U1: Verb complements:Infinitive or -ing?

Infinitive or -ing?

Sometimes we need to decide whether to use a verb in its:

to-infinitive form: to do, to sing

or in its

-ing form: doing, singing

For example, only one of the following sentences is correct:

I dislike to work late.	One of these is wrong! Which one?
I dislike working late.

Use infinitive...

after adjectives, for example:

• disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised

This includes "too + adjective" and "adjective + enough". Look at these example sentences:

• I was happy to help them.
• She will be delighted to see you.
• The water was too cold to swim in.
• Is your coffee too hot to drink?
• He was strong enough to lift it.
• She is rich enough to buy two.

after certain verbs, for example:

• forget, help, learn, teach, train
• choose, expect, hope, need, offer, want, would like
• agree, encourage, pretend, promise
• allow, can/can't afford, decide, manage, mean, refuse

Look at these example sentences:

• I forgot to close the window.
• Mary needs to leave early.
• Why are they encouraged to learn English?
• We can't afford to take a long holiday.

Use -ing...

when the word is the subject of a clause:

• Swimming is good exercise.
• Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

after a preposition:

• I look forward to meeting you.
• They left without saying goodbye.

after certain verbs:

• avoid, dislike, enjoy, finish, give up, mind/not mind, practise

Look at these example sentences:

• I dislike getting up early.
• Would you mind opening the window?

Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive or -ing form 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