This document discusses the use of infinitives and -ing forms in English. It provides examples of: 1. Verbs that can be followed by to-infinitives or -ing forms with similar meanings such as "love", "prefer", "hate", "begin", etc. 2. Common structures using to-infinitives and -ing forms including verb + object + to-infinitive/ -ing form, question word + to-infinitive, and adjective + to-infinitive/-ing form. 3. The differences between using "afraid to do" versus "afraid of doing", and similar patterns with "anxious", "ashamed",

1. THE INFINITIVE
&
THE –ING FORM

2. VERB + TO + INFINITIVE
 Negative forms : verb + not + to + infinitive
I managed not to lose my temper.
continuous form. He seems to be studying hard.(now)
 We can use
perfect form. He appears to have left early.
 Some nouns can come before a to-infinitive :
agreement arrangement decision demand desire
failure offer plan promise
refusal tendency threat
He forgot about his promise to go shopping.
 Verbs followed by a to-infinitive :
AGREE AIM APPEAR ARRANGE ASK ATTEMPT BEG
CAN’T AFFORD CAN’T WAIT CHOOSE CLAIM DECIDE
DEMAND DESIRE EXPECT FAIL GUARANTEE HAPPEN
HELP HOPE MANAGE OFFER PLAN PREPARE
PRETEND PROMISE PROVE REFUSE SEEM TEND
THREATEN TURN OUT UNDERTAKE WANT WISH
He promised to go shopping. She seems to be in love with him.
* CAN’T WAIT (one is eager to do something) I can’t wait to see the photos.
* HAPPEN (by chance) I happened to see Sarah in town.
* FAIL (for things that don’t happen) He failed to pay his electricity bill.
* MANAGE (for being able to do something) I managed to find my way.
* PROVE & TURN OUT (when the experience shows what something is like)
Our forecast proved to be correct.
Finding his house turned out to be very difficult.
* TEND ( for things that usually happen) We tend to get up later at weekends.
LIKE
LOVE
 WOULD PREFER + TO-INFINITIVE
HATE
I would like to do a parachute jump one day.
My sister would love to work as an artist.

3. VERB + ING – FORM
 We can put not before an ing-form.
Imagine not having anywhere to live.
 We can sometimes use more than one to-infinitive or ing-form
together.
I want to avoid hurting anyone’s feelings.
help
resist
 We can put can’t o couldn’t + face +ing-form.
stand
I think Tom is very amusing. I can’t help laughing at his funny stories.
The dress was so beautiful that Claire couldn’t resist buying it.
 Verbs followed by an ing-form :
admit avoid carry on consider delay deny detest dislike
enjoy excuse fancy finish give up imagine
involve justify keep (on) mention mind postpone practise
put off resent risk save suggest tolerate
I enjoy lying on the beach. She suggested having a party.
* CARRY ON (something continuing) Just carry on stirring the mixture until it boils.
* FANCY ( when one wants to do something. Informal)
Do you fancy going out for a meal?
* KEEP (ON) (to talk about something continuing or when it happens again and again)
Nick keeps ringing Rita and asking her out.
The runners didn’t mind the rain. They just kept on running.
* MIND (mostly in negative statements and in questions)
Do you mind waiting a moment?
I wouldn’t mind travelling around the world some time.
 We can use either a to-infinitive or an ing-form after these verbs, with
the same meaning :
LOVE PREFER HATE BEGIN BOTHER CONTINUE
INTEND PROPOSE (= intend) START
I hate to stand/standing up while I’m eating.
Rachel didn’t bother to do/doing the washing- up.
Do you intend to make/making a complaint?
 We do not usually have two ing-forms together.
It was starting to get dark.

4. VERB + OBJECT + TO-INFINITIVE OR ING-FORM
WANT
LIKE + object + to-infinitive
LOVE
WOULD PREFER We can use this structure to give an order.
HATE
Tom wants United to win. We would hate the house to be left empty.
I want everyone to come here. I would like you to listen carefully.
• Verb + object + to-infinitive
advise allow ask beg cause
enable encourage expect force help
intend invite mean(=intend) order recommend
remind take(=time) teach tell warn
We asked the doorman to let us in.
Nick begged Rita to go out with him.
It took ages to download the pictures from the Internet.
 We don’t use SUGGEST + object + to-infinitive.
I suggested to Nick he should leave. I suggested Nick to leave.
• Verb + object + ing-form
DISLIKE IMAGINE INVOLVE KEEP MIND
PREVENT REMEMBER RISK STOP
I can’t imagine Andrew having a good time.
Do you remember Laura taking our photo?
A new law has stopped traffic going into the city centre.
 We can use ADVISE ALLOW ENCOURAGE RECOMMEND with :
- ing-form ------ They allow fishing here.
- an object + to-infinitive ------- They allow people to fish here.

