1. As subject of sentences:
Ex: Living in London is expensive.
Seeing is believing.
2. After phrasal verbs:
Ex: I look forward to hearing from you.
3. After prepositions:
Ex: She had only one job since leaving school.
I’m tired of waiting for him.
4. After certain verbs:
ADMIT AVOID CONTINUE CONSIDER DELAY DENY ENJOY FANCY FINISH FORGIVE HATE INVOLVE LOVE MISS SUGGEST
5. With possessive:
Ex: Mary insisted on Arthur’s helping.
Will you excuse my leaving?
6. After some expressions:
– IT’S NO USE / IT’S NO GOOD
Ex: It’s no use worrying about it.
It’s no good trying to persuade me.
· IT’S (NOT) WORTH
Ex: Do you think this book is worth reading?
· HAVE DIFFICULTY (IN)
Ex: Some people have great difficulty in reading and writing.
· A WASTE OF TIME / MONEY
Ex: It’s a waste of time reading that book
It’s a waste of money buying things you don’t need.
· SPEND / WASTE (TIME)
Ex: I spent hours trying to repair the clock.
He wastes a lot of time day-dreaming.
· GO + Activities and sports
Ex: We always go cycling at the weekend.
· CAN’T STAND
Ex: I can’t stand getting up early on Sundays.
· CAN’T HELP
Ex: It was so funny that I couldn’t help laughing.
· FEEL LIKE
Ex: I don’t feel like staying at home. Let’s go for a walk.
– BE / GET USED TO
Ex: We are used to having a shower before breakfast.
I couldn’t get used to driving on the left, so I always used public transport.
INFINITIVES
A – BARE INFINITIVE OR INFINITVE WITHOUT TO
1. After modals and auxiliaries: CAN COULD DO MAY MIGHT MUST SHALL SHOULD WILL WOULD
2. After MAKE Ex: My parents make me tidy my bedroom before I leave for school. LET Ex: They won’t let you use your mobile.
3. After HAD BETTER Ex: You’d better phone him.
WOULD RATHER Ex: I’d rather not see him.
B – TO INFINITIVE
1. After some verbs:
AFFORD AGREE APPEAR / SEEM ARRANGE ASK CHOOSE DECIDE EXPECT FAIL HELP HOPE LEARN MANAGE PLAN PRETEND PROMISE REFUSE TEND THREATEN WANT
Ex: Arthur managed to find a seat.
We hope to start tomorrow.
They expect to have the tickets tomorrow.
He promised to obey.
2. Verbs followed by OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE
ADVISE ALLOW ASK ENCOURAGE EXPECT HELP INVITE ORDER REMIND TEACH
TELL WARN WANT
Ex: Do you want me to help you?
He asked me to turn up the radio.
3. After adjectives and some adverbs.
Ex: I’m sorry to say I’ve lost the ticket.
The singer was delighted to see so many people.
Cans are easy to open.
4. After TOO and ENOUGH.
Ex: He’s too young to drive. / He’s not old enough to drive.
INFINITIVE OR -ING FORM
A – With no change of meaning
BEGIN BOTHER CONTINUE DISLIKE ENJOY HATE LIKE LOVE MIND PREFER START
• NOTE: The verbs LOVE, LIKE, HATE, PREFER when used in the conditional are followed by TO INFINITIVE.
EX: Would you like to come with me?
I’d love to come with you.
B – With change of meaning
* TO INFINITIVE usually refers to an action in the present or future.
* - ING FORM usually refers to an action in the past.
FORGET / REMEMBER + TO INFINITIVE: (for necessary actions. The remembering is before the action.)
I must remember to post the letters. It’s important.
The clothes are still dirty because I forgot to switch on the machine.
FORGET / REMEMBER + -ING FORM: (For memories of the past. The action is before the remembering.)
I remember posting the letter. I posted it on Friday morning.
I’ll never forget flying on the Grand Canyon. It was wonderful.
REGRET: I regret to say that your advice was wrong. (To be sorry for something you are doing)
He regrets having made fun of her in front of the children. (To be sorry for something that
happened in the past.)
STOP: I’ve stopped smoking. (The activity stops.)
I stopped for a few minutes to rest. (Gives the reason for stopping)
TRY: I’m trying to run this computer program. (To attempt something, to do your best.)
I tried clicking on the box, but it didn’t work. (To do something that might solve a problem, an
experiment, to see if it works.)
C – the verbs of sensation: SEE FEEL HEAR and WATCH take the infinitive without TO or the ING form. The infinitive implies that the action is complete. SMELL is always followed by the ING form.
He saw her drive down the road.
She saw him shouting as she was driving away.
Can you smell something burning?
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