THE INFINITIVE AND THE INFINITIVE AND THE –ING FORM: THE –ING FORM:

USESUSES

Introduction Introduction

The infinitiveThe infinitive““To be or not to be…”To be or not to be…”““To sleep, perchance to dream…”To sleep, perchance to dream…” The –ing formThe –ing formVerb, adjective or noun.Verb, adjective or noun.““The baby is sleeping”The baby is sleeping”““Sleeping beauty”Sleeping beauty”““The building of the bridge The building of the bridge was slow work”was slow work”

THE INFINITIVE: USETHE INFINITIVE: USE

1.1. The bare infinitiveThe bare infinitive She should study harder.She should study harder. They need not come early.They need not come early. I heard him knock the door.I heard him knock the door. You had better say nothing.You had better say nothing. He made me move my car.He made me move my car. Live and let live.Live and let live. He helped us (to) push it.He helped us (to) push it. She does nothing but complain.She does nothing but complain. He made believe that he had caught the huge fish He made believe that he had caught the huge fish

himself (=pretended)himself (=pretended)

2. 2. The full infinitiveThe full infinitive

SubjectSubjectTo save money now seems impossible.To save money now seems impossible.It is dangerous to lean out of the window.It is dangerous to lean out of the window. Object or complement of the verb.Object or complement of the verb.They are preparing to evacuate the area.They are preparing to evacuate the area.He is just about to leave.He is just about to leave.I promise to wait.I promise to wait. After verb or verb + object.After verb or verb + object.He likes to eat well. He likes his staff to eat well.He likes to eat well. He likes his staff to eat well.

Be + infinitiveBe + infinitive

No one is to leave this building without the No one is to leave this building without the permission of the police.permission of the police.

She is to be married next month.She is to be married next month.

They said goodbye, little knowing that they They said goodbye, little knowing that they were never to meet again.were never to meet again.

They are about to start.They are about to start.

Verb + wh- questions + infinitiveVerb + wh- questions + infinitiveI didn’t know when to switch the machine off.I didn’t know when to switch the machine off.I wondered whether to write or phone.I wondered whether to write or phone.He couldn’t remember whether to turn left or right.He couldn’t remember whether to turn left or right. The infinitive after certain nouns.The infinitive after certain nouns.She made an attempt / effort to stand up.She made an attempt / effort to stand up.Failure to obey the regulations may result in Failure to obey the regulations may result in

disqualification.disqualification.Their offer / plan / promise to rebuild the town was Their offer / plan / promise to rebuild the town was

not taken seriously.not taken seriously.

Adjectives + infinitivesAdjectives + infinitivesIt was kind of you to help him.It was kind of you to help him.I was stupid to leave their bicycles outside.I was stupid to leave their bicycles outside.It was dangerous to go out alone after dark.It was dangerous to go out alone after dark.The cake is easy to make. The cake is easy to make. It’s boring to do the same thing everyday.It’s boring to do the same thing everyday.He was glad to leave school.He was glad to leave school.I am inclined to believe him.I am inclined to believe him.The accident was due to carelessness.The accident was due to carelessness.Tom is certain / sure / bound to win.Tom is certain / sure / bound to win.

The infinitive after too, enough and so…asThe infinitive after too, enough and so…asIt is too soon to say whether the scheme will It is too soon to say whether the scheme will

succeed or not.succeed or not.You are too young to understand.You are too young to understand.The plate was too hot to touch.The plate was too hot to touch.She is old enough to travel by herself.She is old enough to travel by herself.The case is light enough for me to carry.The case is light enough for me to carry.He was so foolish as to leave his car unlocked.He was so foolish as to leave his car unlocked.Would you be so good as to forward my letters?Would you be so good as to forward my letters?

The infinitive of purpose.The infinitive of purpose.He went to France to learn French.He went to France to learn French.He left his gun outside in order / so as not to frighten us.He left his gun outside in order / so as not to frighten us. The infinitive after verbs of knowledge.The infinitive after verbs of knowledge.I consider him to be the best candidate.I consider him to be the best candidate.He is known to be honest.He is known to be honest.You are supposed to know the laws of your own country.You are supposed to know the laws of your own country. The infinitive as a connective linkThe infinitive as a connective link..She hurried to the house only to find that it was empty.She hurried to the house only to find that it was empty.He returned home to learn that his daughter had just He returned home to learn that his daughter had just

become engaged.become engaged.

