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Infinitives

The document summarizes the differences between and uses of to-infinitives and -ing forms in English. Some key points: - To-infinitives are used after certain verbs, adjectives, nouns, and in expressions to indicate purpose or preference. -Ing forms are used as nouns or after verbs/prepositions to indicate activities or incomplete actions. - Some verbs like forget, remember, mean, and try can take either a to-infinitive or -ing form but with a change in meaning. The to-infinitive generally indicates intention or lack of action while the -ing form refers more to recollection or involvement. - There are specific grammatical

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Anastasija Davlesevic
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53 views

Infinitives

The document summarizes the differences between and uses of to-infinitives and -ing forms in English. Some key points: - To-infinitives are used after certain verbs, adjectives, nouns, and in expressions to indicate purpose or preference. -Ing forms are used as nouns or after verbs/prepositions to indicate activities or incomplete actions. - Some verbs like forget, remember, mean, and try can take either a to-infinitive or -ing form but with a change in meaning. The to-infinitive generally indicates intention or lack of action while the -ing form refers more to recollection or involvement. - There are specific grammatical

Uploaded by

Anastasija Davlesevic
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INFINITIVES

-ING FORMS AND INFINITIVES


bendratis

Bare infinitives To - infinitives

Playing,sin -
ging

Play, sing,
write

To play, to sing,
to write
The to-infinitive is used:
• To express purpose. • She took a taxi to arrive early.
• After certain verbs (agree, appear, • They expect to start printing next
decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, Monday.
refuse, etc.)
• After would like, would prefer, would • I would prefer to go to the cinema
have, etc to express a specific tonight.
preference.
• After adjectives which describe
feelings/emotions (happy, sad, glad etc);
express willingness/unwillingness
(willing, eager, reluctant, etc); refer to a
person`s character (clever, kind etc) and
adjectives lucky and fortunate. • I was very happy to hear that Jennifer
Note: Which adjectives that refer to and Derek had got engaged.
character we can also use an impersonal
construction. • It was kind of you to let me know.
• After too/enough. • Cathy isn`t old enough to drive a car.

• To talk about an unexpected event, • I finally arrived home only to find


usually with only. that my house had been burgled.
• With it + be + adjective/noun. • It wasn`t easy to find a new
babysitter..
• After be + first/second/next/last etc. • She was the first person to talk at
the conference.
• After verbs and expressions such as ask,
learn, explain, decide, find out, want, • In the end, they decided to go to the
want to know etc, when they are theatre.
followed by a question word.

Note: why is followed by subject + verb,


NOT an infinitive. • I wonder why she didn`t show up.
• In the expressions to tell you the • To tell you the truth I was scared to
truth, to be honest, to sum up, to death.
begin with etc.
Note: If two to-infinitives are linked by
and or or, the to of the second • I would like to go and see for myself.
infinitive can be omitted.
Exercises:
The - ing form is used:
• As s noun. • Swimming is great form of exercise.

• After certain verbs: admit, appreciate, • He suggested going out to dinner.


avoid, continue, deny, fancy, go (for
activities), imagine, mind, miss, quit,
save, suggest, practise, consider,
prevent.
• After love, like, enjoy, prefer, dislike, hate
to express general preference. BUT for a • Billy loves eating chocolate ice-
specific preference (would like/would cream.
prefer/would love) we use a to-infinitive.
• After expressions such as be busy, it`s no
use, it`s (no) good, it`s (not) worth,
what1s the use of, can`t help, there`s no
point in, can`t stand, have difficulty (in), • There is no point in changing your
have trouble, etc. mind; it is too late now.
• After spend, waste or lose (time,
money, etc) • He spent a lot of money
• After the preposition to with renovating his house.
verbs and expressions such as • He prefers reading a book to
look forward to, be used to, in watching TV.
addition to, object to, prefers
(doing sth to sth else)
• After other prepositions. • He was thinking of moving
• After the verbs hear, listen to, house.
notice, see, watch, and feel to • I heard John talking to Amanda.
describe an incomplete action. (I only heard part of the
BUT we use the infinitive without conversation.)
to with hear, listen to, notice, • I heard John talk to Amanda. (I
see, watch, and feel to describe heard the whole conversation.)
the complete action.
Exercises:
Difference in meaning between the to-
infinitive and – ing form
Some verbs can take either the to-infinitive or the – ing form with a
change in meaning.
• forget + to-infinitive = not remember. • regret+ to- infinitive = be sorry to
He forgot to turn off the TV. (normally used in the present simple
forget + -ing form = not recall. I'll with verbs such as say, tell, inform).
never forget travelling around China. We regret to inform you that you
• remember + to infinitive = not forget. have not been short listed for
Did you remember to pay the bills? interview
remember+ -ing form =recall. I regret + -ing form =feel sorry
remember hearing to her say that. about. I regret losing touch with my
• mean + to-infinitive= intend to. I'm old friend Steven.
sorry, I never meant to hurt your • try + to-infinitive = do one's best,
feelings. attempt. She tried to talk to him bu
mean+ -ing form = involve. If I take the just wouldn't listen.
the job. it will mean moving to New try + -ing form = do something as
York. an experiment. Why don't you try
getting up earlier in the morning?
Exercises:

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