The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

The to infinitive is used: The -ing form is used:

• to express purpose. He went to university • as a noun. Walking is good exercise.
to become a lawyer. (in order to become) • after certain verbs (admit, anticipate,
• after certain verbs such as agree, appear, appreciate, avoid, consider, continue, delay,
decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, deny, discuss, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy,
refuse, etc. He refused to pay the bill. finish , forgive, go (for activities) , imagine,
• after certain adjectives which describe involve, keep (= continue) , mention, mind,
feelings/emotions (happy, glad, sorry, miss, object to, postpone, practise, prevent,
etc.). She was happy to win the prize. quit, recall , recollect, report, resent, resist, risk,
save, stand, suggest, tolerate, understand, etc.).
• after would like / would love / would They discussed selling the company.
prefer, etc. to express a specific "Let's go jogging!" "No, I'd rather go sailing."
preference.
I would like to see the manager. • after dislike, enjoy, hate, like, love, prefer to
express general preference. She likes painting.
• after certain nouns. (in general)
What a surprise to see him there! Note: like + to infinitive = it is considered a good
• after too / enough. idea
He 's too young to have his own car. I like to wash my hair every day.
He 's clever enough to do the crossword. • after I'm busy, it's no use, it's (no) good, it's
He's got enough money to live on. (not) worth, what's the use of, can't help,
• with it + be + adjective (+ of + noun / there's no point (in), can 't stand, have difficulty
pronoun). (in), in addition to, as well as, have trouble,
It was generous of him to offer £1 ,000. have a hard/difficult time.
• with so + adjective + as. Would you be He can't stand being treated like a slave.
so kind as to help me move the sofa? He had difficulty finding his way back.

• with only to express an unsatisfactory • after spend / waste (time, money, etc.).
result. He spends his free time digging (in) the garden.
She came in only to find Bob had left. • after prepositions. He left the shop without paying,
• after be + the first/second, etc. / next / so he was accused of stealing.
last / best, etc. He was the last to come to • after look forward to, be / get used to, be / get
work. accustomed to, object to, admit (to), etc.
• in the expression for + noun / pronoun I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon.
+ to infinitive. • after hear, listen, notice, see, watch to express
For him to be so rude was unforgivable. an incomplete action, i.e. somebody saw or
• in the expressions to tell you the truth, heard only a part of the action. I saw Tim dOing
to begin with, to be honest, etc. his homework. (I saw part of the action in progress. I
To be honest, I don 't like him. didn't wait until he had finished .)
BUT hear, listen, see, watch + infinitive without
Note: If two infinitives are joined by
to express a complete action, i.e. something
and or or, the to of the second infinitive that somebody saw or heard from beginning to
can be omitted. I want to call Mr Jones
end. I saw Tim do his homework. It took him an hour.
and fax or post him a letter. (I saw the whole action from beginning to end .)

The infinitive without to is used:

• after most modal verbs (can, must, will, etc.). You can leave now if you want.
• after had better / would rather. I'd rather not go out tonight. I'd better stay at home.
• after make / let / see / hear / feel + object. They made him pay for the damage. BUT in the
passive be made / be heard / be seen + to infinitive. He was made to pay for the damage.
• know and help are followed by a to infinitive or an infinitive without to. I've never known him
(to) be so mean. Could you help me (to) fix the car? BUT in the passive be known, be helped + to
infinitive. She was known to have worked as a teacher.

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 The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives G
2 Write what each verb/phrase is followed by: to infinitive, infinitive without to or -
ing form.

1 enjoy + . ....... : ing fp.r.f11. •..•••••• 10 agree + •••••••• I •••••••••• "'"

2 promise + • 1 ••••• .......... 11 can + • •••••••••••••••• I.'

3 be made + .1 ••••••• I ..... .

••••••••• 12 would like + I ........... 11.1 ••••

4 object to + ......... . ................ 13 would + ......................

5 it's no use + •••••••••••••• II ••••••••••• 14 refuse + • ••••••• 1 ••• 1 •• 1 ••••••

6 can 't stand + •••••••••••••••••• 1.1. I •••• 15 spend time + • ••• 1 •••••••••••• I.

