Marina Miloevi, 2011

Verbs followed by the infinitive or the ing form

Infinitives
Use:

After do or a modal auxiliary verb as part of a verb phrase:

Do you think she is ready? We must get some more light bulbs.
As object or complement of a verb, adjective or a noun: You have the right to remain silent. I
dont want to talk. I am anxious to contact your brother.
As subject or complement of a clause: The main thing is to relax. Its nice to talk to you.
To watch him eating really gets on my nerves.
To express a persons purpose: He came to London to look for work.
We use perfect infinitives after link verbs like seem and appear to refer to a previous time
period: There seems to have been some sort of mistake.
We use perfect infinitives after phrase expressing emotions and feelings: Im sorry to have
kept you waiting.

Forms:
Present infinitive active
Present infinitive passive
Present infinitive continuous
Perfect infinitive active
Perfect infinitive passive
Perfect infinitive continuous

(to) write
(to) be written
(to) be writing
(to ) have written
(to) have been written
(to) have been writing

Types of infinitives:
1. Bare infinitive (without TO):
a) after modal auxiliary verbs will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might and must:
She must go to the doctors.
I would rather go alone.
Can you help me?
She will probably be elected.
b) after had better and sometimes need and dare:
You had better see what she wants.
She neednt do the washing up.
c) after let, make, hear, feel, watch and notice:
She let him go.
She made me lie. I didnt see you come in.
d) after why (not):
Why pay more at other shops? We have the lowest prices.
Why not take a holiday?
e) after and, or, except, but, then, as and like:
I would like to lie down and go to sleep. Do you want to have lunch or wait till later?
We have nothing to do except look at the cinema posters.
f) after do; expressions like all I did, what I do:
All I did was sit and cry.
What a doctor does is saving lives.

Marina Miloevi, 2011

2. Full infinitive (with TO): He came to London to look for work.

3. Split infinitive: I would like to really understand philosophy. He began to slowly get up.

-ING forms

When ing forms are used as verbs or adjectives they are often called participles.
When they are used more like nouns they are called gerunds.

Forms of participle:
Present participle active
Present participle passive
Past participle
Perfect participle active
Perfect participle passive

Plying
Being played
Played
Having played
Having been playing

Forms of gerund:
Present gerund active
Present gerund passive
Perfect gerund active
Perfect gerund passive

Plying
Being played
Having played
Having been playing

Common verbs followed by infinitives:

1. verb + to infinitive
agree
aim
appear arrange
ask*
attempt
ask
beg* choose
consent dare
decide demand deserve desire encourage expect* fail grow guarantee hasten
happen
hope
hurry
learn long
manage
neglect
negotiate
offer
pay
plan
pledge prefer* prepare pretend promise recommend refuse resolve seek seem
start struggle
swear tell tend try threaten undertake volunteer vow want*
wish*
The shop refused to accept a cheque.
He threatened to report their behaviour to the principal

2. verb + object + to infinitive

advise allow assist beg believe brainwash bribe cause challenge condemn
command consider dare employ enable encourage entitle expect forbid force
help induce inspire instruct invite lead oblige order permit persuade prefer
program remind select send show teach tell urge train urge warn
I considered her to be the best person for the job.
The police warned everyone to stay inside with their windows closed.
3. verb + bare infinitive:
2

Marina Miloevi, 2011

After need, dare (in negative sentences), make, let, notice, feel, hear, see, watch, have,
observe, overhear and help we commonly use a bare infinitive.
I neednt dare say what I really thought.
They stopped to help push the car out of the way.
I will let you finish the rest of the cake.
4. verbs + to be:
we can use a passive infinitive after some verbs, esp. report verbs. After these verbs we can
often use to be and adjective or noun:
allege / assume / believe / consider / estimate / feel / instruct t/ reckon / report / roumour /
prove/ think / understand
He originally wanted to be a gymnast.
The judge instructed me to be more attentive to the evidence.
5. verbs followed by perfect infinitive:
appear / seem / claim / pretend / happen / prove / tend and report verbs are often used with
perfect infinitive such as to have done to emphasize that one action happens before the other.
He appears to have put on weight.
We can usually rewrite this structure with introductory it + that-clause and perfect tense.
It appears that he ahs put on weight
6. using for + object:
with one group of verbs connected with warning we commonly use for + object + toinfinitive: ask / apply / arrange / appeal / call / / campaign / clamour / long / opt / plan /
plead / press / yearn / vote / wait / wish.
He appealed for help to find his missing wallet.

Common verbs use by ing forms:

1. verb + -ing: admit / avoid / consider / delay / deny / detest / dread / envisage / feel like /
finish / imagine / miss / recall / resent / risk / suggest

2. verb + to-infinitive or ing (with little difference in meaning): begin / cease / continue /
start

3. verb + object + -ing: catch / discover / feel / find / hear / leave / notice / observe / overhear /
see / spot

4. verb + object + bare infinitive or ing: feel / hear / notice / observe / overhear / see / watch

Marina Miloevi, 2011