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To Infinitive

The document discusses the different uses of the infinitive, to-infinitive, and gerund forms in English. It explains that the to-infinitive is used after verbs, adjectives, nouns, and expressions. The short infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions like "had better." The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs and expressions.

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206 views4 pages

To Infinitive

The document discusses the different uses of the infinitive, to-infinitive, and gerund forms in English. It explains that the to-infinitive is used after verbs, adjectives, nouns, and expressions. The short infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions like "had better." The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs and expressions.

Uploaded by

PeterSam [T&F Videos]
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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To infinitive

Is used:
1.to express purpose: She lied to avoid being punished

2. after certain verbs: agree, appear, decide, promise,


refuse, hope, expect, plan, etc.
Ex. He promised to be back by 11.

3.after certain adjectives: difficult, glad, happy, sorry,


obliged, unable, able, etc.
Ex. He was happy to hear from you.

4.after ”would like”, ”would prefer”, ”would love”


Ex. I would like to stay in tonight.

5.after certain nouns: It’s my privilege to present the


winner of the competition

6.after “too”and “enough”: It’s too late to go.

7.after “be+the first/the second/the next/the last/the


best etc.”: You will be the first to hear the news.

8.with it+be+adjectives followed by of+noun/pronoun


Ex. It was rude of him to speak like that.
9.with so+adjectives+as
Ex. Would you be so kind as to help me?

10.with only to express an unsatisfactory result


Ex. She went there only to find the meeting had been
cancelled.

11.in the expression: for+noun/pronoun+to infitive


(split infinitive)
Ex. For Mary to behave like that was very unusual.

12. In the expressions: to tell the truth, to begin with,


to be honest, to start with, to sum up, etc.
Ex. To begin with, I would like to introduce our new
manager.

Short infinitive

Is used:
1.after modal verbs
Ex. I may use your phone.

2.after “had better”, “would rather”, “would sooner”


Ex. I’d rather have an early night.

3.after feel, hear, make, let, see in the active voice


Ex. Will you let me play in the garden?
Note: In the passive voice, the verbs are followed by to
infinitive; ex. She was made to work overtime.

Note: let turns into “be allowed to” in the passive; ex.
He wasn’t allowed to play in the garden.

The “ing”form(Gerund)

Is used:
1.as a noun (subject of the sentence)
Ex. Collecting stamps is my favourite hobby.

2.after prepositions
Ex. He left without being seen.

3.after “like”, “dislike”, “enjoy”, “hate”, “love”,


“prefer”, “detest”.
Ex. I enjoy walking.

4.after “spend”and “waste” (money and time)


Ex. He spent a fortune redecorating his house.

5.after “hear”, “listen”, “notice”, “see”, “watch”, to


express an incomplete action in progress or a long
action
Ex. I saw her driving.
6.after certain verbs avoid, continue, delay, deny,
discuss, escape, excuse, fancy, finish, imagine, involve,
keep, go + physical activity, miss, mind, practice,
postphone, recall, quit, resent, resist, risk, save,
suggest, tolerate, stand, understand, recollect, report,
mention, mean, forgive, etc.
Ex. She doesn’t mind working long hours.

7.after expressions: I’m busy, it’s no use, it’s no good,


it’s not worth, what’s the use of , can’t help, can’t
stand, feel like, there’s no point in, have difficulty in, in
addition to, as well as, have trouble, have a difficult
time, have a hard time, look forward to, be used to, get
used to, be accustomed to, get accustomed to, what
about, how about, etc.
Ex.Tom had difficulty in driving on the left.

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