Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Many English verbs require a 'to' before the following verb to express purpose, desire, or necessity.
- Use 'to' + base verb after verbs like want, need, and hope. Example: 'I want to eat.'
- For negatives, put 'not' before 'to'. Example: 'I decided not to go.'
- Never use '-ing' after these specific verbs. Example: 'I hope to see you' (NOT 'I hope seeing you').
Overview
to + 動詞の原形（不定詞）を伴うというルールは、日本語には存在しない概念です。日本語では「～したい」「～するつもりだ」のように、動詞の活用や助動詞で表現しますが、英語では「動詞のペアリング」という考え方が重要になります。なぜこの文法が重要かというと、これらをマスターすることで、自分の意図や計画、義務をより正確に、そしてネイティブに近い自然さで表現できるようになるからです。例えば、I want to go（行きたい）という表現は、want という動詞が to go という「未来に向かうアクション」を導くというルールに基づいています。この「未来志向」という感覚は、英語の不定詞を理解する鍵となります。日本語の「～たい」という願望表現と英語の want to は一見似ていますが、英語では動詞が二つ連なるような構造をとるため、語順や形を厳密に守る必要があります。この感覚を身につけることは、B1レベルから中上級へステップアップするための決定的な一歩です。to + 動詞の原形）が続く動詞は、その多くが「未来の出来事」「意図」「計画」「まだ実現していないこと」を指しています。日本語の文法で言えば、動詞の「連用形」や「テ形」に補助動詞を繋げる感覚に近いですが、英語では to が「これから向かう先」という方向性を示すマーカーとして機能します。例えば decide to study（勉強することに決める）という文では、decide（決定する）という行為が先にあり、to study（勉強する）という未来のアクションがその決定の対象になっています。日本語では「勉強することを決めた」のように「こと」という名詞化が必要ですが、英語では to がその役割を担っていると考えると分かりやすいでしょう。また、この to は前置詞の to とは異なり、動詞の一部として機能します。したがって、後ろに来る動詞は必ず「原形」でなければなりません。He wants to goes と言いたくなる気持ちは分かりますが、wants で既に三単現の s が処理されているため、後ろの動詞は変化させないというルールを徹底しましょう。これは日本語の「～したい」が「した」という過去形になっても「～したい」の形が変わらないのと同じ論理です。Subject + Verb (conjugated) + to + Base Form of Verb です。この構造をしっかり頭に入れましょう。I want to learn English. |She wants to learn English. |We planned to learn English. |to の後ろの動詞は、主語が he や she であっても、時制が過去であっても、絶対に s や ed をつけないことです。これは非常に重要なルールです。- 1願望や希望:
want,hope,wishなど。「～したい」という気持ちを伝える際に使います。例えば、就活の面接でI hope to contribute to your company.（貴社に貢献したいです）のように使います。 - 2決定や計画:
decide,plan,promiseなど。「～することに決めた」「～する予定だ」という未来の行動計画を伝えます。I decided to quit my job.（仕事を辞めることにした）のように、人生の重要な決断もこの形で表現します。 - 3必要性:
need。「～する必要がある」。I need to finish this report by 5 PM.（5時までにこのレポートを終わらせる必要がある）と、仕事の締め切りを伝える際にも頻繁に使われます。 - 4試みや努力:
try,manage,learn。「～しようとする」「～できるようになる」。I managed to catch the train.（なんとか電車に間に合った）のように、困難な状況を乗り越えた時にも使います。
- 1動名詞と不定詞の混同:
I want going to the park.と言ってしまうミスです。これは日本語の「行くこと」をgoingと直訳してしまうためです。wantは不定詞しかとらない動詞であるというセットで覚える必要があります。 - 2
toの後の動詞を変化させる:He wants to studies.というミス。日本語では「勉強する」が「勉強します」と変化するため、英語でも後ろの動詞を変化させたくなる心理が働きますが、toの後ろは必ず「辞書に載っている形（原形）」というルールを徹底しましょう。 - 3不要な目的語の挿入:
I want to you go.というミス。wantはwant + 人 + to doの形をとることはできますが、want + to doの場合は間に人を入れることはできません。日本語の「あなたに行ってもらいたい」という発想が、不自然な語順を生んでしまう例です。
want, decide, plan | enjoy, finish, mind | － |I want to eat. | I enjoy eating. | 私は食べたい / 食べることを楽しむ |want と would like はどう違いますか？would like の方が丁寧です。ビジネスの場や目上の人には I would like to... を使いましょう。to をつけるのですか？can や must などの助動詞の後は to をつけず動詞の原形のみを使います。この区別が英語学習の大きな壁です。try は to も -ing もとるのですか？try to は「努力する」、try -ing は「試しにやってみる」という明確な意味の違いがあるからです。文脈に応じて使い分けましょう。Conjugating the Main Verb (Infinitive stays the same)
| Subject | Main Verb (Tense) | Infinitive Bridge | Base Verb | Full Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
want (Present)
|
to
|
travel
|
I want to travel.
