Verbs followed by To, -ing

THE INFINITIVE &

THE –ING FORM

VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Negative forms : verb + not + to + infinitive I managed not to lose my temper.

continuous form. He seems to be studying hard.(now) We can use

perfect form. He appears to have left early. Some nouns can come before a to-infinitive : agreement arrangement decision demand desire

failure offer plan promise refusal tendency threat

He forgot about his promise to go shopping.

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive : AGREE AIM APPEAR ARRANGE ASK ATTEMPT BEG CAN’T AFFORD CAN’T WAIT CHOOSE CLAIM DECIDE DEMAND DESIRE EXPECT FAIL GUARANTEE HAPPEN HELP HOPE MANAGE OFFER PLAN PREPARE PRETEND PROMISE PROVE REFUSE SEEM TEND THREATEN TURN OUT UNDERTAKE WANT WISH He promised to go shopping. She seems to be in love with him. * CAN’T WAIT (one is eager to do something) I can’t wait to see the photos. * HAPPEN (by chance) I happened to see Sarah in town. * FAIL (for things that don’t happen) He failed to pay his electricity bill. * MANAGE (for being able to do something) I managed to find my way. * PROVE & TURN OUT (when the experience shows what something is like) Our forecast proved to be correct. Finding his house turned out to be very difficult. * TEND ( for things that usually happen) We tend to get up later at weekends.

LIKE LOVE WOULD PREFER + TO-INFINITIVE HATE

I would like to do a parachute jump one day. My sister would love to work as an artist.

VERB + ING – FORM

We can put not before an ing-form. Imagine not having anywhere to live.

We can sometimes use more than one to-infinitive or ing-form

together. I want to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.

help resist

We can put can’t o couldn’t + face +ing-form. stand

I think Tom is very amusing. I can’t help laughing at his funny stories. The dress was so beautiful that Claire couldn’t resist buying it.

Verbs followed by an ing-form :

admit avoid carry on consider delay deny detest dislike enjoy excuse fancy finish give up imagine involve justify keep (on) mention mind postpone practise put off resent risk save suggest tolerate I enjoy lying on the beach. She suggested having a party. * CARRY ON (something continuing) Just carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.

* FANCY ( when one wants to do something. Informal) Do you fancy going out for a meal? * KEEP (ON) (to talk about something continuing or when it happens again and again)

Nick keeps ringing Rita and asking her out. The runners didn’t mind the rain. They just kept on running. * MIND (mostly in negative statements and in questions) Do you mind waiting a moment? I wouldn’t mind travelling around the world some time.

We can use either a to-infinitive or an ing-form after these verbs, with

the same meaning :

LOVE PREFER HATE BEGIN BOTHER CONTINUE INTEND PROPOSE (= intend) START

I hate to stand/standing up while I’m eating. Rachel didn’t bother to do/doing the washing- up.

Do you intend to make/making a complaint?

We do not usually have two ing-forms together.

It was starting to get dark.

VERB + OBJECT + TO-INFINITIVE OR ING-FORM

WANT

LIKE + object + to-infinitive LOVE WOULD PREFER We can use this structure to give an order. HATE Tom wants United to win. We would hate the house to be left empty. I want everyone to come here. I would like you to listen carefully.

Verb + object + to-infinitive

advise allow ask beg cause enable encourage expect force help intend invite mean(=intend) order recommend remind take(=time) teach tell warn

We asked the doorman to let us in. Nick begged Rita to go out with him.

It took ages to download the pictures from the Internet.

We don’t use SUGGEST + object + to-infinitive. I suggested to Nick he should leave. I suggested Nick to leave.

Verb + object + ing-form

DISLIKE IMAGINE INVOLVE KEEP MIND PREVENT REMEMBER RISK STOP

I can’t imagine Andrew having a good time. Do you remember Laura taking our photo?

A new law has stopped traffic going into the city centre.

We can use ADVISE ALLOW ENCOURAGE RECOMMEND with :

- ing-form ------ They allow fishing here. - an object + to-infinitive ------- They allow people to fish here.

UNI T 66: QUESTI ON WORD + TO-I NFI NI TI VE

- Verb + object before the question word

Examples: Tom showed me how to change a wheel.

- Adjectives before the question word / Expressions

Examples: I wasn’t sure who to ask for help.

Claire doesn’t have much idea how to cook.

