Infinitive or ING form

EOI
 Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a
verb in its:
 -ing form (doing, singing)

or

 infinitive form (to do, to sing).

 For instance, only one of the following sentences

is correct. Which one?
I’ve just decided buying a new car. (?)
I’ve just decided to buy a new car. (?)
 When to use the infinitive
 The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:

- forget, help, learn, teach, train

- choose, expect, hope, need, offer, want, would like
- agree, encourage, pretend, promise, recommend
- allow, can/can't afford, decide, manage, mean, refuse

I agreed to go with her.

He decided to leave the party early.
Why are they encouraged to learn English?
We can't afford to take a long holiday.

! For the negative form we use “not” before the infinitive:

I agreed not to go with her.
 The infinitive form is always used after
adjectives, for example:
- disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved,
sad, surprised
I was happy to help them.

 This includes too + adjective:

The water was too cold to swim in.

 The infinitive form is used after adjective +

enough:
She is rich enough to buy two.
When to use -ing

 The -ing form is used when the word is the

subject of a sentence or clause:
Swimming is good exercise.
Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

 The -ing form is used after a preposition:

I look forward to meeting you.
They left without saying "Goodbye."
 The -ing form is used after certain verbs:
- avoid, dislike, enjoy, finish, give up, mind/not
mind, practise, deny, postpone, fancy, admit,
miss, involve, imagine

I dislike getting up early.

Would you mind opening the window?

! For the negative form we use “not” before the gerund:

Would you mind not opening the window? It’s cold outside.
Gerund and infinitive

 Some verbs can be followed by the -ing

form or the infinitive without a big change
in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend,
like, love, prefer, propose, start.

It started to rain / It started raining.

I like to play tennis / I like playing tennis.
Fill in the blanks with the infinitive or ing form
 1. We like ______ our grandmother on Sundays.
(visit)
 2. It wasn’t a nice day, so we decided _____ for
a walk. (not go)
 3. My father hates _____a tie to work. (wear)
 4. We can't afford ______ a vacation this
summer. (take)
 5. The company was pleased ______ your
thank-you letter. (receive)
 6. Our neighbour threatened _______ the police.
(call)
 7. I hope ______ a job soon. (find)
 8. Would you mind _____ a window? (open)
 9. She was too proud _____ the truth. (tell)
 10. She cannot leave the table without ______ her
dinner. (finish)
 11. The music will continue _______until you turn it off.
(play)
 12. My little brother dislikes ______his hair brushed. (not
have)
 13. Men aren’t very good at ______ women’s thoughts.
(guess)
 14._________ is bad for your health. (smoke)
b) With a change in meaning

 like + infinitive = preference

 like+ -ing = enjoy

I like to keep my room clean.

I like swimming.
 stop + infinitive = cease an activity in
order to do something else
 stop + -ing = cease / interrupt an activity

They stopped to greet each other.

They stopped laughing because they were
too loud.
 remember + infinitive = remember to do
an activity
 remember + -ing form = remember
already performing an activity

I must remember to water the plants.

Ok, I now remember watering the plants.
 forget + infinitive = not doing an activity
 forget + -ing = activity is done and
forgotten about

I forgot to tell her to water the plants.

I forgot telling her to water the plants, so I
did it again.
 try + infinitive =make an attempt
 try + -ing = try as a solution

I tried to speak louder, but I failed.

I tried speaking English to him because he
didn’t understand my language.
 Game foreword
 Kept doing - agreed to do – enjoyed doing
– decided to do – admitted doing – refuse
to do – avoid doing – want to do – feel like
doing – I’d like to do – finish doing – offer
to do
 Game foreword
 Postpone doing – promisse to do – hope
to do – can’t face doing – risk doing – dare
to do – put off doing – expect to do – fail to
do – miss doing – pretend to do – imagine
doing