The Infinitive & - ing form

Dragana Filipović The Infinitive & -ingform

Forms of the infinitive Forms of the –ing form

Forms of the infinitive corresponding to verb tenses

The to-infinitive is used: • To express purpose: You should take a few days off to recover. • After certain verbs (agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, refuse etc). He agreed to meet us tonight. • After certain adjectives (happy, glad, sorry, etc). I was sorry to hear about your accident.

The to-infinitive is used: • After I would like / would love / would prefer to express specific preference. I’d love to visit China. • After certain nouns. It’s such a pleasure to be with you. • After too / enough constructions. It’s too early to leave the party. He’s rich enough to afford a Porsche.

The to-infinitive is used: • With it + be + adjective (+ of + noun/pronoun). It was kind of her to say that. • With so + adjective + as. Would you be so kind as to pass the sauce? • With “only” to express unsatisfactory result. He won in the lottery only to lose at the casino.

The to-infinitive is used: • After be + the first/second etc/next/last/best etc. She was the first to congratulate him. • In the expression: for + noun/pronoun + to –infinitive For John to lend you his car was very unusual. • In expressions such as: to tell you the truth, to begin with, to be honest, etc. To be honest, I didn’t know how to react.

Note: • If two infinitives are joined by ‘and’ or ‘or’, the ‘to’ of the second infinitive can be omitted: I’d prefer to go to a disco and dance or talk to my friends.

The infinitive without to is used: • After most modal verbs (can, could, may etc.) He can go if he wants to. • After had better, would rather, would sooner. You’d better go to bed. • After make / let / see / hear / feel in the active. She made the baby eat all his soup. But in the passive: be made / be heard / be seen + to-infinitive: The baby was made to eat all his soup.

The –ing form is used: • As a noun. Smoking is harmful. • After: dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, prefer – to express general preference. • I like swimming. (in general) • Note: like + to-infinitive = it’s a good idea • I like to visit them.

The –ing form is used: • After certain verbs (admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, consider, continue, delay, deny, discuss, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, finish, forgive, go (physical activities), imagine, involve, keep (=continue), mention, mind, miss, object to, postpone, practise, prevent, quit, recall, report, tolerate, understand etc.) • They have postponed moving house till next week.

The –ing form is used: • After: I’m busy, it’s no use, it’s (no) good, it’s (not) worth, what’s the use of, can’t help, there’s no point (in), in addition to, as well as, have trouble, have a hard/difficult time. • There’s no point in arguing. • What’s the use of crying? It was your fault. • After: spend/waste (time, money etc.) • You waste too much time watching TV.

The –ing form is used: • After prepositions. He became rich by working hard and without borrowing from anyone. • After: look forward to, be/get used to, be/get accustomed to, object to, admit (to), etc. I object to being told what to do with my life.

The –ing form is used: • After: hear, listen, notice, see, watch – to express an incomplete action, an action in progress or a long action. I saw him throwing rubbish out of the window. (I saw part of the action.) • BUT: hear, listen, see, watch + infinitive without “to” express a complete action, something that someone saw or heard from beginning to end. • I saw him throw rubbish out of the window. (I saw it all.)

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive or the –ing form. Example: • The police made the bank robbers ____ (give) themselves up. • The police made the bank robbers give (give) themselves up.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive or the –ing form. • The criminals were forced ___ (surrender). • She’d better ___ (have) a good excuse for being so late. • They hope ___ (make) a lot of money in their new business. • Imagine ___ (live) in a big house like that! • I’d rather not ___ (visit) my parents this weekend. • He worked for 15 hours without ___ (take) a break.

Answers: • The criminals were forced to surrender. • She’d better have a good excuse for being so late. • They hope to make a lot of money in their new business. • Imagine living in a big house like that! • I’d rather not visit my parents this weekend. • He worked for 15 hours without taking a break.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the infinitive or the –ing form. • It was such a shock ___(hear) from her after all those years. • Ana would love ___ (lie) on a beach now, instead of studying. • There’s no point ___ (get) there early, because the gates don’t open till 10 am. • You should ___ (see) his face when she told him the news.

Answers: • It was such a shock to hear from her after all those years. • Ana would love to lie on a beach now, instead of studying. • There’s no point (in) getting there early, because the gates don’t open till 10 am. • You should have seen his face when she told him the news.

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The Infinitive & - ing form