5. UNIT 66: QUESTION WORD + TO-INFINITIVE
- Verb + object before the question word
Examples: Tom showed me how to change a wheel.
- Adjectives before the question word / Expressions
Examples: I wasn’t sure who to ask for help.
Claire doesn’t have much idea how to cook.
- Prepositions before the question word
Examples: There’s the question of who to invite to the reception.
You need to be informed about what to do in an emergency.
- Ask, decide, discover, discuss, explain, find out, forget, know, learn, remember,
say, think, understand, wonder.
Advise, ask, show, teach, tell.
Clear, obvious, sure. Have an idea, make up your mind

6. • WHY, WHAT, WHOSE, WHICH and WHETHER
- No one could explain why we had to wait.
- They were discussing what colour to paint the walls.
- Melanie wasn’t sure whether to ring the doctor or not.
We cannot use why before a to-infinitive
What, which, whose, how many, how much + NOUN
Whether + to-infinitive

7. UNIT 67: ADJECTIVE + TO-INFINITIVE
- I’m delighted to see you / we’re already to start now. (the subject is
a person).
Comparing these sentences:
- It’s quite safe to use the ladder. = The ladder is quite safe to use.
• Certain, sure, likely, unlikely + to-infinitive
Examples: Sarah is likely to be at work. = She is probably at work.
United are certain/sure to win. = They will certainly win.
Awful, bad, exciting, fascinating, good, marvellous, nice, terrible,
wonderful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, difficult, easy, expensive,
impossible, safe, simple.
It’s important to look
in the mirror
sometimes. Don’t
forget to do that.
It’s great to be on the
road. This car is easy to
drive, isn’t it?

8. UNIT 68: FOR with the TO-INFINITIVE
• For + object + to-infinitive
Examples: The crowd were impatient for the match to begin.
It’s a nuisance for you to have to wait.
• For expressing purpose
Examples:
The shop provides baskets for the customers to put their purchases in.
I’d like to put forward a few suggestions for you to think about.
• TOO and ENOUGH
Examples: The road is too busy for the children to cross safely.
Fortunately the table was big enough for all of us to sit round.
• FOR and OF
FOR OF
Adjective + for + object + to-
infinitive
Anxious, awful, cheap, convenient,
dangerous, difficult, eager, easy,
exciting, expensive, friendly, good,
happy, horrible, impatient,
important, interesting, marvellous,
necessary, nice, normal, polite,
possible, ready, safe, sensible, silly,
stupid, terrible, useful, willing,
wonderful, wrong.
Ex: Tom was anxious for the party
to be a success.
It was good for you to come jogging.
(= It was good for your health.)
Adjective (how someone
behaves) + of + object + to-infinitive
Brave, careless, clever, foolish,
generous, good, helpful, honest,
intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite,
sensible, silly, stupid, wrong.
Ex: It was clever of you to work out
the answer.
It was good of you to come jogging
with me. (= It was a kind action by
you).

9. UNIT 69: THE INFINITIVE WITH AND WITHOUT TO
• The TO-infinitive
- After an adjective: It’s quite safe to use the ladder.
- After a noun: I must take a book to read.
- Be able to, be about to, be allowed to, be going to, have to,
ought to, used to: We’re going to buy a computer.
We aren’t allowed to park here.
- After some verbs: decide, hope, manage, offer.
I hope to pass the exams.
George decided to travel abroad.
- After some verbs + object: I want everyone to come here.
I’d like you to listen carefully.
- After for + object: It’s important for students to register with a
doctor.
- After a question word: I wasn’t sure who to ask for help.
Claire doesn’t have much idea how to cook.
- To say why: Mark went out to play golf.
• The infinitive without to
- After modal verbs: It might rain tomorrow.
- After had better and would rather: It´s cold. You’d better wear a
coat.
- After make + object and let + object: That programme was funny. It
really made me laugh.
- After see or hear + object: They saw the lights come on.
• Help (with or without to).

