THE INFINITIVE

&
THE ING FORM

VERB + TO + INFINITIVE
Negative forms : verb + not + to + infinitive
I managed not to lose my temper.
continuous form. He seems to be studying hard.(now)
We can use
perfect form. He appears to have left early.
Some nouns can come before a to-infinitive :
agreement

arrangement

failure

decision

offer
refusal

demand

plan

tendency

desire

promise
threat

He forgot about his promise to go shopping.

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive :
AGREE
AIM
APPEAR
ARRANGE
ASK
ATTEMPT
BEG
CANT AFFORD
CANT WAIT
CHOOSE
CLAIM
DECIDE
DEMAND
DESIRE
EXPECT
FAIL GUARANTEE
HAPPEN
HELP
HOPE
MANAGE
OFFER
PLAN
PREPARE
PRETEND
PROMISE
PROVE
REFUSE
SEEM
TEND
THREATEN
TURN OUT UNDERTAKE WANT
WISH
He promised to go shopping.

She seems to be in love with him.

* CANT WAIT (one is eager to do something) I cant wait to see the photos.
* HAPPEN (by chance) I happened to see Sarah in town.
* FAIL (for things that dont happen) He failed to pay his electricity bill.
* MANAGE (for being able to do something) I managed to find my way.
* PROVE & TURN OUT (when the experience shows what something is like)
Our forecast proved to be correct.
Finding his house turned out to be very difficult.
* TEND ( for things that usually happen) We tend to get up later at weekends.

WOULD

LIKE
LOVE
PREFER
HATE

+ TO-INFINITIVE
I would like to do a parachute jump one day.
My sister would love to work as an artist.

VERB + ING FORM

We can put not before an ing-form.
Imagine not having anywhere to live.
We can sometimes use more than one to-infinitive or ing-form
together.
I want to avoid hurting anyones feelings.
help
resist
We can put cant o couldnt +
face
+ing-form.
stand
I think Tom is very amusing. I cant help laughing at his funny stories.
The dress was so beautiful that Claire couldnt resist buying it.
Verbs followed by an ing-form :
admit
avoid carry on consider
delay
deny
detest dislike
enjoy
excuse
fancy
finish
give up
imagine
involve
justify
keep (on) mention mind
postpone
practise
put off
resent
risk
save
suggest
tolerate
I enjoy lying on the beach.

She suggested having a party.

* CARRY ON (something continuing) Just carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.
* FANCY ( when one wants to do something. Informal)
Do you fancy going out for a meal?
* KEEP (ON) (to talk about something continuing or when it happens again and again)
Nick keeps ringing Rita and asking her out.
The runners didnt mind the rain. They just kept on running.
* MIND (mostly in negative statements and in questions)
Do you mind waiting a moment?
I wouldnt mind travelling around the world some time.
We can use either a to-infinitive or an ing-form after these verbs, with
the same meaning :
LOVE

PREFER
HATE BEGIN
BOTHER
CONTINUE
INTEND
PROPOSE (= intend) START
I hate to stand/standing up while Im eating.
Rachel didnt bother to do/doing the washing- up.
Do you intend to make/making a complaint?

We do not usually have two ing-forms together.

It was starting to get dark.

VERB + OBJECT + TO-INFINITIVE OR ING-FORM

WANT

WOULD

LIKE
LOVE
PREFER
HATE

+ object + to-infinitive
We can use this structure to give an order.

Tom wants United to win.

I want everyone to come here.

We would hate the house to be left empty.

I would like you to listen carefully.

Verb + object + to-infinitive

advise

allow
ask
beg
cause
enable
encourage expect
force
help
intend
invite
mean(=intend)
order
recommend
remind
take(=time)
teach
tell
warn
We asked the doorman to let us in.
Nick begged Rita to go out with him.
It took ages to download the pictures from the Internet.

We dont use SUGGEST + object + to-infinitive.

I suggested to Nick he should leave. I suggested Nick to leave.

Verb + object + ing-form

DISLIKE

IMAGINE

PREVENT

INVOLVE

REMEMBER

KEEP
RISK

MIND
STOP

I cant imagine Andrew having a good time.

Do you remember Laura taking our photo?
A new law has stopped traffic going into the city centre.

