Notice in the examples below that the verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a noun plus an infinitive. When a noun is added, it usually changes who or what is performing the action. To understand this better, look at the first verb "ask" and its examples. In the first sentence, she is asking if she herself can leave. In the second sentence, she is requesting that a man leave. Study the examples below and consider how the optional noun changes the meaning.
| ask | She asked to leave. | She asked him to leave. |
| choose | I chose to help out. | I chose him to help out. |
| expect | They expect to arrive early. | The expect him to arrive early. |
| need [13] | I need to clean the house. | I need her to clean the house. |
| prepare | They prepared to take the test. | They prepared her to take the test. |
| promise | She promised to stop smoking | She promised him to stop smoking. |
| threaten | He threatened to leave forever. | He threatened her to leave forever. |
| want | I want to study Spanish. | I want my son to study Spanish. |
| wish | I wish to stay. | I wish him to stay. rare form |
| would like | We would like to start now. | We would like him to start now. |