Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring

Using verb patterns to represent likes and dislikes page 8 of 12

Verb followed by an object and the to-infinitive

The verbs in this category can be followed by an object (especially a personal pronoun) and the to-infinitive, which represents the activity or situation which is preferred, loved, not able to be borne, etc:

I resented my mother so much I couldn't bear her to touch me.
(Bank of English)

Here is a list of verbs which can be followed by an object and the to-infinitive:

not bear  eg.gif (928 bytes) like  eg.gif (928 bytes)
desire  note.gif (933 bytes) love
hate prefer

Note that no passive version is possible, for example it is not possible to say:

Her coming to visit is liked by me.

For further information about the use of passive voice with attitude verbs, see 04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using passive voice: Passive voice with attitude verbs.

For information about one of the problems that students have with the use of passive voice with attitude verbs, see 06studpr.gif (552 bytes) Using passive voice: Students' problems (p 5).

04conten.gif (549 bytes) Introduction
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Participants associated with attitude verbs
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Grammatical patterns associated with the phenomenon
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Verb followed by a noun form
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Verb followed by the -ing group
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Verb followed by the to-infinitive
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Verb followed by an object and the -ing form
square.gif (58 bytes) Verb followed by an object and the to-infinitive
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Verb followed by a that clause
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Ellipsis with attitude verbs
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Present simple v present continuous tense
04conten.gif (549 bytes) A note on the order of participants