We can use ADVISE ALLOW ENCOURAGE RECOMMEND with :

- ing-form ------ They allow fishing here.
- an object + to-infinitive ------- They allow people to fish here.

UNIT 66: QUESTION WORD + TO-INFINITIVE

- Ask, decide, discover, discuss, explain, find out, forget, know, learn, remember,
say, think, understand, wonder.

Verb + object before the question word

Advise, ask, show, teach, tell.

Examples:

Tom showed me how to change a wheel.

Adjectives before the question word / Expressions

Clear, obvious, sure.

Examples:

Have an idea, make up your mind

I wasnt sure who to ask for help.

Claire doesnt have much idea how to cook.

Prepositions before the question word

Examples: Theres the question of who to invite to the reception.

You need to be informed about what to do in an emergency.

 WHY, WHAT, WHOSE, WHICH and WHETHER

We cannot use why before a to-infinitive
- No one could explain why we had to wait.
What, which, whose, how many, how much + NOUN
- They were discussing what colour to paint the walls.

Whether + to-infinitive
- Melanie wasnt sure whether to ring the doctor or not.

UNIT 67: ADJECTIVE + TO-INFINITIVE

Its great to be on the
road. This car is easy to
drive, isnt it?

Its important to look

in the mirror
sometimes. Dont
forget to do that.

Im delighted to see you / were already to start now. (the subject is

a person).

Comparing these sentences:

-

Its quite safe to use the ladder. = The ladder is quite safe to use.

Awful, bad, exciting, fascinating, good, marvellous, nice, terrible,

wonderful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, difficult, easy, expensive,
impossible, safe, simple.

Certain, sure, likely, unlikely + to-infinitive

Examples:

Sarah is likely to be at work. = She is probably at work.

United are certain/sure to win. = They will certainly win.

UNIT 68: FOR with the TO-INFINITIVE

For + object + to-infinitive

Examples:

The crowd were impatient for the match to begin.

Its a nuisance for you to have to wait.

For expressing purpose

Examples:

The shop provides baskets for the customers to put their purchases in.
Id like to put forward a few suggestions for you to think about.

TOO and ENOUGH

Examples:

The road is too busy for the children to cross safely.

Fortunately the table was big enough for all of us to sit round.

FOR and OF
FOR

OF

Adjective + for + object + toinfinitive

Adjective (how someone

behaves) + of + object + to-infinitive

Anxious, awful, cheap, convenient,

dangerous, difficult, eager, easy,
exciting, expensive, friendly, good,
happy, horrible, impatient,
important, interesting, marvellous,
necessary, nice, normal, polite,
possible, ready, safe, sensible, silly,
stupid, terrible, useful, willing,
wonderful, wrong.

Brave, careless, clever, foolish,

generous, good, helpful, honest,
intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite,
sensible, silly, stupid, wrong.

Ex: Tom was anxious for the party

the answer.

to be a success.

Ex: It was clever of you to work out

It was good of you to come jogging

It was good for you to come jogging. with me. (= It was a kind action by
(= It was good for your health.)

you).

UNIT 69: THE INFINITIVE WITH AND WITHOUT TO

The TO-infinitive

After an adjective: Its quite safe to use the ladder.

After a noun: I must take a book to read.

Be able to, be about to, be allowed to, be going to, have to,

Were going to buy a computer.

ought to, used to:

We arent allowed to park here.

-

After some verbs: decide, hope, manage, offer.

I hope to pass the exams.

George decided to travel abroad.
-

After some verbs + object:

I want everyone to come here.

Id like you to listen carefully.

After for + object: Its important for students to register with a

doctor.
-

After a question word:

I wasnt sure who to ask for help.

Claire doesnt have much idea how to cook.

To say why: Mark went out to play golf.

The infinitive without to

After modal verbs: It might rain tomorrow.

After had better and would rather: Its cold. Youd better wear a

coat.
-

After make + object and let + object: That programme was funny. It

really made me laugh.

After see or hear + object: They saw the lights come on.
Help (with or without to).

UNIT 70: VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + -ING form

Some verbs and adjectives can have a preposition after

them
Examples:

I apologized for my mistake.

Laura is keen on photography.

