unit 3: level 2 Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing?

Unit 3: Sports

Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing?

Index

1. Verbs followed by a to-infinitive

3. Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing

2. Verbs followed by -ing

5. Videos

4. Verbs followed by an infinitive without to

Verbs followed by a "to"-infinitive

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive Some verbs can be followed immediately by a to-infinitive:

Verbs followed by a "to"-infinitive

1. I can’t afford to save money this summer.
2. It began to rain.
3. Camila hopes to go to university next year.
4. My sister never learnt to play guitar.
5. Did you remember to call María?

Verbs followed by -ing

Verbs followed by -ing -ing but not to-infinitive Some verbs are normally followed by the -ing form, not the to-infinitive:

Verbs followed by -ing-ing but not to-infinitive

1. We always enjoy cooking.NOT: We always enjoy to cook. 2. They haven’t finished eating yet. NOT: They haven’t finished to eat. 3. He keeps changing his mind about the party. NOT: He keeps to change her mind about the party.

New subject before -ing

• We just couldn’t imagine Gerry singing in public.

• Do you mind me being here while you’re working?

• I don’t want to risk him losing his job.

Some of these verbs (e.g. can’t stand, dislike, imagine, involve, mind, miss, put off and risk) can be used with a new subject before the -ing form (underlined in the examples below). If the new subject is a pronoun, it is in the object form (me, him, her, us, them):

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing

Verbs followed by a to-infinitive or -ing

Hate, like, love, preferHate, like, love and prefer can be followed either by -ing or a to-infinitive. The difference in meaning is often small. The -ing form emphasises the verb itself. The to-infinitive puts the emphasis more on the preference for, or the results of, the action.Compare...

Hate, like, love, prefer with would or should

• She would love to get a job nearer home.

• NOT: She wolud love getting a job nearer home.

• Would you like to have dinner with us on Friday?
• NOT: Would you like having dinner with us on Friday

When hate, like, love and prefer are used with would or should, only the to-infinitive is used, not the -ing form:

Verbs followed by an infinitive without to

Verbs followed by an infinitive without to

Let, makeLet and make are followed by an infinitive without to in active voice sentences. They always have an object (underlined) before the infinitive: Let me show you this DVD I’ve got. They made us wait while they checked our documents. NOT: They made us to wait … Help Help can be followed by an infinitive without to or a to-infinitive: She helped me find a direction in life. Everyone can help to reduce carbon emissions by using public transport.

How to use GERUNDS and INFINITIVES

This video will show you how to use gerunds and infinitives in English! This can be confusing grammar... If you're wondering what a gerund is... Watch this lesson:

How to use GERUNDS and INFINITIVES

¡THANKS! Juan Pablo Lozada Girón