|
|
He
|
wants (Present)
|
to
|
travel
|
He wants to travel.
|
|
They
|
wanted (Past)
|
to
|
travel
|
They wanted to travel.
|
|
She
|
is planning (Continuous)
|
to
|
travel
|
She is planning to travel.
|
|
We
|
will need (Future)
|
to
|
travel
|
We will need to travel.
|
|
You
|
should try (Modal)
|
to
|
travel
|
You should try to travel.
|
Informal Spoken Reductions
| Full Form | Spoken Reduction | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
|
want to
|
wanna
|
I wanna go.
|
Never use in formal writing.
|
|
going to
|
gonna
|
I'm gonna win.
|
Used for future intentions.
|
|
got to
|
gotta
|
I gotta leave.
|
Means 'have to' or 'must'.
|
Meanings
A grammatical structure where a primary verb is followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to indicate the objective or intent of the subject.
Expressing Desire
Using verbs like 'want', 'wish', or 'would like' to show what someone hopes will happen.
“I want to travel to Japan next year.”
“They would like to order some pizza.”
Expressing Necessity
Using verbs like 'need' or 'have' to show an obligation or requirement.
“We need to buy more milk.”
“You have to wear a seatbelt.”
Expressing Plans and Decisions
Using verbs like 'decide', 'plan', 'hope', or 'agree' to talk about future intentions.
“She decided to quit her job.”
“We are planning to move to London.”
Attempts and Failures
Using verbs like 'try', 'attempt', 'fail', or 'manage' to describe the effort put into an action.
“He tried to open the window.”
“I managed to finish the report on time.”
Reference Table
| よく使う動詞 | 意味 | 不定詞との例 | ちょっとしたヒント |
|---|---|---|---|
|
want
|
希望／願望
|
I want to learn Spanish.
|
あなたの基本的な願望の動詞！
|
|
need
|
必要／要求
|
You need to register for classes.
|
これは絶対に「すべきこと」！
|
|
plan
|
意図／手配
|
We plan to visit Europe next year.
|
未来のことを考えているんだね。
|
|
decide
|
選択する
|
She decided to get a new haircut.
|
行動を選んでいるよ。
|
|
hope
|
良いことを願う
|
He hopes to find a good job.
|
未来に期待している気持ち。
|
|
agree
|
意見が一致する
|
They agreed to share the costs.
|
お互いに決めたこと。
|
|
learn
|
スキル／知識を習得する
|
I want to learn to play guitar.
|
新しい能力を身につけること。
|
|
promise
|
保証する
|
I promise to help you tomorrow.
