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Immagine del redattoreDavid MacFarlane

The to infinitive and -ing - B2

Aggiornamento: 9 feb 2022

Verb + to infinitive; verb + infinitive without to; verb + -ing; verb + that clause; adjective + to infinitive

 

CONTEXT LISTENING

 

You are going to hear a TV chef telling a group of people how to cook something. Look at the picture, which shows the things he uses. Can you guess what he is going to make?

Listen and check if you were right.


Listen again and fill in the gaps.


  1. Continue doing this until the mixture begins to look pale and fluffy.

  2. Avoid ________ the eggs all at the same time.

  3. Keep ________ all the time.

  4. Don’t forget ________ the baking powder.

  5. I recommend ________ sultanas and apricots.

  6. If you prefer ________ dates or raisins, that’s fine.

  7. Some people like ________ some nuts too.

  8. If you decide ________ nuts, chop them up small.

  9. Remember ________ if the fruit cake is ready after about an hour.

  10. I suggest ________ a little lemon juice as well.

  11. Don’t try ________ the cake until it’s completely cold.

  12. Don’t expect ________ much fruit cake left after a couple of hours.

What do you notice about the forms of the verbs you have filled in?


 

Log into Learnclick to do the exercise and check your answers.

 

GRAMMAR

 

..ing vs to…


When one verb follows another, the second verb is always either an -ing form or an infinitive, with or without to.


The form of the second verb depends on the first verb.


All the verbs in this unit marked * can also normally be followed by a that clause with the same meaning


Verb + to infinitive


*decide, *demand, deserve, fail, *hope, learn, manage, neglect, (can/can’t) afford, *agree, aim, appear, *arrange, attempt, choose, offer, omit, plan, prepare, *pretend, refuse, seem, tend, threaten, (can’t) wait, wish


If you decide to add nuts …
I hope to see you later.

Notice how the negative is formed:

If you decide not to ice it …

The following verbs + to infinitive always have an object before the to infinitive:


*persuade, *remind, *teach, *tell, *warn, advise, allow, encourage, forbid, force, invite, order, permit,

Her father taught her to play tennis.
The teacher reminded the children to bring their swimming things.
The school allows students to wear jeans.

Advise, allow, encourage, forbid and permit can also be followed by -ing when there is no object:

I advise you to add nuts.
or I advise adding nuts.

The following verbs + to-infinitive sometimes have an object before the to-infinitive:


ask, beg,*expect, help, *intend, promise, want

We expected to be late.
or We expected Tom to be late.
We wanted to stay longer.
or We wanted them to stay longer.


Would like, would love, would prefer, etc. are also followed by the to infinitive

Would you like to go to the park?
I would prefer to go to the shops
 

Verb + infinitive without to


Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, needn’t, shall, should, will, would), had better and would rather are followed by the infinitive without to

You should add the eggs slowly.
You needn’t include nuts.

Make and let (always with an object) are followed by the infinitive without to:

Let the cake cool for half an hour.
I made my sister help with the cooking. (= I forced or obliged her to help)

 

Verb + -ing


*admit, avoid, can’t face, can’t help, can’t stand, carry on, *consider, delay, *deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, fancy, feel like, finish, give up, *imagine, involve, keep (on), *mention, (not) mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, *recommend, risk, resist, *suggest


Make and let (always with an object) are followed by the infinitive without to:

I enjoy making it.
Avoid adding the eggs all at the same time.
Keep beating the eggs.
I suggest adding a little lemon juice.

Notice how the negative is formed:

If you don’t leave immediately, you risk not catching your plane.
Can you imagine not having a car nowadays?

 

Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with no difference in meaning)


begin, can’t bear, continue, hate, dislike, like, love, prefer, *propose, start


Two -ing forms do not usually follow each other:

I was starting to make a cake when the phone rang.
not I was starting making


 

Note!


Like, prefer, hate and love can be followed by the to infinitive or -ing, but would like, would prefer, would hate and would love are always followed by the to infinitive:

She would like to go out but we would prefer to stay in.

 

Note!


Like + to infinitive has a slightly different meaning from like + -ing:

I like to catch the early bus on Mondays. (= this is a good thing to do or it’s a habit, but not necessarily something I enjoy)
I like dancing. (= I enjoy it)

 

Verb + to infinitive or -ing (with a difference in meaning)


The following verbs have two different meanings depending on the verb form that follows:


*remember, *forget, *regret, try, stop, mean, go on



 

-ing or the infinitive without to (with a difference in meaning)


The following verbs connected with the senses may be followed by an object and either -ing or the infinitive without to:


feel, notice, see, watch


Notice the difference in meaning between verb + -ing and verb + infinitive without to:

I watched the boys playing football. (= an activity continuing over a period of time)
I watched the boy kick the football into the road. (= a short completed action
She heard her mother singing as she came downstairs. (= a continuing action)
She heard the doorbell ring. (= a short completed action)


 

Verb + that clause


All the verbs marked * in this unit can also be followed by a that clause with the same meaning:

She admitted taking the money.
= She admitted (that) she had taken the money.
Imagine sitting on a tropical beach with a cool drink.
= Imagine (that) you’re sitting on a tropical beach …
I suggest adding some lemon juice.
= I suggest (that) you add some lemon juice.
I recommend using sultanas and apricots.
= I recommend (that) you use sultanas and apricots.
They agreed to leave early.
= They agreed (that) they would leave early.

 

Adjective + to infinitive

Many adjectives can be followed by the to infinitive. These are some common ones:


afraid, cheap, *dangerous, delighted, *difficult, *easy, expensive, happy, *hard, impossible, interesting, *nice, pleased, possible, safe, sorry, surprised


I’m surprised to see you here.
The book was hard to understand and at times I found it almost impossible to read.

The adjectives marked * can sometimes also be followed by -ing with the same meaning:

It’s nice meeting friends after school.
or It’s nice to meet friends after school.

 

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

 

Now click on the button below and login to your Learnclick account to practice what you've learned.


 

EXAM PRACTICE

 

Now do Reading and Use of English Part 1 - B2 - Grammar Focus: to infinitive vs ing

 




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