Infinitives
The full infinitive is used:
• to express purpose.
I went to the post office to post some letters.
• after it + be + adjective (it’s nice, it was stupid, etc.).
It was great to see you after such a long time.
• after the first/second/last/best, etc.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.
• after certain adjectives: afraid, surprised, free, happy,
ready, sorry, etc.
At last he was free to do what he wanted.
• after too and enough.
Ahmed is too tired to go jogging today.
It isn’t warm enough to go to the sea yet.
• after certain verbs (afford, agree, appear, decide, forget,
hope, learn, manage, need, offer, plan, promise, refuse,
seem, tend, want, would like, etc.).
I hope to see you again soon.
• after the objects of certain verbs (advise, allow,
encourage, invite, order, persuade, teach, tell, etc.).
It was Glen who persuaded me to apply for this job.
• after question words (how, what, when, where, etc.).
I don’t know what to do.
• after certain nouns (pleasure, shock, chance, etc.).
It was a great pleasure to meet you.
• after some, any, no and their compounds.
I’ll make you something to eat.
He doesn’t have anywhere to stay.
The bare infinitive is used:
• after modal verbs (can, may, must, should, etc.).
You should start thinking about your future.
• after the verbs let and make in the Active Voice.
My parents let me stay up later at weekends.
Our teacher made us retake the test.
• after would rather and had better.
I’d rather go bowling tonight.
You’d better tell me everything you know about this.
Note:
Help + object pronoun can take either a full or bare infinitive.
Can you help me (to) pack?
-ing forms
The -ing form is used:
• as a noun (subject or object of a verb).
Exercising is a good way of keeping fit.
• after the verb go, indicating physical activities.
We often go fishing in the summer.
• after certain verbs (avoid, enjoy, finish, like, love, hate,
imagine, keep, risk, spend (time), suggest, consider, etc.).
Martin suggested going to a Lebanese restaurant on Friday.
• after certain expressions (be interested in, can’t stand,
don’t mind, how about, it’s no use, it’s no good, it’s
worth, there’s no point (in), be used to, etc.).
It’s no use trying to do everything yourself. Ask Ethan for
help.
• after prepositions (for, about, without, etc.).
I’m so excited about going to university next year.
Verbs followed by full infinitive and -ing form
Some verbs such as start, begin, continue, intend, etc. can
be followed by either the full infinitive or the -ing form
with no difference in meaning.
It started to rain / raining a minute ago.
• Some verbs can be followed by either the full infinitive or
the -ing form, but with a difference in meaning.
try + -ing form = do something to see what effect it will
have
If you have a sore throat, try drinking some hot tea.
try + full infinitive = make an effort
I’ll try to come tonight, but I can’t promise anything.
remember + -ing form = remember something that has
already happened
Do you remember meeting Brian at the Bookers’ last week?
remember + full infinitive = remember something
before doing it
Did you remember to lock the door before you left?
forget + -ing form = forget something that has already
happened
I’ll never forget visiting the White House.
forget + full infinitive = forget something you are
supposed to do
Tony forgot to tell you that he was going away for the
weekend.
regret + -ing form = regret something that has already
happened
Chelsea regretted talking to her sister like that.
regret + full infinitive = be sorry to do something
We regret to inform you that there are no more tickets for
tonight’s match.
stop + -ing form = terminate an action and no longer do
it after that time
Stop making excuses all the time.
stop + full infinitive = pause temporarily in order to do
something else
I was writing a letter but I stopped to answer the phone.
go on + -ing form= continue an activity without stopping
He was so fascinated by the book that he went on reading it
for hours.
go on + full infinitive= do something after completing
something else
When he finished school, he went on to study Medicine.
