxiliaries,
catenatives are "full-fledged" verbs, capable (in most cases) of being conjugated in all tenses (He deserved to
win the cup) and moods, and of being used non-catenatively (He deserves better).

Before adding to this list, it is important to distinguish between a real catenative verb, such as decide I decided
to work, and a normal verb followed by an infinitive of purpose (French: pour) or a descriptive gerund. A
good example of a false catenative that could easily be confused is leave, where I left to work means in reality
I left (home), followed by a purpose, to go to, or do, some work. A descriptive-gerund example: She left
crying is in reality a description meaning She left and at the same time she was crying.

Contents
Followed by a to-infinitive
In the passive voice followed by a to-infinitive
Followed by a gerund
Followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund
No difference in meaning
Difference in meaning
Followed by a bare infinitive
Followed by "and"

Followed by a to-infinitive
agree
afford
He agreed to work on Saturday.
At last I can afford to buy a new car.
 Note In (US) usage, agree is I will go when I choose to go, and not
intransitive only. Where to before.
immediately follows, it functions as a
preposition — not as the start of a to- condescend
infinitive — and not only in an
obvious example like He agreed to I don’t know if the Senator will condescend
their demands, but also in the to see us.
example above. Thus, in the US,
agree by itself might not technically consent
qualify as a true catenative.
He consented to pay for the dinner.
aim
dare
We aim to please all our clients.
Note This is also considered a semi-
appear modal auxiliary verb. Particularly in
the negative, the modal form is
I appear to have forgotten my glasses. preferred.

arrange I didn’t dare to climb the tree.

I didn’t dare climb the tree.
I think we can arrange to put you in a
double room. I daren’t climb the tree.

ask decide

He asked to leave early. We decided to buy the pink one in the end.

attempt deserve

This is the second time we have attempted You don’t deserve to be treated like that.
to climb the mountain.
elect
be able
He elected to stay in college the full four
Note This is considered an auxiliary years.
modal verb equivalent to can, but
sometimes it is used to differentiate expect
between general ability and a
particular situation. I expect to receive the payment any day
now.
Ask John. He will be able to help you.
fail
Normally I can do these problems, but I am
not able to solve this one.
I fail to understand your argument.
beg
happen
I beg to differ on that point.
If it happens to fall, just put it back up
again.
care

Would you care to choose another one, have

sir? Note have to is also considered an
auxiliary modal verb similar to must,
choose
 meaning obligation. promise

I have to go to work now. I promise to tell the truth.

help refuse

Note The to is optional. I refuse to take such silly advice.

I helped to pack her bags. scorn

I helped pack her bags.
She scorned to show weakness.
hesitate
seek
If you hesitate to make the reservation, you
could lose the discount. I seek to triumph over our enemies.

hope seem

I hope to see my aunt this week-end. You seem to be rather tired today.

long strive

I am longing to go to Paris. He strives to teach well.

move (meaning propose in a formal setting) struggle

I move to adjourn the meeting for lunch. The company will have to struggle to
survive the economic downturn.
need
swear
I need to eat my lunch.
I swear to tell the truth.
offer
tend
I offered to carry her suitcase for her.
It tends to snow here in winter.
plan
threaten
I plan to play football this week-end.
He threatened to call the police.
prepare
undertake
We are preparing to help our neighbors in
case the storm hits. He undertook to finish the job in less than
ten days.
pretend
wait
I know you are only pretending to be
asleep. I can’t wait to see her face when I tell her!

proceed want

He proceeded to apply the lotion as I want to play the guitar.

instructed.
 Note (UK) usage with gerund below. would like

wish I would like to drink some water.

I wish to complain to the manager.

