Use of English

We use to-infinitive:

• to express purpose. E.g.: She signed the course to learn English.

• after some verbs such as: advise, appear, agree, decide, expat, hope, manage, learn, offer, promise, refuse, teach, want, etc. E.g.: I advised him to visit Helen.

• after would love, would like, would prefer. E.g.: I would like to order a cup of tea.

• after adjectives as glad, difficult, happy, sorry, willing etc. E.g.: It’s easier to swim downstream.

• after too and enough. E.g.: This soup is too spicy for her to eat.

• after the first, the last, the next. E.g.: She’s the next to get her passport.

• after question words. E.g.: I don’t know what to say.

• verb + object + to infinitive.

The infinitive without to

We use infinitive without to:

• after modal verbs: can, could, may, might, will, would, must, etc. E.g.: You can call him.

• after the verbs: make, hear, feel, let, see. E.g.: She made me feel bad.

The –ing form

We use -ing form:

• as a noun. E.g.: Cycling is good for your health.

• after like, love, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer, etc. E.g.: I enjoy cooking.

• after prepositions E.g.: Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

• after certain verbs such as: avoid, admit, fancy, finish, imagine, keep, forgive (=continue) mind (=object to), regret, suggest etc. E.g.: She suggested eating fresh fruit.

• after the expressions: E.g.: I am looking forward to seeing you again.

• after certain nouns: E.g.: We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or ing-form

Note: the verbs see, watch, notice, hear and other verbs of perception can be followed by: object + infinitive without to or object + ing form. E.g.: I saw him pass the church. I saw him passing the church.