7 can 't help + •••••••••••••••••••••••• II 16 avoid + •••••••••••••••••• I ••••

8 had better + ••• to. II ••••• II "" II •••••• 17 be the first + .................... .. .
9 resist + •••••• I ••••••••••••• I ••••• 18 tolerate + • •• I ••••••••••••••••••••

3 Fill in the correct form of the infinitives.

My boss expects me to WQrk (work) overtime tonight.

2 The suspect claimed (work) at the time of the robbery.
3 I was sorry (hear) that she had failed the exam .
4 The burglars must have come in through the window as the lock seems . . . . .. .. . ........ (force) .
5 "Robert appears (overtake) John on the last lap." "Yes, he's passed him! "
6 Mike was the last runner (finish) the marathon.
7 I'd like (book) a return ticket to London , please.
8 Stop pretending (eat) your food - just finish it up, please.
9 It was very kind of Paula (lend) me her laptop.
o Leslie seems .. . (enjoy) her new job.
Kim plans ... . .. ....•..... (start) her own business after she graduates.
2 Jane appears .. ............... ... (get) annoyed with her neighbour now.

4 Underline the correct preposition and fill in the gaps with the -ing form of the
verb in brackets.

1 It was difficult for Laura to get used to / with /jving . . . . (live) in a foreign country.
2 David is looking forward about / to . (travel) across Asia this summer.
3 In addition of / to . . .. (clean) his room, Bob also did the washing-up.
4 Peter is accustomed to / in . . .•........ (work) long hours in the office.
5 There's no point in / about ............ . . . (ask) me again - I've made up my mind.
6 Lisa admitted to / in . (wear) her sister's top without asking .
7 What's the use of / with . . .. (paint) the house if we are going to sell it soon?
8 As well as / with . . .. (raise) money for children , the charity offers advice to parents.

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e The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

5 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct infinitive form

Every year, New Yorkers look forward to 1) .. ~c;~jng .•• (see) one of the
world's greatest races take place on their streets - The New York City
Marathon! About 40,000 people including celebrities, world-class athletes, and,
of course people who just want 2) ............. . . (have) fun, enjoy
3) ... (run) this fa mous race each year! To finish the race, runners must
4) ..•.•. (complete) a 26.2 mile course. Two million people and more than 100 music bands cheer
them on from the streets. The atmosphere is so fantastic many runners consider 5) .... (cross)
the finishing line in Central Park to be one of the best fee lings in the world! Would you like 6) ........ .
(take part) in the NYC marathon? All you need to do is put your name on a list. Afraid you are too unfit
7) ......... . ..... (enter)? Don 't be! 8) .............. . (walk) is entirely acceptable. In fact, over the years,
people as old as 88 have completed the marathon. What's more, you may just 9) .. (win) some
of the $800,000 prize money that is up for grabs. Good luck!

6 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct infinitive form or the -ing form.

A: Rob was the first .......•. .t.a .fjoiEio . ........ (finish) the English test.
B: Yes , but ........................... (tell) you the truth, I don't th ink he did very well.
2 A: Good evening . We would like ........................... (sit) by the window, please.
B: Certainly. If you would be so kind as •. . . . . ... . ........ (follow) me, I'll show you to you r table.
3 A: You should . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... (see) his face when she told him the news.
B: He must ........................ (be) really surprised .
4 A: I'd love ........................... (lie) on the beach right now instead of typing reports.
B: Me, too. Just imagine •.......................... (be) under the sun with nothing to worry about.

Subject of the infinitive / -ing form

The subject of the infinitive or the -ing form is omitted when it is the same as the subject of
the main verb. I want to help with the preparations.
When it is different from the subject of the verb, then an object pronoun (me, you, him, her,
it, us, you, them) , a name or a noun is placed before the infinitive or the -ing form. I want
him/John/my brother to help with the preparations. The subject of the -ing form can be an object
pronoun, a possessive adjective (my, your, etc.) , a name or a possessive case. I remember
him/his/Tim/Tim 's talking about that island.