|
約束をすることだよ。
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
I wish to depart now. (Leaving a location)
I want to leave. (Leaving a location)
I wanna go. (Leaving a location)
I'm outtie. (Leaving a location)
不定詞が続く動詞：意図を表現する
願望・希望
- want リラックスしたい。
- hope 成功したいと願っている。
- wish 話したいと願う。
計画・意図
- plan 旅行を計画している。
- decide 勉強することに決めた。
- intend 滞在するつもりだ。
必要性・義務
- need 終わらせる必要がある。
- agree 会うことに同意した。
- promise 助けると約束する。
能力・努力
- learn 運転を習った。
- manage なんとか逃げた。
- afford 買う余裕がない。
不定詞 vs 動名詞（早見表）
不定詞（to + 動詞）の選び方
最初の動詞は願望、計画、または未来の意図を表していますか？
する必要があること、またはすることに決めたことについて話していますか？
その行動は、あなたが学んでいるスキル、または成し遂げたことですか？
不定詞動詞のグループ
願望と未来
- • want to
- • hope to
- • wish to
- • expect to
- • aim to
計画と決定
- • plan to
- • decide to
- • intend to
- • agree to
- • refuse to
必要性と努力
- • need to
- • manage to
- • learn to
- • afford to
- • fail to
約束と申し出
- • promise to
- • offer to
- • threaten to
- • volunteer to
レベル別の例文
I want to eat.
I want to eat.
I need to sleep.
I need to sleep.
Do you want to play?
Do you want to play?
She needs to go home.
She needs to go home.
I hope to see you soon.
I hope to see you soon.
We decided to stay here.
We decided to stay here.
He promised to call me.
He promised to call me.
They plan to buy a car.
They plan to buy a car.
I managed to finish the work.
I managed to finish the work.
She refused to answer the phone.
She refused to answer the phone.
We agreed not to talk about it.
We agreed not to talk about it.
I am learning to drive a car.
I am learning to drive a car.
He seems to be enjoying the party.
He seems to be enjoying the party.
I didn't expect to be invited.
I didn't expect to be invited.
She appears to have lost her keys.
She appears to have lost her keys.
They hesitated to ask for help.
They hesitated to ask for help.
I would hate for you to miss out.
I would hate for you to miss out.
He neglected to mention the cost.
He neglected to mention the cost.
We endeavored to reach an agreement.
We endeavored to reach an agreement.
To simply ignore the problem is unwise.
To simply ignore the problem is unwise.
She was to have been the keynote speaker.
She was to have been the keynote speaker.
I happened to overhear their conversation.
I happened to overhear their conversation.
The bridge is yet to be completed.
The bridge is yet to be completed.
He was so lucky as to win the lottery.
He was so lucky as to win the lottery.
間違えやすい
Learners often put 'to' after all verbs, including modals like 'can', 'must', and 'should'.
Some verbs like 'enjoy' or 'finish' look like they should take 'to' but they take '-ing'.
The verb 'try' can take both, but the meaning changes.
よくある間違い
I want go.
I want to go.
I need eating.
I need to eat.
He wants to goes.
He wants to go.
I must to go.
I must go.
I hope seeing you.
I hope to see you.
She decided to not go.
She decided not to go.
We plan to buying a house.
We plan to buy a house.
I managed finishing.
I managed to finish.
He refused to telling me.
He refused to tell me.
I would like for to go.
I would like to go.
I hesitated to not asking.
I hesitated not to ask.
文型パターン
I want to ___ because ___.
She decided not to ___ after ___.
Do you need to ___ before you ___?
I managed to ___ despite ___.
Real World Usage
I would like to order the steak, please.
I hope to contribute to your team's success.
Wanna grab a drink later?
I need to check my bags.
I need to see the doctor about my back.
I decided to start a new hobby today!
「未来の行動」を考えてみよう
「to」を忘れないで！
聞いて、真似してみよう
「Would Like」で丁寧に
Smart Tips
Ask yourself: Has the action happened yet? If it's a plan or a wish, use 'to'.
Don't use 'that'. Use the pattern: Want + Person + To + Verb.