- Prepositions before the question word

Examples: There’s the question of who to invite to the reception.

You need to be informed about what to do in an emergency.

- Ask, decide, discover, discuss, explain, find out, forget, know, learn, remember,

say, think, understand, wonder.

Advise, ask, show, teach, tell.

Clear, obvious, sure.

Have an idea, make up your mind

WHY, WHAT, WHOSE, WHI CH and WHETHER

- No one could explain why we had to wait.

- They were discussing what colour to paint the walls.

- Melanie wasn’t sure whether to ring the doctor or not.

We cannot use why before a to-infinitive

What, which, whose, how many, how much + NOUN

Whether + to-infinitive

UNI T 67: ADJ ECTI VE + TO-I NFI NI TI VE

- I ’m delighted to see you / we’re already to start now. (the subject is

a person).

Comparing these sentences:

- I t’s quite safe to use the ladder. = The ladder is quite safe to use.

Certain, sure, likely, unlikely + to-infi nitive

Examples: Sarah is likely to be at work. = She is probably at work.

United are certain/ sure to win. = They will certainly win.

Awful, bad, exciting, f ascinating, good, marvellous, nice, terrible,

wonderful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, diffi cult, easy, expensive,

impossible, safe, simple.

It’s important to look in the mirror sometimes. Don’t forget to do that.

It’s great to be on the road. This car is easy to drive, isn’t it?

UNI T 68: FOR with the TO-I NFI NI TI VE

For + object + to-infinitive

Examples: The crowd were impatient f or the match to begin.

I t’s a nuisance for you to have to wait.

For expressing purpose

Examples:

The shop provides baskets for the customers to put their purchases in.

I ’d like to put forward a few suggestions for you to think about.

TOO and ENOUGH

Examples: The road is too busy for the children to cross safely.

Fortunately the table was big enough for all of us to sit round.

FOR and OF

FOR OF

Adjective + for + object + to-infinitive Anxious, awful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, diffi cult, eager, easy, exciting, expensive, f riendly, good, happy, horrible, impatient, important, interesting, marvellous, necessary, nice, normal, polite, possible, ready, safe, sensible, silly, stupid, terrible, useful, willing, wonderful, wrong. Ex: Tom was anxious for the party to be a success. I t was good for you to come jogging. (= I t was good for your health.)

Adjective (how someone behaves) + of + object + to-infinitive Brave, careless, clever, f oolish, generous, good, helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, sensible, silly, stupid, wrong. Ex: I t was clever of you to work out the answer. I t was good of you to come jogging with me. (= I t was a kind action by you).

UNI T 69: THE I NFI NI TI VE WI TH AND WI THOUT TO

The TO-infinitive

- Af ter an adjective: I t’s quite safe to use the ladder.

- Af ter a noun: I must take a book to read.

- Be able to, be about to, be allowed to, be going to, have to,

ought to, used to: We’re going to buy a computer.

We aren’t allowed to park here.

- Af ter some verbs: decide, hope, manage, off er.

I hope to pass the exams.

George decided to travel abroad.

- Af ter some verbs + object: I want everyone to come here.

I ’d like you to listen carefully.

- Af ter for + object: I t’s important for students to register with a

doctor.

- Af ter a question word: I wasn’t sure who to ask for help.

Claire doesn’t have much idea how to cook.

- To say why: Mark went out to play golf .

The infinitive without to

- Af ter modal verbs: I t might rain tomorrow.

- Af ter had better and would rather: I t´s cold. You’d better wear a

coat.

- Af ter make + object and let + object: That programme was funny. I t

really made me laugh.

- Af ter see or hear + object: They saw the lights come on.

Help (with or without to).

UNI T 70: VERB/ ADJ ECTI VE + PREPOSI TI ON + -I NG form

Some verbs and adjectives can have a preposition af ter

them

Examples: I apologized for my mistake.

Laura is keen on photography.

Sometimes we can use an –ing form af ter the preposition

Examples:

We can use not bef ore the –ing f orm

Example:

VERB + PREPOSI TI ON + -I NG FORM

Examples: Don’t you believe in discussing thing opening.

Laura doesn’t feel like cooking tonight.

Examples: They are talking about building a new swimming-pool.

PREPOSI TI ON -I NG FORM

I apologized for making a mistake.

