Choosing verb forms:"to" Infinitives / gerunds/ bare infinitives

Choosing amongverb forms

"to" infinitives

gerunds

change of meaning after

little or no change of meaning after

forget go on regret remember stop try

likelove hatestart begin

• After certain verbs
• After question words
• After adjectives and noun phrases with an adjective
• To express a reason or say why you do something (called the "purpose infinitive")

The negative infinitive = not to + verb

bare infinitives

• After certain verbs
• After prepositions and phrasal verbs
• As the subject of a sentence
• As the object of a verb

The negative gerund = not + verb + -ing

feelhear notice see watch

• After "let" & "make "
• After most modal verbs
• After "would rather" & "had better"

Click on the paper and pen icons for a interactive exercise!

Carla S. Dechant