Replace 'want to' with 'would like to' or 'wish to' for a more professional tone.
In conversation, we often drop the verb after 'to' if it's already understood.
発音
The Reduction of 'To'
In natural speech, 'to' is rarely pronounced as /tuː/. It is usually reduced to a schwa /tə/.
Wanna
When 'want' and 'to' are together, they often blend into one word in American English.
Stress on the main verb
I WANT to go. (Emphasis on desire)
Conveys strong feeling about the action.
暗記しよう
記憶術
W.N.H.D.P: We Never Have Dirty Plates (Want, Need, Hope, Decide, Promise).
視覚的連想
Imagine a physical bridge labeled 'TO' connecting two islands. Island 1 is 'WANT' and Island 2 is 'EAT'. You cannot cross without the 'TO' bridge.
Rhyme
If you want to play or need to stay, don't forget the 'to' today!
Story
I wanted to go to the park. I needed to find my shoes. I promised to be back by five. I managed to arrive on time.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write 5 things you plan to do this weekend using 'I plan to...', 'I want to...', and 'I need to...'.
文化メモ
Using 'I want to' can sometimes sound too direct or demanding. In shops or restaurants, 'I would like to' is preferred for politeness.
The use of 'wanna' is extremely common in pop music and movies, which can make learners think it is acceptable in all situations. It is not.
British speakers might use 'I fancy' + -ing instead of 'I want to' in very casual settings.
In Old English, the infinitive was a single word with a suffix (e.g., 'drincan' for 'to drink'). The word 'to' was originally a preposition indicating direction.
会話のきっかけ
What do you want to do after you finish your English course?
What is something you've always wanted to learn to do?
If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose to go?
Have you ever refused to do something your boss asked?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
My sister hopes ___ a scholarship for university.
to get）が続きます。Find and fix the mistake:
We need buying milk from the store.
buying）ではなく不定詞（to buy）が続きます。Choose the correct sentence:
to call）が続きます。Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercisesI want ___ a new car.
She needs ___ finish her homework.
Find and fix the mistake:
We decided not going to the party.
I plan on visiting London. (plan)
He managed to opening the door.
A: Are you coming? B: No, I promised ___ my mom.
Group: Hope, Decide, Enjoy, Plan
1. I want... 2. I enjoy...
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesI want ___ that new video game everyone is talking about.
They decided moving to a bigger apartment.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella espera aprender un nuevo idioma.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the verbs with their appropriate infinitive completions:
Did you manage ___ your flight details?
She offered helping me with my homework.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'No puedo permitirme comprar ese coche.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
We need ___ our meeting until next week.
Score: /12
よくある質問 (8)
No, in English we say `I want you to go`. We don't use 'that' after 'want'.
Only if it's a very casual email to a close friend. In business or formal writing, always use `want to`.
They are very similar. `Need to` often implies a personal necessity, while `have to` often implies an outside rule or obligation.
It's often historical. However, 'to' usually refers to future or hypothetical actions, while '-ing' refers to real or completed activities.
Yes! This is called a 'split infinitive' (e.g., `to quickly run`). It's common and accepted in modern English.
No. Modal verbs like `can`, `could`, `should`, `must`, and `might` are followed by the base verb without 'to'.
Put 'not' before 'to'. For example: `I decided not to eat meat`.
No. `I'm going to` is for future plans that are already decided. `I want to` just expresses a desire.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Quiero comer
Spanish does not use a connector like 'to' between these verbs.
Je veux manger / J'ai besoin de manger
French uses different prepositions depending on the specific verb.
Ich will essen / Ich versuche zu essen
In German, the 'zu + verb' usually goes at the very end of the sentence.
Tabetai (want to eat)
Japanese uses suffixes rather than separate connecting words.
Urīdu an akula
The verb following 'an' is still conjugated for the person.
Wǒ xiǎng chī
There is no grammatical marker like 'to' in Chinese.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Continue With
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