Infinitives and -ing forms

UNIT 3: BECOMING INDEPENDENT- GRAMMAR 1

Infinitives and -ing forms

by Lan Anh Ngyen

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

1. Many verbs are followed by other verbs in the toinfinitive or -ing form

• agree, expect, long+ to-infinitive

• allow, encourage + object + to-infinitive

• admit, deny, imagine, keep, miss, spend time +-ing

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

Groups of verbs with similar meanings often have the same patterns. Most verbs looking forward to later events take the to-infinitive. Exceptions are the verbs suggest and recommend, which take -ing.

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• That's when I decided to come here.

• I recommend doing lots o f research.

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

Many verbs referring to feelings, earlier events and events with no specific time take the -ing form. Exceptions are the verbs fail, manage, tend and happen, which take a to-infinitive.

• I don’t mind not being able to go shopping.

• Do you regret coming to Antarctica?

• I fail to see what the problem is. N

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

2. We also use verbs like stand, sit and lie with an -ing form to describe two actions happening at the same time.

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• I stood staring at it for ages. (= I stood and stared at the same time.)

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

3. Some verbs have two patterns with different meanings, usually a forward-looking meaning and a backwardlooking meaning. These include forget, go on, regret, remember and stop.

• I remembered to pack warm clothes. (= I remembered that I should pack.)

• I remembered packing warm clothes. (= I remembered that I'd packed.)

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​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

4. Some verbs have two patterns but the meaning is the same, e.g. begin, start, like and love.

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I like to get up early and watch the sun rise. OR / like getting up early and watching...

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​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

5. A few verbs can be followed by an infinitive without to, e.g. make, let, have and help.

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• What made you decide to come?

• The scientists let me stay with them.

• I'll have my assistant send you a form. (= I’ll arrange this.)

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​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

The verb make in the passive takes to.

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• I was made to fill in lots o f forms.

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The verb help is possible with or without to.

• I'll help you pack. OR I'll help you to pack.

​Infinitives and -ing forms after verbs

6. Verbs describing senses, e.g. see, hear, watch, listen to and notice, can be followed by an infinitive without to when they describe complete events and by an -ing form when they describe an unfinished process.

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• I watch the sun rise, (from start to finish)

• As I was driving along the road, I saw Mike washing his car. (a process with no finish)

​CÁC CẤU TRÚC TO + Vo THÔNG DỤNG TRONG TIẾNG ANH

​CÁC CẤU TRÚC V-ING THÔNG DỤNG TRONG TIẾNG ANH

​CÁC CẤU TRÚC V-ING THÔNG DỤNG TRONG TIẾNG ANH

​Infinitives and -ing forms after nouns

7. Many nouns can be followed by to-infinitives, especially nouns which have a forward-looking meaning.

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• Your idea to go to the museum was really good.

• I don't regret my decision to go.

​Infinitives and -ing forms after nouns

Noun/pronoun + linking verb + adjectives + to–V = Đưa ra lí do cho tính từ đó​

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Adjectives: glad, happy, lucky, amazed, surprised, proud, determined, pleased, sorry, disappointed, sad, afraid,...​

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• I am happy to see my former teacher again.​

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​Infinitives and -ing forms after nouns

​ It + linking verb + adjectives (for somebody) + to–V = Đưa ra lời nhận xét/đánh giá​

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Adjectives: easy, difficult, hard, interesting, boring, nice, great, good, possible, impossible , likely, important, necessary, unreasonable,...​

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• It is interesting to talk to him.

​Infinitives and -ing forms after nouns

Noun + to–V = Nói về hành động mà những danh từ ấy liên quan tới​

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Nouns: advice, ability, ambition, anxiety , attempt, chance, decision, dream, failure, permission, chance, plan, request, wish, way , demand, determination, effort, offer, willingness​

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• Your dream to become a teacher will come true.​

-ing forms after prepositions

8. We use the -ing form of verbs after prepositions.

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Aren't you worried about getting ill?

Infinitives and -ing form s as subject of a sentence

9. We do not normally use to-infinitives as the subject of a sentence; we usually use an -ing form or dummy it instead.

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• Coming to Antarctica was always my dream.

OR

• It was always my dream to come to ...

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In finitives and -ing forms as a separate part of a sentence

10. We use a to-infinitive to explain the purpose of something.

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• I came to Antarctica to paint.

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We can use a to-infinitive after pronouns such as something and nothing, quantifiers like little and much, and some nouns, to show that something must / can / can’t be done.

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• There isn’t much (work) to do.

• I don't have (enough) time to watch TV

In finitives and -ing forms as a separate part of a sentence

11. The following useful phrases use infinitives and -ing forms of the verb:

not to mention

to be honest

to cut a long story short

to tell the truth

frankly speaking

considering