7 Rephrase the following using the infinitive or the -ing form, as in the example.
You have to eat your carrots. I want .. .you M t:.crt,yQf..J[. C;f'l.r.r.a1<!7 •••••••••••••••••.••
2 I must exercise more often. I want ................................................ .
3 She has to take her medicine every day. The doctor wants ...................................... .
4 I saw him give you the letter. I remember ...............•...........•................
5 He has to talk to me politely. I want ................................................ .
6 I mustn't go to bed late. I don't want
7 We visited Sue last weekend . I remember
8 Sarah sang that song last week. I remember

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 The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives 0
Verbs taking to infinitive or -ing form without a change in meaning
• begin, continue, intend, start + to infinitive or -ing form. She began crying/to cry. However,
we never have two -ing forms together. The days are beginning to get shorter.
• advise, allow, encourage, permit, recommend, take the to-infinitive when they are
followed by an object or when they are in the passive form. They take the -ing form when
they are not followed by an object. He advised us to leave early. (object) We were advised to
leave early. (passive) We advise leaving early. (no object)
• need, require, want are followed by to -infinitive, the -ing form or the passive infinitive.
You need to polish your shoes. Your shoes need polishing. Your shoes need to be polished.

8 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct infinitive form or -ing form.

Museum Rules and Information

• All visitors are required 1) .... to. shaw.. .. (show)
their ticket upon entering each section of the museum.
• Visitors are not permitted 2) .........•... .. (touch)
works of art or to lean on the cases.
• We advise 3) ................. (keep) a safe distance
between you and each work of art.
• Visitors are encouraged 4) . ............... (speak)
quietly in the museum .
• We do not allow 5) . (smoke) inside
the museum building.

9 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct infinitive form or -ing form .

=xtreme sports are not for everyone. But fo r people who enjoy 1) Jiving, .
ive) life to the full , they are the only type of sport? worth
2) ..... ....... (do)! The latest extreme sport to become popular is
sandb oard ing. It involves 3) .................. (slide) down extremely
igh sand dunes on a board. You can 4) ................... Oie down) or
and up. When stand ing up, both your feet are tied to the boa rd to
revent you from 5) .................... (fall off). Some sandboarders,
owever, prefer 6) ................... (keep) thei r feet untied because it
all ows more freedom of movement. Lying down can be even mo re fun .
an you imagine 7) ................... (speed) headfi rst down a sand
un e at 80km/ hr? Because that's how fast you can expect 8) ........ .... (go)! Sounds li ke
n? People who have tried sandboarding say it's totally addi ctive! So head t o a dese rt and try i
ut. Yo u don't need 9) ................. (have) any experience, but you should 10)
ove) da nger and exc itement!

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G The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

Verbs taking to infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning

• forget + to infinitive (= forget to do sth) • try + to infinitive (= do one's best; attempt)
I'm sorry, I forgot to lock the car. She tried hard to cope with her new job.
forget + -ing form (= forget a past event) try + -ing form (= do sth as an experiment)
We 'll never forget visiting Paris. Try adding some more sauce to your pasta.
• remember + to infinitive (= remember to do • want + to infinitive (= wish)
sth) Remember to read the instructions. I want to find a better job.
remember + -ing form (= recall a past event) want + -ing form (= sth needs to be done)
I don 't remember meeting AI before. Your dress wants cleaning.
• mean + to infinitive (= intend to) • stop + to infinitive (= pause temporarily)
He means to move to Newcastle. He stopped to buy some milk on his way home.
mean + -ing form (= involve) stop + -ing form (= fin ish)
Working harder means getting more money. Stop talking to each other, please!
• go on + to infinitive (= finish dOing sth and • be sorry + to infinitive (= regret)
start doing sth else) After finishing her BA, she I'm sorry to hear he has been injured.
went on to get a master's degree. be sorry for + -ing form (= apologise for an
go on + -ing form (= continue) earlier action)
She went on watching TV. I'm sorry for misunderstanding/having
• regret + to infinitive (= be sorry to do sth) misunderstood what you said.
I regret to tell you that you have failed. • hate + to infinitive (= feel sorry that you have
regret + -ing form (= have second thoughts to ask, interrupt, etc.)
about sth already done) He regrets telling lies I hate to interrupt, but I must talk to you.
when he was young. hate + -ing form (= feel sorry for what one is
• would prefer + to infinitive (specific doing) I hate making you feel uncomfortable.
preference) I'd prefer to have an early night • be afraid + to infinitive (= the subject feels
tonight. anxious about doing sth)
prefer + -ing form (in general) I'm afraid to drive over the old bridge.
I prefer reading a book to watching TV. be afraid of + -ing form (= the subject is afraid
prefer + to infinitive + (rather) than + that what is described by the -ing form may happen)
infinitive without to She is afraid of breaking her leg if she jumps
I prefer to read a book (rather) than watch TV. over the wall.