Are you interested in travelling around?

PREPOSI TI ON -I NG FORM

We’re tired of not having a place to live.

We can use ABOUT af ter ask, complain, dream, speak, talk, think, and wonder

Believe in, feel like, insisted on, looking f orward, succeed in, agree with, apologize f or, concentrate on, object to, rely on, think of

VERB + OBJ ECT + PREPOSI TI ON + -I NG FORM

Af ter some verbs we can put an object

Examples: Emma accused Matthew of not caring about her

Higher prices will discourage customers f rom buying

we can use this structure in passive

Examples: Matthew was accused of not caring

The customers will be discouraged f rom buying

ADJ ECTI VE + PREPOSI TI ON + -I NG FORM

Examples: People were annoyed at not being able to see properly.

The customers will be discouraged f rom buying.

I ’m fed up with living in this awful place

annoyed at, discouraged f rom, excited about, f ed up with, guilty of , pleased about, pleased at, capable of , interested in, keen on, tired of

accuse ... of , discourage ... f rom, prevent...f rom, stop...f rom, punish ... f or, blame ... f or, congratulate ... on, thank...f or

UNI T 71: AFRAI D TO DO OR AFRAI D OF DOI NG?

AFRAI D

1. David is afraid to climb the ladder (= He doesn’t want to climb the ladder because he is afraid).

2. David is afraid of falling. (=He is af raid because he might fall)

ANXI OUS, ASHAMED and I NTERESTED

HP are anxious to increase their sales (= They want to increase their sales)

Mark was anxious about presenting his report (= He was worried because he had to present his report)

I ’m ashamed to tell you what scores in the test (=I don’t want to tell you because I ’m ashamed)

I ’m ashamed of getting such a low score(=I ’m ashamed because I got such a low score)

I was interested to meet Laura (=I want to meet her) I was interested to hear Mike’s story. (I f ound his story interesting)

Laura is interested in painting. (I t is an interest/ a hobby of hers)

Structures with SORRY

To APOLOGI ZE for something WE ARE DOI NG, we use TO-I NFI NI TI VE

To APOLOGI ZE for something WE DI D, we use ABOUT + I NG- form

I ’m sorry to tell you this, but your test score is rather low. I ’m sorry to disturb you, but could I just say something?

I ’m sorry about making all that noise last night (or I ’m sorry I made that noise last night)

1 2

UNI T 72: USED TO DO AND BE USED TO DOI NG

USED TO DO

Examples:

I used to travel (= in the past I regularly travelled, but no longer do so)

We used to play that game when we were younger.

Nick used to smoke, but he gave it up

Examples:

*Claire uses to travel a lot. / Claire travels a lot

Examples:

We didn’t use to have computers (or We never used to have computers)

Did you use to live in London?

USED TO + I NFI NI TI VE means that something happened REGULARLY or went on for a time I N THE PAST

We CANNOT use this structure in THE PRESENT TENSE

We NORMALY use DI DN’T USE TO in NEGATI VES and DI D...USE TO in QUESTI ONS

BE USED TO DOI NG

Examples:

I ’m used to traveling (= travelling is no longer strange or diffi cult because

I have done it f or so long)

Shara is used to working late at the offi ce

We ‘re used to getting up early ( NOT We’re used to get up early)

Examples:

I t was diffi cult at fi rst, but Mike soon got used to working at night.

Af ter her husband died, the old woman had to get used to living on her

own.

BE USE TO + -I NG means that SOMETHI NG I S FAMI LI AR and I S NO LONGER STRANGE

We CAN also say GET USED TO + –I NG to talk about THINGS BECOMI NG MORE FAMI LI AR

UNI T 73: PREPOSI TI ON OR LI NKI NG WORD + -I NG FORM

We can use an -I NG form AFTER some PREPOSI TI ONS or LI NKI NG WORD

Example:

I usually go for a walk insted of eating. NOT I usually go for a walk

instead to eat

PREPOSI TI ON + I NG FORM

We CANNOT use an I NFI NI TI VE AFTER some PREPOSI TI ONS or LI NKI NG WORDS

We CAN use these prepositions BEFORE an –I NG FORM:

against, as result of, as well as, besides, by, despite, for, from, how about, in favour of, in spite of, on, what about, without

We use WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT + - I NG to make SUGGESTI ONS

We use FOR + - I NG to say what we USE SOMETHI NG FOR.