10. UNIT 70: VERB/ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + -ING form
Some verbs and adjectives can have a preposition after
them
Examples: I apologized for my mistake.
Laura is keen on photography.
Sometimes we can use an –ing form after the preposition
Examples:
We can use not before the –ing form
Example:
 VERB + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM
Examples: Don’t you believe in discussing thing opening.
Laura doesn’t feel like cooking tonight.
Examples: They are talking about building a new swimming-pool.
PREPOSITION -ING FORM
I apologized for making a mistake.
Are you interested in travelling around?
PREPOSITION -ING FORM
We’re tired of not having a place to live.
We can use ABOUT after ask, complain, dream, speak, talk, think,
and wonder
Believe in, feel like, insisted on, looking forward, succeed in,
agree with, apologize for, concentrate on, object to, rely on,
think of

11.  VERB + OBJECT + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM
After some verbs we can put an object
Examples: Emma accused Matthew of not caring about her
Higher prices will discourage customers from buying
we can use this structure in passive
Examples: Matthew was accused of not caring
The customers will be discouraged from buying
 ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + -ING FORM
Examples: People were annoyed at not being able to see properly.
The customers will be discouraged from buying.
I’m fed up with living in this awful place
annoyed at, discouraged from, excited about, fed up with,
guilty of, pleased about, pleased at, capable of, interested in,
keen on, tired of
accuse ... of, discourage ... from, prevent...from, stop...from,
punish ... for, blame ... for, congratulate ... on, thank...for

12. UNIT 71: AFRAID TO DO OR AFRAID OF DOING?
 AFRAID
1. David is afraid to climb the ladder (= He doesn’t want to climb the
ladder because he is afraid).
2. David is afraid of falling. (=He is afraid because he might fall)
 ANXIOUS, ASHAMED and INTERESTED
HP are anxious to increase their sales
(= They want to increase their sales)
Mark was anxious about presenting his
report (= He was worried because he
had to present his report)
I’m ashamed to tell you what scores
in the test (=I don’t want to tell you
because I’m ashamed)
I’m ashamed of getting such a low
score(=I’m ashamed because I got
such a low score)
I was interested to meet Laura (=I
want to meet her)
I was interested to hear Mike’s story.
(I found his story interesting)
Laura is interested in painting. (It is
an interest/ a hobby of hers)
 Structures with SORRY
To APOLOGIZE for something WE
ARE DOING, we use TO-
INFINITIVE
To APOLOGIZE for something WE DID,
we use ABOUT + ING-form
I’m sorry to tell you this, but your
test score is rather low.
I’m sorry to disturb you, but could I
just say something?
I’m sorry about making all that noise last
night (or I’m sorry I made that noise last
night)
1 2

13. UNIT 72: USED TO DO AND BE USED TO DOING
• USED TO DO
Examples:
I used to travel (= in the past I regularly travelled, but no longer do so)
We used to play that game when we were younger.
Nick used to smoke, but he gave it up
Examples:
*Claire uses to travel a lot. / Claire travels a lot
Examples:
We didn’t use to have computers (or We never used to have computers)
Did you use to live in London?
USED TO + INFINITIVE means that something happened REGULARLY or
went on for a time IN THE PAST
We CANNOT use this structure in THE PRESENT TENSE
We NORMALY use DIDN’T USE TO in NEGATIVES and
DID...USE TO in QUESTIONS

14.  BE USED TO DOING
Examples:
I’m used to traveling (= travelling is no longer strange or difficult because
I have done it for so long)
Shara is used to working late at the office
We ‘re used to getting up early ( NOT We’re used to get up early)
Examples:
It was difficult at first, but Mike soon got used to working at night.
After her husband died, the old woman had to get used to living on her
own.
BE USE TO + -ING means that SOMETHING IS FAMILIAR and IS NO
LONGER STRANGE
We CAN also say GET USED TO + –ING to talk about THINGS BECOMING
MORE FAMILIAR