10 Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive or -ing form.

Tom stopped ....... t9. pk;k l,ip....... (pick up) his dry clean ing on the way home.
2 If you don't stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (eat) so much chocolate, you 'll make yourself ill.
3 Try ........................ (phone) John at the office if he's not at home.
4 I tried my best ........................ (finish) the test, but there just wasn 't enough time.
5 He was promoted in 1990 and went on ..... ......... . .. . .. (become) a company director.
6 The band went on ........................ (play) even after the lights had gone out.
7 Jane was afraid ............. • •......... (show) her school report to her parents.
8 I'm afraid of ........................ (lose) my way in the forest.
9 What do you mean ...................... (do) with all that money?
10 Playing a musical instrument well means ........ .... . ..... (practise) for years.
11 I regret ........................ (tell) you that your appointment has been cancelled.
12 She regrets .........•.•.......... (spend) so much money on her new dress.
13 Do you remember ..... . . . . .•. . .. . ... .... (ride) a bicycle for the first time?
14 Remember ...... ................ (post) the letters on your way home.

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 The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives e
11 Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive or -ing form.

Clai re : Katie! I've been meaning 1) to af7k . (ask) you . Did you pass your driving test?
atie: No, I'm afraid I didn't.
Clai re : Oh! I'm really sorry 2) (hear) that. Did your examiner say why?
atie: Yes. He said I didn 't remember 3) (look) in my rearview mirror when I was
reversing. Although I really don't remember 4) (forget) to do that!
Clai re : Oh. That's a pity.
Katie: He also said that I forgot 5) . ., , . (signal) that I was turning on two occasions. And that
I didn't stop 6) , (look) when I went through an intersection . I have to admit to
those mistakes though.
laire: Oh , dear. Are you very upset you failed?
Kati e: A bit. I'm trying 7) (forget) about it.
lai re : Look, you just need some more lessons.
ti e: That's what my examiner said. He told me not to give up.
lai re : Hey, I've got an idea! Why don 't you try 8) '. (take) lessons with my dad? He taught
me to drive. He's a really good teacher.
Kati e: Thanks. But my brother says he wants 9) . (help) me. I'd prefer
10) (get) lessons from him .
laire: OK. No problem. Just let me know if there's anything else I can do to help.
Kati e: Thanks! I will .

12 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct infinitive or -ing form.

Dear John ,

I was glad to receive your email. I didn't go to the party on Saturday night because I injured myself at
football practice last week . I'm trying hard not 1) ,to fee/. , (feel) sorry for myself, but I must admit
. 's difficult. I want 2) , (be) on the pitch with the rest of the team - not sitting here
with a broken leg! My coach was sorry 3) . , . . . (hear) I had been hurt. Our team
doctor told him I wouldn 't be able to play again this season . The season won 't end for another five
months, so I'd prefer 4) .. . .. . . .... (believe) that my leg will heal before then. I mean
5) . (do) everything I can to get better. Our team has won all our games this year
and if we continue to do so there's a good chance we will go on 6) . , .., (play) in the
fi nal. I'll never forget 7) . . . . . . . ... ... (play) in the final last year and I'd love to ,-
experience that again!
By the way, do you want to come to my house next weekend to watch a film?
Remember 8) .

Take care,
Davi d
. (bring) my CDs with you if you can!
•
27
e The Infinitive / -ing form / -ing/-ed adjectives

13 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct passive infinitive or -ing form.

We are waiting for his first novel . t.Q . b.~ . pub.liqh~d . . (publish) in England .
2 His music seems . . . . .. (influence) by the rock culture of the seventies.
3 (hurt) badly in the past, she found it very difficult to trust anyone again .
4 Don't tease him any more. He doesn't enjoy .. . (laugh at).
5 Many film stars now hire bodyguards because they want . . . .. (protect).
6 . (award) an Oscar was the most memorable event in the actor's life .
7 Ann claimed .............. (meet) Tom Cruise while she was in America.
8 I was very upset when I failed the audition, so you can imagine how delighted I was
. (give) a second chance.
9 I'm not used to . .. (approach) by complete strangers asking for my autograph.
10 Frank spoke slowly and loudly because he didn't want ....... . . (misunderstand) .
11 I wouldn 't phone Lisa after midnight. She won 't like . ... •. ....... . .... (wake up) .
12 I don 't remember ... (tell) the news before. Are you sure you mentioned it yesterday?

