THE INFINITIVE

1. VERB PATTERNS IN ENGLISH THE INFINITIVE THE GERUND

2. THE INFINITIVE THE GERUND PATTERNS PATTERNS WITH CHANGE OF MEANING WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING I want to go to the cinema. I want her to go to the cinema. She makes me cry. It started to rain. = It started raining. I regret to tell you I won’t help you  I regret telling you that secret. I love skating. VERB PATTERNS IN ENGLISH VERB + TO INFINITIVE VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE VERB + OBJECT + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO VERB + INFINITIVE or GERUND VERB + GERUND

3. VERB PATTERNS IN ENGLISH THE INFINITIVE PATTERNS VERB + TO INFINITIVE VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE VERB + OBJECT + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO VERB + TO INFINITIVE or GERUND She made me cry. I wantto go to the cinema. I wanther to go to the cinema. WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING WITH CHANGE OF MEANING I startedto cry. She stopped smoking. She stopped to smoke. =  I startedcrying.

4. VERB +TO INFINITIVE They decidedto divide the profits equally. AGREE DECIDE I promiseto wait. HOPE FORGET He forgotto leave the car keys on the table. LEARN PROMISE TO DO PLAN We would liketo visit Japan in 2006. REFUSE WANT WOULD LIKE She learntto drive a car. WOULD PREFER She agreedto come with us. WOULD HATE WOULD LOVE They wantto go to the football match.

5. VERB + OBJECT +TO INFINITIVE They allowedus to go to the party. ALLOW Mary ASK We want the studentsto visit the new museum. HELP her NEED INVITE She told meto go there. ORDER us TO DO REMIND TELL We would like you to come with us. WANT the students WOULD LIKE WOULD PREFER I ordered Maryto wait. WOULD HATE Peter & John WOULD LOVE He askedusto leave by half past seven.

6. VERB + OBJECT +(TO) INFINITIVE HELP We helpedMary dust the living-room. Mary her She makes mecry. us DO LET the students She doesn’t let mego to the cinema. Peter & John MAKE

7. VERB PATTERNS IN ENGLISH THE GERUND PATTERNS VERB + GERUND or TO INFINITIVE VERB + GERUND WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING WITH CHANGE OF MEANING I startedcrying. = I startedto cry. I lovesinging. She stopped to smoke. She stopped smoking. 

8. VERB +GERUND We likedriving cars. She lovesice-skating. ADORE * CAN’T STAND They hatedstudying English. CARRY ON DON’T MIND ENJOY I can’t standlistening to hip-hop. FINISH DOING GIVE UP GO ON We are looking forward tomeeting Paul. HATE * KEEP ON LIKE * They kept oninterrupting us. LOOK FORWARD TO LOVE * They gave upsmoking last week. PREFER * * These verbs can also take the TO INFINITIVE, but with a slight difference in meaning. - With the GERUND, they show a general activity: I like cooking. - With the TO INFINITIVE, they show a specific activity: I like to cook paella on Sundays.

9. VERB + TO INFINITIVE or GERUND(WITH CHANGE OF MEANING) REMEMBER  I remembered to post the letter. I remembered posting the letter. = I reminded myself to post the letter. = I have a memory now of a past action: posting the letter.  I stopped to smoke. I stopped smoking. STOP = I didn’t go on in order to have a cigarette. = I gave up the habit.  I tried to sleep. TRY I tried counting sheep. = It was a possible way of getting to sleep. = I wanted to sleep but it was difficult. REGRET I regret to inform you that we cannot offer you the job. I regret telling him that secret.  = I told him; now I realise that it was a bad idea. = I know that you will be unhappy when I tell you. GO ON I went on to talk about the exams.  I went on talking for two hours. = I changed subjects. = I continued doing the same thing.

10. VERB + TO INFINITIVE or GERUND(WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING) BEGIN = She began reading the book. She began to read the book. We’ll continue studying hard. We’ll continue to study hard. = CONTINUE I started to cook the meal. I started cooking the meal. = START ICI