15. UNIT 73: PREPOSITION OR LINKING WORD + -ING FORM
We can use an -ING form AFTER some PREPOSITIONS or LINKING
WORD
Example:
I usually go for a walk insted of eating. NOT I usually go for a walk
instead to eat
PREPOSITION + ING FORM
We CANNOT use an INFINITIVE AFTER some PREPOSITIONS or
LINKING WORDS
We CAN use these prepositions BEFORE an –ING FORM:
against, as result of, as well as, besides, by, despite, for,
from, how about, in favour of, in spite of, on, what about,
without
We use WHAT ABOUT/HOW ABOUT + -ING to make SUGGESTIONS
We use FOR + -ING to say what we USE SOMETHING FOR.
Example: How about giving us some help?
Example: This cloth is for cleaning the floor
We use BY + -ING to say HOW SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING
Example: The thief got in by breaking a window
We use BY + -ING to say how someone does something.
We use ON + -ING to mean ‘AS SON AS POSSIBLE’.
Example: On hearing the news of David’s accident, Melanie burst into
tears. (= as soon as possible she heards the news)

16. LINKING WORD + -ING FORM
Examples:
I always have a shower after playing tennis.
Although hoping to her the job, Rachel wasn’t really expecting to.
Sarah wanted to finish the report before going to bed.
The man has been unemployed since leaving prison
I always have a shower after I’ve played tennis.
Althought she was hoping to get the job, Rachel wasn’t really expecting
to.
We CAN use these linking words BEFORE an –ING FORM:
after, although, before, since, when, while
A linking word + -ing CAN sometimes BE a LITTLE FORMAL.

17. UNIT 74: SEE IT HAPPEN OR SEE IT HAPPENING?
 SEE IT HAPPEN
VERB OBJECT INFINITIVE
Examples: Vicky heards someone close the door.
Let’s watch the parade go past.
We all felt the house shake.
 SEE IT HAPPENING
VERB OBJECT ING form
Examples: We found Matthew exercising in the gym.
Can you heards someone playing the piano?.
I could feel an insect crawling up my leg.
David fell down the steps.
Rachel saw him fall.
David was walking with a stick.
Rachel saw him walking a across
the road.
AFTER some VERBS we can use an OBJECT + an INFINITIVE
Verbs: feel, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch
We can use with some verbs an –ING form AFTER The OBJECT.
Verbs: feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, watch

18.  SEE IT HAPPEN OR SEE IT HAPPENING?
More examples:
SEE IT HAPPEN SEE IT HAPPENING
We saw Trevor plant the tree. We saw Trevor planting the tree
(He planted the tree. We saw him
do the whole job.)
(He was planting the tree. We saw
him in the middle of the job)
I watched Nick light a cigarette I watched Nick smoking a cigarette
(whole action) (
Examples:
They heard a car turn the corner They heard a car turning the corner
I didn’t see anyone leave any litter I didn’t see anyone leaving any litter
David fell down the steps.
Rachel saw him fall.
(She saw him do the
whole action)
David was walking with a stick.
Rachel saw him walking a across
the road.
(She saw him in the middle of
the action)
When we talk a SHORT ACTION, it often DOES NOT MATTER which
structure we use

19. UNIT 75: SOME STRUCTURES WITH THE –ING FORM
 TWO ACTIONS AT THE SAME TIME
Examples:
We Had to stand in a queue waiting for the bank open.
You can’t sit watching television every day.
Examples:
Matthew injured his knee doing gymnastics.
(He injured his knee while he was doing gymnastics.)
I went to sleep listening to the radio
(I went to sleep while I was listening to the radio)
When to actions are happening at the same time, we can use
a main verb and an -ing form
All afternoon Claire lay in a hammock
reading a magazine
We can also use this structure when one action comes in
the middle of another. We use the –ing form for the
longer action.

20.  ONE ACTION AFTER ANOTHER
Examples:
Opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.
(= He opened the bottle and then poured the drinks)
Examples:
Having opened the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.
(=After opening the bottle, Mike poured the drinks.)
Examples:
Having repaired the car, Tom took it out for road test
(Not: Repairing the car, Tom took it out for road test)
In spoken English, to talk about one action after another we use a sentence
like this:
Tom repaired the car and then took it out for a road test
When there are two short actions, one straight after the
other, we can use an –ing form for the first action
We can also the perfect –ing form
If either of the actions is long, we must use the perfect
These patterns are typical of written English

21.  THE –ING FORMA SAYING WHY
Examples:
The fans queued for hours, hoping to tickets
(= they queued for hours because they hoped to tickets)
Not knowing the way, I had to ask for directions
(= I had to ask for directions because I didn’t know the way)
Examples:
Having spent all his money, Daniel couldn’t afford a new jacket.
We decided not to travel, having heard the terrible weather forecast.
We can use the-ING form TO GIVE A REASON
We can also use THE PERFECT -ING form TO GIVE A REASON