The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

The to infinitive is used: The -ing form is used:

• to express purpose. He went to university • as a noun. Walking is good exercise.
to become a lawyer. (in order to become) • after certain verbs (admit, anticipate,
• after certain verbs such as agree, appear, appreciate, avoid, consider, continue, delay,
decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, deny, discuss, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy,
refuse, etc. He refused to pay the bill. finish , forgive, go (for activities) , imagine,
• after certain adjectives which describe involve, keep (= continue) , mention, mind,
feelings/emotions (happy, glad, sorry, miss, object to, postpone, practise, prevent,
etc.). She was happy to win the prize. quit, recall , recollect, report, resent, resist, risk,
save, stand, suggest, tolerate, understand, etc.).
• after would like / would love / would They discussed selling the company.
prefer, etc. to express a specific "Let's go jogging!" "No, I'd rather go sailing."
preference.
I would like to see the manager. • after dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, prefer to
express general preference. She likes painting.
• after certain nouns. (in general)
What a surprise to see him there! Note: like + to infinitive = it is considered a good
• after too / enough. idea
He 's too young to have his own car. I like to wash my hair every day.
He 's clever enough to do the crossword. • after I'm busy, it's no use, it's (no) good, it's
He's got enough money to live on. (not) worth, what's the use of, can't help,
• with it + be + adjective (+ of + noun / there's no point (in), can 't stand, have difficulty
pronoun). (in), in addition to, as well as, have trouble,
It was generous of him to offer £1 ,000. have a hard/difficult time.
• with so + adjective + as. Would you be He can't stand being treated like a slave.
so kind as to help me move the sofa? He had difficulty finding his way back.

• with only to express an unsatisfactory • after spend / waste (time, money, etc.).
result. He spends his free time digging (in) the garden.
She came in only to find Bob had left. • after prepositions. He left the shop without paying,
• after be + the first/second, etc. / next / so he was accused of stealing.
last / best, etc. He was the last to come to • after look forward to, be / get used to, be / get
work. accustomed to, object to, admit (to), etc.
• in the expression for + noun / pronoun I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.
+ to infinitive. • after hear, listen, notice, see, watch to express
For him to be so rude was unforgivable. an incomplete action, i.e. somebody saw or
• in the expressions to tell you the truth, heard only a part of the action. I saw Tim dOing
to begin with, to be honest, etc. his homework. (I saw part of the action in progress. I
To be honest, I don 't like him. didn't wait until he had finished .)
BUT hear, listen, see, watch + infinitive without
Note: If two infinitives are joined by
to express a complete action, i.e. something
and or or, the to of the second infinitive that somebody saw or heard from beginning to
can be omitted. I want to call Mr Jones
end. I saw Tim do his homework. It took him an hour.
and fax or post him a letter. (I saw the whole action from beginning to end .)

The infinitive without to is used:

• after most modal verbs (can, must, will, etc.). You can leave now if you want.
• after had better / would rather. I'd rather not go out tonight. I'd better stay at home.
• after make / let / see / hear / feel + object. They made him pay for the damage. BUT in the
passive be made / be heard / be seen + to infinitive. He was made to pay for the damage.
• know and help are followed by a to infinitive or an infinitive without to. I've never known him
(to) be so mean. Could you help me (to) fix the car? BUT in the passive be known, be helped + to
infinitive. She was known to have worked as a teacher.

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G The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

Verbs taking to infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning

• forget + to infinitive (= forget to do sth) • try + to infinitive (= do one's best; attempt)
I'm sorry, I forgot to lock the car. She tried hard to cope with her new job.
forget + -ing form (= forget a past event) try + -ing form (= do sth as an experiment)
We 'll never forget visiting Paris. Try adding some more sauce to your pasta.
• remember + to infinitive (= remember to do • want + to infinitive (= wish)
sth) Remember to read the instructions. I want to find a better job.
remember + -ing form (= recall a past event) want + -ing form (= sth needs to be done)
I don 't remember meeting AI before. Your dress wants cleaning.
• mean + to infinitive (= intend to) • stop + to infinitive (= pause temporarily)
He means to move to Newcastle. He stopped to buy some milk on his way home.
mean + -ing form (= involve) stop + -ing form (= fin ish)
Working harder means getting more money. Stop talking to each other, please!
• go on + to infinitive (= finish dOing sth and • be sorry + to infinitive (= regret)
start doing sth else) After finishing her BA, she I'm sorry to hear he has been injured.
went on to get a master's degree. be sorry for + -ing form (= apologise for an
go on + -ing form (= continue) earlier action)
She went on watching TV. I'm sorry for misunderstanding/having
• regret + to infinitive (= be sorry to do sth) misunderstood what you said.
I regret to tell you that you have failed. • hate + to infinitive (= feel sorry that you have
regret + -ing form (= have second thoughts to ask, interrupt, etc.)
about sth already done) He regrets telling lies I hate to interrupt, but I must talk to you.
when he was young. hate + -ing form (= feel sorry for what one is
• would prefer + to infinitive (specific doing) I hate making you feel uncomfortable.
preference) I'd prefer to have an early night • be afraid + to infinitive (= the subject feels
tonight. anxious about doing sth)
prefer + -ing form (in general) I'm afraid to drive over the old bridge.
I prefer reading a book to watching TV. be afraid of + -ing form (= the subject is afraid
prefer + to infinitive + (rather) than + that what is described by the -ing form may happen)
infinitive without to She is afraid of breaking her leg if she jumps
I prefer to read a book (rather) than watch TV. over the wall.

10 Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive or -ing form.

Tom stopped ....... t9. pk;k l,ip....... (pick up) his dry clean ing on the way home.
2 If you don't stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (eat) so much chocolate, you 'll make yourself ill.
3 Try ........................ (phone) John at the office if he's not at home.
4 I tried my best ........................ (finish) the test, but there just wasn 't enough time.
5 He was promoted in 1990 and went on ..... ......... . .. . .. (become) a company director.
6 The band went on ........................ (play) even after the lights had gone out.
7 Jane was afraid ............. • •......... (show) her school report to her parents.
8 I'm afraid of ........................ (lose) my way in the forest.
9 What do you mean ...................... (do) with all that money?
10 Playing a musical instrument well means ........ .... . ..... (practise) for years.
11 I regret ........................ (tell) you that your appointment has been cancelled.
12 She regrets .........•.•.......... (spend) so much money on her new dress.
13 Do you remember ..... . . . . .•. . .. . ... .... (ride) a bicycle for the first time?
14 Remember ...... ................ (post) the letters on your way home.

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