Sometimes we can use an ing form after the preposition

Examples:
PREPOSITION -ING FORM
I

apologized

Are you

interested

for

making

a mistake.

in

travelling

around?

We can use not before the ing form

Example:
PREPOSITION -ING FORM
Were

tired

of

not having

a place to live.

VERB + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM

Examples:

Dont you believe in discussing thing opening.

Laura doesnt feel like cooking tonight.

Believe in, feel like, insisted on, looking forward, succeed in,
agree with, apologize for, concentrate on, object to, rely on,
think of
We can use ABOUT after ask, complain, dream, speak, talk, think,
and wonder
Examples:

They are talking about building a new swimming-pool.

VERB + OBJECT + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM

After some verbs we can put an object

Examples:

Emma accused Matthew of not caring about her

Higher prices will discourage customers from buying

accuse ... of, discourage ... from, prevent...from, stop...from,

punish ... for, blame ... for, congratulate ... on, thank...for

we can use this structure in passive

Examples:

Matthew was accused of not caring

The customers will be discouraged from buying

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM

Examples:

People were annoyed at not being able to see properly.

The customers will be discouraged from buying.
Im fed up with living in this awful place

annoyed at, discouraged from, excited about, fed up with,

guilty of, pleased about, pleased at, capable of, interested in,
keen on, tired of

UNIT 71: AFRAID TO DO OR AFRAID OF DOING?

AFRAID

1. David is afraid to climb the ladder (= He doesnt want to climb the

ladder because he is afraid).
2. David is afraid of falling. (=He is afraid because he might fall)

ANXIOUS, ASHAMED and INTERESTED

HP are anxious to increase their sales

(= They want to increase their sales)

Mark was anxious about presenting his

report (= He was worried because he
had to present his report)

Im ashamed to tell you what scores

in the test (=I dont want to tell you
because Im ashamed)

Im ashamed of getting such a low

score(=Im ashamed because I got
such a low score)

I was interested to meet Laura (=I

want to meet her)
I was interested to hear Mikes story.
(I found his story interesting)

Laura is interested in painting. (It is

an interest/ a hobby of hers)

Structures with SORRY

To APOLOGIZE for something WE

ARE DOING, we use TOINFINITIVE

To APOLOGIZE for something WE DID,

we use ABOUT + ING-form

Im sorry to tell you this, but your

test score is rather low.
Im sorry to disturb you, but could I
just say something?

Im sorry about making all that noise last

night (or Im sorry I made that noise last
night)

UNIT 72: USED TO DO AND BE USED TO DOING

USED TO DO
USED TO + INFINITIVE means that something happened REGULARLY or
went on for a time IN THE PAST

Examples:

I used to travel (= in the past I regularly travelled, but no longer do so)

We used to play that game when we were younger.
Nick used to smoke, but he gave it up
We CANNOT use this structure in THE PRESENT TENSE

Examples:
*Claire uses to travel a lot. / Claire travels a lot
We NORMALY use DIDNT USE TO in NEGATIVES
DID...USE TO in QUESTIONS

and

Examples:

We didnt use to have computers (or We never used to have computers)

Did you use to live in London?

BE USED TO DOING

BE USE TO + -ING means that SOMETHING IS FAMILIAR and IS NO

LONGER STRANGE

Examples:

Im used to traveling (= travelling is no longer strange or difficult because

I have done it for so long)
Shara is used to working late at the office
We re used to getting up early ( NOT Were used to get up early)

We CAN also say GET USED TO + ING to talk about THINGS BECOMING
MORE FAMILIAR

Examples:
It was difficult at first, but Mike soon got used to working at night.
After her husband died, the old woman had to get used to living on her
own.

UNIT 73: PREPOSITION OR LINKING WORD + -ING FORM

We can use an -ING form AFTER some PREPOSITIONS or LINKING
WORD
We CANNOT use an INFINITIVE AFTER some PREPOSITIONS or
LINKING WORDS

We use BY + -ING to say how someone does something.