Infinitive replacing relative clauses.Infinitive replacing relative clauses.He loves parties; he is always the first to come and the last He loves parties; he is always the first to come and the last

to leave.to leave.I have letters to write ( =that I must write)I have letters to write ( =that I must write)Someone to talk toSomeone to talk toCushions to sit on.Cushions to sit on. Split infinitivesSplit infinitivesIt would take ages to really master this subject.It would take ages to really master this subject.I was obliged to entirely agree.I was obliged to entirely agree. The infinitive represented by its toThe infinitive represented by its toWould you like to come with me? –Yes, I’d love to.Would you like to come with me? –Yes, I’d love to.Did you get a ticket? –No, though I tried to.Did you get a ticket? –No, though I tried to.

3.3. The –ing form: use The –ing form: use

Subject of a sentence.Subject of a sentence.Reading French is easier than speaking it.Reading French is easier than speaking it.He found that parking was difficult.He found that parking was difficult. Object or complement of a sentence.Object or complement of a sentence.The police found the man climbing the wall.The police found the man climbing the wall.They can’t stand (him) driving his old car.They can’t stand (him) driving his old car.Despite his injury he continued playingDespite his injury he continued playing Verbs followed by the gerund.Verbs followed by the gerund.He admitted taking the money.He admitted taking the money.They kept complaining.They kept complaining. The –ing form as an adjectiveThe –ing form as an adjectiveThe play was boring.The play was boring.The work was tiring.The work was tiring.Running water.Running water.

The –ing form to make continuous tenses.The –ing form to make continuous tenses.She is bathing the baby.She is bathing the baby.I was studying at ten o’clock this morning.I was studying at ten o’clock this morning.We’ve been watching films all the weekend.We’ve been watching films all the weekend.He had been training at the gym before coming He had been training at the gym before coming

home.home. Preposition + -ing formPreposition + -ing formTouch your toes without bending your knees.Touch your toes without bending your knees.She is fond of climbing.She is fond of climbing.I am looking forward to meeting her.I am looking forward to meeting her.

4. 4. Verbs + -ing or infinitive with different Verbs + -ing or infinitive with different meanings.meanings.

Without change of meaning.Without change of meaning.

He continued living / to live above the shop.He continued living / to live above the shop.

I can’t bear waiting / to wait.I can’t bear waiting / to wait.

They don’t allow parking / They don’t allow They don’t allow parking / They don’t allow us to park.us to park.

I love eating out / I love to eat out.I love eating out / I love to eat out.

They like reading / They like to read.They like reading / They like to read.

Verb + infinitive or –ing with some change Verb + infinitive or –ing with some change in meaning.in meaning.

An –ing form A bare infinitive

Suggests that the action is repeated or happens over a period of timeDid you hear those dogs barking most of the night?

Suggests that the action happens only once.I noticed him throw a sweet wrapper on the floor, so I asked him to pick it up.

Suggests that we watch, etc. some of the action, but not from start to finish.I was able to watch them building the new car park from my office window.

Suggests that we watch, hear, etc. the whole action from its start to its finish.I watched him climb through the window, and then I called the police.

Verb + infinitive or –ing changing their meaning.Verb + infinitive or –ing changing their meaning.

to + infinitiveto + infinitive + -ing+ -ing

ComeCome After some years, they After some years, they came to accept her as came to accept her as an equal.an equal.

He came hurrying up He came hurrying up the path.the path.

Go onGo on After the interval, After the interval, Pavarotti went on to Pavarotti went on to sing an aria from sing an aria from Tosca.Tosca.

Although she asked Although she asked him to stop, he went him to stop, he went on tapping his pen on on tapping his pen on the table.the table.

MeanMean I meant to phone you I meant to phone you last week.last week.

If we want to get there If we want to get there by 7.00, that means by 7.00, that means getting up before 5.00getting up before 5.00

Regret Regret I regret to inform you I regret to inform you that your application that your application has been has been unsuccessful.unsuccessful.

It’s too late now, but It’s too late now, but I’ll always regret I’ll always regret asking John to do the asking John to do the work.work.

RememberRemember Remember to take Remember to take your hat when you go your hat when you go out.out.

I remember going to I remember going to the bank, but nothing the bank, but nothing after that.after that.

StopStop She stopped to make She stopped to make a cup of tea.a cup of tea.

They stopped They stopped laughing when laughing when Malcolm walked into Malcolm walked into the room.the room.

TryTry I tried to get the table I tried to get the table through the door, but it through the door, but it was too big.was too big.

I tried taking some I tried taking some aspirin, but the pain aspirin, but the pain didn’t go away.didn’t go away.