1. INFINITIVE OR -ING FORM
There are certain words and verbs in English that are usually
followed by an infinitive (with or without ‘to’) or a gerund form.
Sometimes, we have the possibility of using both forms with a
change of meaning, with little change or no change at all.
Let’s see when we use the -ing form and when the infinitive (with
or without ‘to’).
-ING FORMS
-ing forms may be used:
(a) After certain verbs and phrases (see table below)
She enjoysreading.
The actress avoids being seen by the reporters.
It’s no use complaining now.
He could not help laughing.
(b) After prepositions
She is interested in reading.
I look forward to seeing you soon.
 I’m thinking of changing my job.
 I’m thinking to change my job.
(c) After worth and busy
The book is well worth reading.
She is busy doing her homework.
(d) As the subject in a sentence
Smoking is bad for you.
Skiing is expensive.
TO-INFINITIVE
Some uses of to-infinitives:
(a) after certain verbs and phrases (see table below)
(b) withwh-words:
I don’t know what to do.
(c) after adjectives:
I am very glad to see you again.

2. (d) to express purpose:
He stopped for a minute to rest.
(… in order to / so as to rest.)
(e) to express result:
He is too young to go to school.
He is not old enough to go to school.
(f) others:
To err is human, to forgive divine.
INFINITIVE WITHOUT ‘TO’
Infinitive without ‘to’ is used after certain verbs and idioms (see table below)
It’s raining: we’d better go inside.
He’d rather try and fail than give up.
He could do nothing but forgive her.
I saw him open the window.
They make him pay back the money.
Either bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’) or to-infinitive can be used after help:
Please help Mary (to) find her glasses.
-ING or INFINITIVE?
1 Some verbsmay be followed by either to-infinitive or -ing form, but the
meanings will be different.
(a) Remember, forget, regret
I always remembermeeting you for the first time.
Remember to go to the post office, won’t you?
I forgotvisiting Jean. (You did visit her but you forget.)
I forgot to visit Jean. (Perhaps I may visit her later.)
I regretmaking that remark yesterday.
I regret to tell you that your application is unsuccessful.
The structure used to talk about things people didis the -ing form, and the
one used to talk about things people are/were supposed to dois the
infinitive.
(b) Stop
I really must stopsmoking.
Every hour I stop work to smoke a cigarette.
The -ing form says that an activity stops, and the infinitive form gives the
reason for stopping.

3. (c) Go on
She went on talking about her illness for hours.
She went on to talk about her other problems.
The infinitive form is used for a change to a new activity, and the -ing
form is used for continuation of an activity.
(d) Try
Please try to understand. (attempt)
I tried sending her flowers but it didn’t have any effect. (experiment)
He tried to open the champagne bottle but he did not succeed. (attempt)
He tried opening the door several times after oiling it to see if it still
creaked.(experiment)
(e) See, watch, hear
When I glanced out of the window, I saw Mary crossing the road. (you
saw her while she was doing something)
I watched him step off the pavement, cross the road, and disappear
into the post-office. (you watched him do and finish all the actions)
2 Some verbsmay be followed by either to-infinitive or -ing form, and the
meanings are about the same.
(a) Love, like, hate, prefer
I love lying / to lie on my back and staring / to stare at the sky.
I like swimming but I don’t like to swim on such a cold day.
I like walking in the rain.
(b) begin, start, continue, cease, can’t bear, be accustomed, propose,
attempt, intend, plan
The baby continued to cry / crying even after it had been given milk.
I was beginning to get angry. (NOT: getting)
(c) Allow, advise, forbid, permit
Sorry, we don’t allow smoking in the lecture room.
We don’t allow people to smoke in here.
(e) Deserve, need/require
These flowers need watering = These flowers need to be watered

4. V + to-infinitive V + infinitive (without V + -ing
‘to’)
I want to go there next week. I enjoy playing tennis.
I may be there
tomorrow.
afford dare learn promise will, would acknowledge endure pardon
agree decide manage propose shall, should admit enjoy postpone
appear determine mean refuse can, could anticipate escape practise
arrange expect neglect regret may, might appreciate excuse recall
ask fail offer remember must avoid face recollect
bear forget prepare seem had better celebrate fancy report
beg happen pretend swear would rather consider finish resent
care help trouble can do nothing but contemplate forgive resist
choose hesitate try cannot but defer imagine risk
consent hope want cannot help but delay include save
wish cannot choose but deny involve suggest
can but detest mention tolerate
dislike mind understand
doubt miss
V + N + to-infinitive V + N + infinitive
be any/some/no use/good V-ing…
(without ‘to’)
I allowed him to go. burst out crying/laughing
I let her go. can’t help V-ing…
can’t stand V-ing…
advise help permit tempt Make
feel like V-ing…
allow instruct persuade trouble let
go swimming/shopping
ask intend prefer want see
keep (on) doing something
bear invite press warn watch, notice, observe
prevent somebody (from) V-ing…
beg leave recommend wish hear
spend time/money doing something
cause mean request feel
waste time/money doing something
command need remind smell
compel oblige teach
encourage order tell
expect