Example:
I usually go for a walk insted of eating. NOT

I usually go for a walk

instead to eat
PREPOSITION + ING FORM
We CAN use these prepositions BEFORE an ING FORM:

against, as result of, as well as, besides, by, despite, for,

from, how about, in favour of, in spite of, on, what about,
without
We use WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT + -ING to make SUGGESTIONS
Example: How about giving us some help?
We use FOR + -ING to say what we USE SOMETHING FOR.
Example: This cloth is for cleaning the floor
We use BY + -ING to say HOW SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING
Example: The thief got in by breaking a window
We use ON + -ING to mean AS SON AS POSSIBLE.
Example: On hearing the news of Davids accident, Melanie burst into
tears. (= as soon as possible she heards the news)

LINKING WORD + -ING FORM

We CAN use these linking words BEFORE an ING FORM:

after, although, before, since, when, while

Examples:
I always have a shower after playing tennis.
Although hoping to her the job, Rachel wasnt really expecting to.
Sarah wanted to finish the report before going to bed.
The man has been unemployed since leaving prison

A linking word + -ing CAN sometimes BE a LITTLE FORMAL.

I always have a shower after Ive played tennis.

Althought she was hoping to get the job, Rachel wasnt really expecting
to.

UNIT 74: SEE IT HAPPEN OR SEE IT HAPPENING?

SEE IT HAPPEN
David fell down the steps.
Rachel saw him fall.

AFTER some VERBS we can use an OBJECT + an INFINITIVE

Verbs: feel, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch
Examples:

VERB
Vicky heards
Lets
watch
We all felt

OBJECT
INFINITIVE
someone
close the door.
the parade
go
past.
the house
shake.

SEE IT HAPPENING
David was walking with a stick.
Rachel saw him walking a across
the road.

We can use with some verbs an ING form AFTER The OBJECT.
Verbs: feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch

Examples:

VERB
We
found
Can you heards
I could feel

OBJECT ING form

Matthew exercising in the gym.
someone playing
the piano?.
an insect crawling up my leg.

SEE IT HAPPEN OR SEE IT HAPPENING?

David fell down the steps.

Rachel saw him fall.

David was walking with a stick.

Rachel saw him walking a across
the road.

(She saw him do the

whole action)

(She saw him in the middle of

the action)

More examples:
SEE IT HAPPEN
We saw Trevor plant the tree.
(He planted the tree. We saw him
do the whole job.)
I watched Nick light a cigarette
(whole action)

SEE IT HAPPENING
We saw Trevor planting the tree
(He was planting the tree. We saw
him in the middle of the job)
I watched Nick smoking a cigarette
(

When we talk a SHORT ACTION, it often DOES NOT MATTER which

structure we use
Examples:
They heard a car turn the corner

They heard a car turning the corner

I didnt see anyone leave any litter

I didnt see anyone leaving any litter

UNIT 75: SOME STRUCTURES WITH THE ING FORM

TWO ACTIONS AT THE SAME TIME

When to actions are happening at the same time, we can use

a main verb and an -ing form
Examples:

All afternoon Claire lay in a hammock

reading a magazine

We Had to stand in a queue waiting for the bank open.

You cant sit watching television every day.

We can also use this structure when one action comes in

the middle of another. We use the ing form for the
longer action.

Examples:
Matthew injured his knee doing gymnastics.
(He injured his knee while he was doing gymnastics.)
I went to sleep listening to the radio
(I went to sleep while I was listening to the radio)

ONE ACTION AFTER ANOTHER

When there are two short actions, one straight after the
other, we can use an ing form for the first action

Examples:
Opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.
(= He opened the bottle and then poured the drinks)

We can also the perfect ing form

Examples:
Having opened the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.
(=After opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.)

If either of the actions is long, we must use the perfect

Examples:
Having repaired the car, Tom took it out for road test
(Not: Repairing the car, Tom took it out for road test)

These patterns are typical of written English

In spoken English, to talk about one action after another we use a sentence
like this:
Tom repaired the car and then took it out for a road test

THE ING FORMA SAYING WHY

We can use the-ING form TO GIVE A REASON

Examples:
The fans queued for hours, hoping to tickets
(= they queued for hours because they hoped to tickets)
Not knowing the way, I had to ask for directions
(= I had to ask for directions because I didnt know the way)
We can also use THE PERFECT -ING form TO GIVE A REASON

Examples:
Having spent all his money, Daniel couldnt afford a new jacket.
We decided not to travel, having heard the terrible weather forecast.