In the passive voice followed by a to-infinitive

Note These verbs are not found in catenative form with a to-infinitive except in the
passive voice, as they place the object between the two verbs when used actively.

force
allow
Many employees have been forced to
You are allowed to wear jeans here. work unpaid overtime.

ask instruct

You are asked to go home and change if The babysitter was instructed to stay off
you wore jeans. the parents' phone.

call intend

Those who are rescued are called to help That valve is intended to help keep the
rescue others. machine from overheating.

command invite

The soldiers were commanded to perform Never had guests been invited to enjoy
the exercise again. such a sumptuous meal as this.

compel made

The bystander was compelled to carry The sheep were made to lie down and
Jesus' cross. drink.

destine move

My child, you are destined to achieve great At last he was moved to treat people more
things. compassionately.

encourage order

You are encouraged to leave if you wish to Users are ordered to refrain from adding
smoke. frivolous content.

entitle permit

A true hero is entitled to enjoy a hero's But you are permitted to smoke in here.
welcome.
request
forbid
You are requested to leave immediately.
You are forbidden to smoke in here.
require tell

You are required to leave now. We were told to call the police, not our
parents.
teach
tempt
The child had been taught to say "please"
and "thank you". I am tempted to keep adding examples all
night.

Followed by a gerund
I deny taking the money.
admit
detest
He admitted taking the money.
I detest working on Sundays.
advise
dislike
I advise leaving immediately.
I dislike working on Saturdays.
allow
encourage
We do not allow smoking here.
This museum encourages touching its
appreciate displays.

I would appreciate receiving more help enjoy

with this.
I enjoy watching snooker on the TV.
avoid
entail
Please avoid touching the goods on
display. The new job entails keeping meticulous
records.
can't help
escape
I can’t help liking the way he smiles.
He escaped being run over by about a
complete millisecond!

I have completed painting the kitchen. finish

consider When you finish painting the shed, let me

know.
Have you considered working at the
factory? forbid

delay They forbid smoking in the restaurant.

We had to delay travelling because of the imagine

weather.
Can you imagine winning the lottery?
deny
imply I can recommend washing your clothes
with this product.
This plan implies buying an expensive
piece of equipment. regret

involve Note This verb is found with to

infinitive in some set phrases. See
The second plan involves buying an even next section.
more expensive piece of equipment.
I regret telling him about the party now.
keep
require
I didn't get anything, so I kept trying my
best. Losing weight requires disciplining
oneself.
mind
resent
Would you mind closing the window,
please? I resent seeing him enjoying himself as if
nothing has happened.
miss
resist
I miss playing football with my friends.
How can you resist eating those lovely
need chocolates?

Note (US) usage. Means require or resume

want.
We will resume discussing this matter
That door needs painting. tomorrow.

permit risk

Do they permit smoking in here? We can’t risk working in the dark.

practise (universal, especially UK and see

Commonwealth), practice (US)
Note This verb usually is
I like to practise playing the piano every concatenative only with forms of can,
day. be able to, or other verbs of similar
meaning.
prohibit
I can see giving some reimbursement for
They prohibit smoking in the restaurant. expenses, but that's way too much!

quit stand

I wish I could quit smoking. Note This usage is most commonly

found in the form can’t stand, or in
recall questions.

I recall meeting you at the convention in I can’t stand walking in the rain.
New York.
suggest
recommend
 I suggest asking your teacher about it. That door wants painting.

tolerate give up

I won’t tolerate swearing in this office. Note Catenative phrasal verbs in

general are followed by the gerund.
want
I gave up smoking last year.
Note (UK) usage. Means require or
need.

Followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund

No difference in meaning
hate
bear
I hate to brush my teeth.
Note This verb is most commonly
I hate brushing my teeth.
found in the form can bear/can’t
bear.
intend
I can’t bear to hear him sing.
I intend to finish this.
I can’t bear hearing him sing.
I intend finishing this.
begin
like
It began to rain.
I like to eat pilaf.
It began raining.
I like eating pilaf.
bother
Note: See also section "Difference in
meaning", where the "to" infinitive
He didn't bother to ask for permission.
sometimes has a specific meaning.
He didn't bother asking for permission.
love
cease
I love to swim in the sea.
You must cease to waste so much time on I love swimming in the sea.
the computer.
You must cease wasting so much time on neglect
the computer.
I neglected to paint behind the cupboard.
continue I neglected painting behind the cupboard.
It continued to rain. prefer
It continued raining.
I prefer to work alone.
disdain I prefer working alone.
He disdained to speak with us. regret
He disdained speaking with us.
 Note This verb is normally followed
by the gerund, except in certain set
phrases with tell, say, and inform.
I regret inviting him to the party now.
I regret to tell you that the show has been
cancelled.
Difference in meaning
come
She came to realise that things were not as
they seemed. (She underwent a slow
realisation.)
She came dancing with me last night. (She
accompanied me in this activity.)
Note The second usage should not
to be confused with that in And when
you come...be sure to come dancing,
where dancing functions as a
descriptive gerund.
forget
I forgot to go to the shopping centre. (I
remember that it is something I meant to do
but didn’t do.)
I forget going to the shopping centre. (I
cannot remember the experience of going to
the store.)
Don't forget to lock the door when you go
out. (Compare remember below.)
go
They have gone to see a movie. (The
infinitive can be used for any verb that
follows go.)*
They have gone fishing. ( activities ending
in -ing.)
go on
After a long career, Ken went on to be a
manager. (He changed to a different, more
prestigious activity.)
Some goalkeepers go on playing until they
are 40. (They continue doing the same
activity.)
I regret to have to inform you that your
brother has had a serious accident.
start
I started to learn Spanish three years ago.
I started learning Spanish three years ago.
go round
go around
He went (a)round to see if she was OK.
(He went to one place.)*
He went (a)round saying terrible things
about her. (He went to lots of different places
[while] saying terrible things about her.)
get
Successful actors often get to go to film
premières free. (They have the privilege.)
Get going ! (Hurry up!)
like
I like to go to the dentist every 6 months. (I
have the custom. I do not necessarily enjoy
it.)
I like going to the cinema every week. (An
activity that I enjoy.)
mean
I meant to tell her yesterday, but I forgot.
(Intention. I intended to tell her.)
The promotion will mean moving to a new
area. (Signify, imply, entail, necessitate.)
need
I need to paint the house. (I need to do the
activity .)
The house needs painting. (The activity
needs to be done to the house.)
regret is covered in the "No difference" section,
where "regret" still means "sorry", but there are a
very few very specific set phrases which take the "to"
infinitive, "regret to inform" being one of them.
We regret to inform you that the next train
to Kew has been delayed. (We are giving
bad news.)
I regret taking the money. (I'm sorry for what
I did.)→
remember
I remembered to lock the door. (I did not
forget that I was supposed to lock the door,
and I locked it.)
I remember locking the door. (I know I did it
because I can mentally picture the
experience.)
Remember to lock the door when you go
try
out.
propose
I propose to open up a little shop. (I have
the intention of doing something)
I propose going to that nice little restaurant
by the beach. (I suggest, or make a
proposal, for a group activity.)
* In these cases, the to can be considered an ellipsis of in order to or an infinitive of purpose.
Followed by a bare infinitive
dare
Note This is considered a semi-
modal auxiliary verb. Particularly in
the negative, the modal form is
preferred.
He daren’t climb the tree.
He didn’t dare to climb the tree.
He didn’t dare climb the tree.
help
Note The to is optional.
I helped to pack her bags.
I helped pack her bags.
go / come
stop
Note Many sources state that this
has two meanings. But some
sources state that it is nothing more
than ellipsis of the first activity in
gerund form, as context will always
allow us to know what activity has
stopped, followed by an infinitive of
purpose.
I stopped driving.
I stopped to drink some coffee. (This could
be an elliptical form of I stopped driving.
followed by the purpose to drink some
coffee.)*
I tried to open the door, but it was locked. (I
attempted and failed in an activity.)
I tried opening the door. Then I tried
opening the window. (I made an attempt or
experiment. Neither success nor failure is
implied.)
Note This is most common in
American English. In other varieties,
and is generally inserted between
the two words.
Come and go are not used this
way except in their bare forms,
ie, not *He went/came sit with
her. or *He goes/comes sit
with her. or *He is
going/coming sit with her. or
*He had gone/come sit with
her.
Go clean your room.
Go and clean your room.
I can’t go watch that movie.
I can’t go and watch that movie.
Come sit with me.
Come and sit with me.
Followed by "and"
Expressions such as Go and clean your room and Try and do better are often analyzed as hendiadys, the
figure of speech in which one "substitutes conjunction for subordination".

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Appendix:English_catenative_verbs&oldid=61643703"

This page was last edited on 24 January 2021, at 12:07.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.