-ing/-ed adjectives
-ing adjectives describe what somebody or something is.
The exhibition was fascinating. (What was the exhibition like? Fascinating.)
oed adjectives describe how someone feels.
The students were fascinated by the exhibition. (How did the students feel about the exhibition? Fascinated.)

14 Underline the correct item.

A: I didn 't know you were 1) interesting / interested in gardening .

B: I'm not. I think it's really 2) boring / bored , but my mum's hurt her back and she was 3) concerning /
concerned that the garden would become a mess.
A: Oh , I understand now. I was really 4) surprising / surprised to see you with a spade in your hand!
B: Don't laugh! This is really 5) tiring / tired. I feel 6) exhausted / exhausting already.

15 Fill in the gaps with an adjective ending in -ing or oed.

Carla has always been 1) ..... in,tc;rc;;3t.ed (interest) in dancing . Even as a

young girl, she was always keeping her relatives 2) . (entertain)
with her performances at home. No one guessed , however, that by the age of
eighteen she would be dancing in 3) . . .. . . . . . . .. (entertain) shows for
much larger audiences. Carla 's family were 4) .. ....... ... .......... (thrill) to
witness their little girl 's 5) . . . .. . ...... . ....... (excite) debut in the local
town hall. Carla herself was more 6) . . . .. . (excite) and
7) (frighten) than she'd ever been in her life .
Carla soon became famous throughout the country. And now, here she
was, dancing for the Queen . How 8) , . . . ... ...... .
(please) she felt ! But the 9) . ". " " " " .. .
(amaze) reviews she received the next day were even more
10) " .. . .. . .. . .. ....... (thrill) to her!

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 The Infinitive / -ing form / -;ng/-ed adjectives e
16 Put the verbs in brackets into the infinitive or -ing form.

The Letter
tanding at my letterbox, 1 nervously ripped open the creamy white envelope. 'Dear, Sarah Jones', the letter
egan. 'We regret 1) .. M infp,rrn. (inform) you that your application has been unsuccessful'. 1 looked
up. I couldn't continue 2) (read) any further. Just then my mobile rang. It was my dad.
He wanted 3) . (find out) if I had got the job. 1 told him what the letter said. 'Cheer up',
he replied. 'If you keep 4) (send) out applications, you will find a job eventually. Can
you tell me what they said?' 'What's the use of 5) (read) anymore', 1 replied
di appointedly. I looked down at the letter again . The letter continued; 'We do not fee l you are experienced
enough 6) ... . . . . . .. ..... (work) in our marketing department. However, after 7) .... . ..
consider) your CV, we would like 8) .......... (offer) you some training for another position in
our company. We would be glad 9) (meet) with you to discuss this. We look fo rward to
10) ............ (hear) from you soon'. 'I suggest 11) (read) all the way to the end
next time, sweetheart! ', dad said.

17 Choose the correct item.

She'd prefer .. .. at the beach right now. 5 She was only pretending
A being B be to be © A read B to read C read ing
2 The whole audience was by the clown . 6 The day was too nice indoors.
A entertained B entertaining C entertain A to stay B stay C staying
3 We often go . . in the summer. 7 I'm hoping to by two o'clock .
A to sail B sail C sailing A leave B have left Cleaving
4 Frank's work shirt needs 8 Always remember your seatbelt.
A to clean B cleaning C clean A fasten B to fasten C fasten ing

18 Read the text. Choose the correct grammar form for the words in capitals and fill
in the gaps.

Hands who'S addiered to su art

Do you enjoy 1) ••••• /7~tjOg.... sweets every day? Do you have a hard time EAT
2) ••• ••• no when someone offers you a piece of chocolate? Do you walk SAY
into shops only 3) •• .• •• • • • soft drinks or sweets? If you answered "yes" to BUY
the questions above, then you're probably a sugar addict! Sugar addiction is a serious
problem because it can cause many diseases. If you are someone who can't
4) • •• ••••• sugary foods, it's important to act now! Spend RESIST
time on the Internet 5) • about the types of food LEARN
that are full of sugar. Also avoid 6) soft DRINK
drinks and eat fruit whenever you desire something sweet.
At first, you will have difficulty 7) all CUT DOW
your favourite sweets. But very quickly, you ' ll appreciate
8) . .. . healthier and fitter.

29