Grammar Reference

Grammar Reference: Infinitive / -ing forms
Bare infinitive (without to) :
We usually use infinitives with to in the English language. I want to go. I told him to come. The infinitive without to (bare infinitive) is used as follows.
1. After modal verbs - can, may, must, needn't, dare ...
I can bring it. He may take it. You must buy it. We needn't open it. He dared not tell me.
• Theverbs dare and need can also be followed by the infinitive with to. In such sentences we use do to make questions and negatives.
I dared not call you. x I didn't dare to call you. These two sentences have the same meaning, only the form is different.
• You needn't listen to him. (You don't have to listen to him.) x You don't need to listen to him. (There is no need to listen.) These twosentences are different in the form and meaning, too.
2. After the verbs of senses - feel, hear, see, watch.
We saw you swim. I heard her sing.
• It is more common, however, to use -ing form in English after the verbs of senses.
We saw you swimming. I heard her singing.
• But: In the passive voice the infinitive with to must be used after these verbs.
She was seen to cry.
3. After somemore expressions - let, make, would rather, had better, help.
Don't let him go. She made me drive. I'd rather finish it. You'd better start. I helped them carry it.
• The verb help can also be followed by the infinitiv with to.
I helped them to carry it.
• But the passive voice is followed by the infinitive with to.
I was made to drive. He was let to go.

Infinitive or gerund?

SomeEnglish verbs are followed by infinitive (They agreed to come), other verbs are followed by gerund (Did you enjoy flying?) and there are also verbs followed by infinitive and gerund (She began to work - She began working).
1. The verbs followed by infinitive only.
agree decide hope order promise allow demand instruct permit refuse appear encourage invite persuade remind
arrange fail learn planseem ask forbid manage prepare swear choose force offer pretend warn
He decided to study at university. We hoped to find it. Did he seem to like it? They allowed me to smoke.
I ordered my son to send it.
2. The expressions followed by infinitive.
be about, make up one's mind, turn out, do one's best ,set out
He was about to start. I did my best to learn it. I haven't made up my mind to startyet. It turned out to be your car. We set out to cut the tree.
3. The verbs followed by gerund only.
admit enjoy forgive mind risk consider escape imagine miss suggest delay excuse insist practise understand dislike finish keep prevent
She admitted telling him. Did you escape writing the test? I don't want to risk coming late.
Excuse, forgive and prevent are used with three different forms.Excuse my being late. Excuse me being late. Excuse me for being late.
4. The expressions followed by gerund.
be against can't help look forward to be interested in care for it's no use/good can't stand give up it's worth
I can't stand waiting for hours. I can't help laughing. Don't give up studying this chapter. It's no use working so late. Is the film worth seeing?



5. The verbs followedby infinitives and gerunds.
A. With the same meaning.
begin can't bear allow recommend it requires start intend permit it needs it wants continue advise
Did you continue driving/to drive? He can't bear smoking/to smoke.
• If the verbs advise, allow, permit, recommend are used with the indirect object, they are followed by infinitive. If not, gerund must be used.
They didn't allow us toeat there. They didn't allow eating there.
She recommended John to read this book. She recommended reading this book.
• After the expressions it needs/requires/wants gerund is more common than infinitive.
The car needs washing/to be washed. The flower wants watering/to be watered.
B. The verbs that have a different meaning with infinitive or gerund.
Remember
I remember watching the...