3.14 Verb of perception as infinitive postmodifier

Rule: A few adjectives allow infinitive postmodifiers only if the infinitive is a verb of perception.

Examples of errors:

1. I was angry to go shopping on Saturday when everybody else wants to go.
2. They are not interested to play with their children
3. People are interested to go to these movies.
4. I'm very interested to meet new people.
5. Nobody is excited anymore to travel by air.

There are a number of adjectives expressing emotions or attitudes that allow infinitive postmodifiers (Type IV adjectives--cf. 3.13). Some of these, however, seem to allow them only if the infinitive verb is one of intellectual or sensory perception. Interested, angry, excited, and furious, for example, have this restriction, while happy and glad do not:

Alternatively, one can say:

I was angry/excited/furious/happy/glad about going downtown.

I was interested in going downtown.

Go, play, meet, and travel in (l)-(5) are not verbs of perception, so the sentences sound odd, but compare: