The to infinitive and -ing 18

B Grammar
When one verb follows another, the second verb is always either an -ing form or an infinitive, with or without to.
The form of the second verb depends on the first verb.
All the verbs in this unit marked * can also normally be followed by a that clause with the same meaning
(➢ see B7).

1 Verb + to infinitive
(can/can’t) afford *agree aim appear *arrange attempt choose
*decide *demand deserve fail *hope learn manage neglect
offer omit plan prepare *pretend refuse seem tend
threaten (can’t) wait wish

If you decide to add nuts …

I hope to see you later.
Notice how the negative is formed:
If you decide not to ice it …
The following verbs + to infinitive always have an object before the to infinitive:
*advise allow encourage forbid force invite order permit
*persuade *remind *teach *tell *warn

Her father taught her to play tennis.

The teacher reminded the children to bring their swimming things.
The school allows students to wear jeans.
Advise, allow, encourage, forbid and permit can also be followed by -ing when there is no object:
I advise you to add nuts. or I advise adding nuts.
The following verbs + to infinitive sometimes have an object:
ask beg *expect help *intend *promise want

We expected to be late. or We expected Tom to be late.

We wanted to stay longer. or We wanted them to stay longer.
! Would like, would love, would prefer, etc. are also followed by the to infinitive (➢ see B4).

2 Verb + infinitive without to

Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, needn’t, shall, should, will, would), had better and would rather are
followed by the infinitive without to (➢ see also Units 11, 13 and 14):
You should add the eggs slowly.
You needn’t include nuts.
Help can be followed by the infinitive with or without to:
We helped them (to) start their car.
Make and let (always with an object) are followed by the infinitive without to:
Let the cake cool for half an hour.
I made my sister help with the cooking. (= I forced or obliged her to help)

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18 The to infinitive and -ing

3 Verb + -ing
*admit avoid can’t face can’t help can’t stand carry on *consider delay *deny detest
dislike enjoy fancy feel like finish give up *imagine involve keep (on) *mention
(not) mind miss postpone practise put off *recommend risk resist *suggest

I enjoy making it.

Avoid adding the eggs all at the same time.
Keep beating the eggs.
I suggest adding a little lemon juice.
Notice how the negative is formed:
If you don’t leave immediately, you risk not catching your plane.
Can you imagine not having a car nowadays?

4 Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with no difference in meaning)

begin can’t bear continue hate dislike like love prefer *propose start

Continue adding the flour. or Continue to add the flour.

I prefer using apricots. or I prefer to use apricots.
I love making cakes. or I love to make cakes.
Two -ing forms do not usually follow each other:
I was starting to make a cake when the phone rang. (not I was starting making)
! Like, prefer, hate and love can be followed by the to infinitive or -ing, but would like, would prefer, would hate
and would love are always followed by the to infinitive:
She would like to go out but we would prefer to stay in.
! Like + to infinitive has a slightly different meaning from like + -ing:
I like to catch the early bus on Mondays. (= this is a good thing to do or it’s a habit, but not necessarily
something I enjoy)
I like dancing. (= I enjoy it)

5 Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with a difference in meaning)

The following verbs have two different meanings depending on the verb form that follows:
*remember *forget *regret try stop mean go on

Verb + to infinitive Verb + -ing

Remember to check whether the cake is ready. I remember checking that I had my keys when I
(= remember an action you need to do) left the house. (= have a memory of a past action)
Don’t forget to add the baking powder. I’ll never forget going to school on my own for the
(= fail to remember something you need to first time. (= lose the memory of something you
do) did)
I regret to inform you that your application We regret sending our daughter to that school.
was unsuccessful. (= I am sorry to tell you …) (= we wish we hadn’t)
She stopped to have a rest. Stop beating when the mixture is pale and fluffy.
(= in order to have a rest) (= finish doing it)

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They don’t mean to upset you. If you go by train, that means taking a taxi to the
(= they don’t intend to) station. (= it involves)
He went on to tell us how to make a different They went on cycling until they reached the farm.
cake. (= the next thing he did was to tell us …) (= they continued)
Try to ice the cake quickly. (= attempt to do it Try adding nuts as it will improve the flavour.
quickly if you can) (= do it as an experiment)

6 Verb + -ing or infinitive without to (with a difference in meaning)

The following verbs connected with the senses may be followed by an object and either -ing or the infinitive
without to:
feel hear notice see watch

Notice the difference in meaning between verb + -ing and verb + infinitive without to:
I watched the boys playing football. (= an activity continuing over a period of time)
I watched the boy kick the football into the road. (= a short completed action)
She heard her mother singing as she came downstairs. (= a continuing action)
She heard the doorbell ring. (= a short completed action)

7 Verb + that clause

All the verbs marked * in this unit can also be followed by a that clause with the same meaning:
She admitted taking the money. = She admitted (that) she had taken the money.
Imagine sitting on a tropical beach with a cool drink. = Imagine (that) you’re sitting on a tropical beach …
I suggest adding some lemon juice. = I suggest (that) you add some lemon juice.
I recommend using sultanas and apricots. = I recommend (that) you use sultanas and apricots.
They agreed to leave early. = They agreed (that) they would leave early.

8 Adjective + to infinitive
Many adjectives can be followed by the to infinitive. These are some common ones:
afraid cheap *dangerous delighted *difficult *easy
expensive happy *hard impossible interesting *nice
pleased possible safe sorry surprised

I’m surprised to see you here.

The book was hard to understand and at times I found it almost impossible to read.
The adjectives marked * can sometimes also be followed by -ing with the same meaning:
It’s nice meeting friends after school. or It’s nice to meet friends after school.
➢ See also Unit 21, B1 for adjectives followed by a preposition + -ing or a noun.

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C Grammar exercises
1 Complete this conversation using the verbs in brackets.

Andy: I’ve decided (1) to leave (leave) my job next month.

Sally: But I thought you enjoyed (2) (work) in an architect’s office.
Andy: Oh, I do. But I feel like (3) (do) something different for a while.
Sally: Didn’t you promise (4) (stay) there at least two years?
Andy: Yes, I did but I just can’t stand (5) (work) with those people. One of them refuses
(6) (stop) talking while she works, another one keeps (7) (sing)
to himself. And then there’s a man who attempts (8) (tell) awful jokes all the time,
which he always gets wrong. I detest (9) (work) with all that noise around me.
Sally: It sounds quite a cheerful place to me. Can’t you manage (10) (ignore) them and
get on with your work?
Andy: No, I can’t. I just can’t carry on (11) (go) there every day. I’m hoping
(12) (go) abroad for a bit.
Sally: Well, good luck.

2 Choose the correct form of the verb.

1 I noticed the man drop / dropping / to drop his ticket so I picked it up for him.
2 The tour guide advised the tourists not take / taking / to take too much money out of the hotel with them.
3 I heard the horses come / coming / to come down the lane so I waited for them to pass before driving on.
4 The old man said he would love have / having / to have the chance to fly in an aeroplane again.
5 Don’t make the children come / coming / to come with us to the shops if they don’t want to.
6 I saw the boy jump / jumping / to jump into the lake before anyone could stop him.
7 I recommend phone / phoning / to phone the restaurant before you set off.
8 We were so pleased hear / hearing / to hear that Josh can come to the wedding after all.
9 The school only allows students eat / eating / to eat in the dining room.
10 It was my drama teacher who encouraged me become / becoming / to become an actor.

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3 Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs in the box.

book buy chat finish get go inform leave lend make send throw watch wear write

1 If I go to my friend’s wedding it will mean buying a new dress.

2 Please try to the airport in good time – I’ll be nervous if I don’t see you when I come
into the arrivals hall.
3 Will you stop that noise? I’m trying this book before I go to bed.
4 I forgot a table at the restaurant and it was full when we got there, so we had to wait
for ages.
5 The children went on their ball against the wall, although they had been told several
times to stop.
6 We regret you that the course you applied for is now full.
7 Tommy says he doesn’t know where my jacket is, but I clearly remember it to him.
8 When you go out of the hotel, remember the room key with reception because
we’ve only got one between us.
9 Why don’t you try sunglasses? Then you might not get so many headaches.
10 I saw Philip when I was in the park so I stopped to him.
11 I meant you a text when I got to the hotel but I didn’t have time.
12 I regret not to Egypt with my sister because she says it was a really great trip.
13 After getting a degree in biology, my son went on a book about monkeys.
14 I’ll never forget the sun come up over the mountains when I was in the Himalayas.

4 Some of these sentences by Cambridge First candidates have mistakes. If a sentence is correct,
mark it with a tick (✓). If it is incorrect, mark it with a cross (✗) and correct it.

1 Not all of the students can afford going abroad on the trip. ✗ to go
2 I hope to visit the museum the next time I visit you. ✓
3 He pretended knowing nothing about it, but I knew he did.
4 The guard refused to sell me a half-price ticket for the journey.
5 I didn’t feel well, but I managed getting downstairs.
6 Famous people deserve to have a private life without journalists following
them everywhere.
7 He wrote the letter because he wanted to avoid to be found out.
8 I don’t know why the teachers delayed to tell us the results.
9 I don’t feel like going camping because I like holidays where I can relax.
10 I think that a lot of women dislike going shopping.
11 I’ve put off writing you this letter for months, but finally here it is.
12 They suggested to take the trip to Williamstown on the first day.

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