Infinitive and the –ing FormInfinitive and the –ing FormEvelyn Fridolin

Kadri Nikopensius

Supervisor: Edda Kaimre

^_^

FORM 12a

To - Infinitive

1. To – infinitive is used1. To express purpose

2. After certain verbs (agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, refuse)

3. After adjectives which • Describe feelings/emotions (happy, glad)• Express willingness• Refer to a person’s character• With the adjectives lucky and fortunate

1. Sam went to the bank to get some money.

2. He promised to help us with the decorations.

3. I was annoyed to hear that he had left.– You were clever not to believe him.

To - Infinitive

1. After certain nouns and pronouns such as something, somewhere, anyone, nothing

2. After too/enough

3. With it + be + adjective/noun

4. To talk about an unexpected event which can be unpleasant, usually with only

5. After; be + the first/second etc./next/last/best etc.

6. After verbs and expressions such as ask, learn, find out, wonder, want to know, decide, explain, etc. When they are followed by question words.

1. We’ve got a lot of homework to do.

2. She is too young to stay out late.

3. It is important to get there on time.

4. She came home to find her sister waiting for her.

5. He was the first to arrive.

6. I don’t know why he left.

The –ing Form

1. The –ing form is used1. As anoun2. After certain verbs (admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid,

consider, continue, delay, deny, discuss, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, forgive imagine, involve, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, prevent, quit, recall, recollect, report, resent, resist, risk, save, stand, suggest, tolerate, understand etc.)

3. After dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, prefer to express general preference.4. After expressions such as be 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), can’t stand, have difficulty (in), have trouble, have hard/difficult time etc.

1. Cycling is a popular form of exercise.

2. He avoided answering my question.

3. She likes painting. (But: She likes to paint)

4. She is busy writing the wedding invitations.

The –ing Form

1. After spend, waste, lose2. After prepositions3. After the preposition „to” with verbs and

expressions such as look foward to, be used to, get round to, object to, in addition to, prefer etc.

4. After the werbs hear, listen to, notice, see, watch feel + bare infinitive to describe a complate action, something that somebody saw, heard etc.

1. He lost £10 investing in unsuccessful companies.

2. He was found guilty of lying in court.

3. She objects to working on Saturdays.

4. I listened to James singing a song.

References

• Jenny Dooley. Virginia Evans. “Grammarway”

• brains