Example: How about giving us some help?

Example: This cloth is for cleaning the floor

We use BY + - I NG to say HOW SOMEONE DOES SOMETHI NG

Example: The thief got in by breaking a window

We use BY + - I NG to say how someone does something.

We use ON + - I NG to mean ‘AS SON AS POSSI BLE’.

Example: On hearing the news of David’s accident, Melanie burst into

tears. (= as soon as possible she heards the news)

LI NKI NG WORD + -I NG FORM

Examples:

I always have a shower after playing tennis.

Although hoping to her the job, Rachel wasn’t really expecting to.

Sarah wanted to finish the report before going to bed.

The man has been unemployed since leaving prison

I always have a shower after I ’ve played tennis.

Althought she was hoping to get the job, Rachel wasn’t really expecting

to.

We CAN use these linking words BEFORE an –I NG FORM:

after, although, before, since, when, while

A linking word + -ing CAN sometimes BE a LI TTLE FORMAL.

UNI T 74: SEE I T HAPPEN OR SEE I T HAPPENI NG?

SEE I T HAPPEN

VERB OBJECT INFINITIVE

Examples: Vicky heards someone close the door. Let’s watch the parade go past. We all f elt the house shake.

SEE I T HAPPENI NG

VERB OBJECT ING form

Examples: We f ound Matthew exercising in the gym. Can you heards someone playing the piano?. I could f eel an insect crawling up my leg.

David fell down the steps. Rachel saw him fall.

David was walking with a stick. Rachel saw him walking a across the road.

AFTER some VERBS we can use an OBJ ECT + an I NFI NI TI VE

Verbs: feel, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch

We can use with some verbs an –I NG f orm AFTER The OBJ ECT.

Verbs: feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch

SEE I T HAPPEN OR SEE I T HAPPENI NG?

More examples: SEE I T HAPPEN SEE I T HAPPENI NG We saw Trevor plant the tree. We saw Trevor planting the tree (He planted the tree. We saw him do the whole job.)

(He was planting the tree. We saw him in the middle of the job)

I watched Nick light a cigarette I watched Nick smoking a cigarette (whole action) (

Examples: They heard a car turn the corner They heard a car turning the corner I didn’t see anyone leave any litter

I didn’t see anyone leaving any litter

David fell down the steps. Rachel saw him fall.

(She saw him do the whole action)

David was walking with a stick. Rachel saw him walking a across the road.

(She saw him in the middle of the action)

When we talk a SHORT ACTI ON, it of ten DOES NOT MATTER which structure we use

UNI T 75: SOME STRUCTURES WI TH THE –I NG FORM

TWO ACTI ONS AT THE SAME TIME

Examples:

We Had to stand in a queue waiting for the bank open.

You can’t sit watching television every day.

Examples: Matthew injured his knee doing gymnastics.

(He injured his knee while he was doing gymnastics.) I went to sleep listening to the radio (I went to sleep while I was listening to the radio)

When to actions are happening at the same time, we can use a main verb and an -ing form

All af ternoon Claire lay in a hammock reading a magazine

We can also use this structure when one action comes in the middle of another. We use the –ing form for the longer action.

ONE ACTI ON AFTER ANOTHER

Examples:

Opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks. (= He opened the bottle and then poured the drinks)

Examples:

Having opened the bottle, Mike poured the drinks. (=After opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.)

Examples:

Having repaired the car, Tom took it out f or road test (Not: Repairing the car, Tom took it out f or road test)

I n spoken English, to talk about one action af ter another we use a sentence like this: Tom repaired the car and then took it out for a road test

When there are two short actions, one straight af ter the other, we can use an –ing f orm f or the fi rst action

We can also the perf ect –ing form

I f either of the actions is long, we must use the perf ect

These patterns are typical of written English

THE –I NG FORMA SAYI NG WHY

Examples: The fans queued for hours, hoping to tickets

(= they queued for hours because they hoped to tickets) Not knowing the way, I had to ask for directions (= I had to ask for directions because I didn’t know the way)

Examples:

Having spent all his money, Daniel couldn’t aff ord a new jacket. We decided not to travel, having heard the terrible weather forecast.

We can use the-I NG form TO GI VE A REASON

We can also use THE PERFECT -I NG form TO GI VE A REASON