infinitive or -ing form? verb + to-infinitive We usually use to-infinitive after verbs which express plans, decisions, expectations and commitments (ideas about actions which follow), arrange forget learn plan ask help manage promise decide hope offer refuse expect intend prepare want He asked to leave the class early We are learning to use a nev program My brother promised to help me with my homevrork. Other verbs which take fo-infinitive are those connected with the idea of making people think something: pretend, appear and seem. verb + -ing form (gerund) We use an -ing form after some common verbs. avoid feellike mind’ risk delay giveup miss spend time / money dislike practise suggest enjoy keep put off understand Please avoid arriving late for lass tomorrow. My tutor suggested revising for the exarn How much time do you spend watching TV every day? (*) We use mind in questions and negative sentences. Did he mind lending you his notes? | don’t mind being alone vhen I'm busy vverb + to-infinitive or -ing form: little or no change in meaning After like, love, hate, prefer, start, intend, begin, continue and prefer we can use either the to- infinitive or the -ing form with little or no change in meaning. He started to play / playing the piano when he was four Why do you continue to behave / behaving in this way? ike to get / getting up early in the morning. Note: After would like, would prefer, would love, and would hate we use the to-infinitive. Id love to go the party. I'd hate to fail the exam. Would you like to have a coffee? verb + to-infinitive or ing form: different meanings After other verbs (such as like, try, remember, forget, stop) you can use a to-infinitive or an -ing form, but the meaning changes. remembered to buy 2 pen on the way to school (I didn’t forget to buy it.) Jremember locking the door when | left home. (I know | locked it.) He stopped having lunch at school. (Now he has lunch at home.) At twelve we stopped to have lunch. (The reason for stopping was to have lunch.) We tried to call you but your mobile was off (We made an attempt to call you.) The scientist tried using different materials but none worked. (He did experiments with different materials to get a result.), Underline the correct form a They expect you to work / working hard all year, b We decided to go / going into town in the afternoon, : € Jane enjoys to write / writing poetry. 4 They seem to be / being very kind. He enjoys to go / going cycling at the weekend. ¥ We hope to see / seeing you again soon. 4g [can't imagine your mum to get / getting angry. h His parents agreed to et / leting him stay out late. i Laura should stop £0 smoke / smoking. j He wants to buy / buying a new computer game. k Jenny practises to play / playing the piano every day. | Would you mind to pay / paying for my lunch? im Please avoid to make / making silly mistakes in this exercise. n Its not worth to worry / worying about. (© Isuggested t0 go / going out for a walk. 2 Complete the sentence with the to-infinitive or ~ing form of the verb in brackets. a Iprefer +0 play music than to listen to it. (play) b [prefer music to listening to it. (play) © Do you remember hhim the key? (give) d_ Did you remember him the key? (give) © You should stop chocolate ~ it's bad for you. (eat) # You should stop something ~ you need! energy. (eat) g Vil never forget my first computer. (buy) hy Don't forget some bread on your way home. (buy) 3 Complete the sentences using the words in the box. a Would you mind Closing the window? It's cold. bid to speak to Mr Davis, please. Is he there? They to build houses on the school playing fields, d She doesn’t telling him about the party. © When I'm 18 Ill buy a car and to drive. f He's to go to university when he leaves. g really buying this computer ~ it’s useless, h making that noise! It’s really irritating, i He to help her but she said no. @ infinitive or -ing form?