Infinitives (Part One)

Infinitives = to + Base form of verb

Examples: to eat , to cook, to dance , to be , to run
Infinitive Form:
 Verb + Infinitive: Examples: 1. He decided to study in Japan. (Affirmative)
2. He decided not to study in Japan. (Negative)
3. Did he decide to study in Japan? (Interrogative)

Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives:

need to pretend to plan to would like to etc.

 Verb + Object + Infinitive: Examples: 1. The teacher told students to leave. (Affirmative)
2. The teacher told students not to leave. (Negative)
3. Did the teacher tell students to leave? (Interrogative)

Common Verbs Followed by (Pro)nouns and Infinitives:

tell someone to invite someone to allow someone to etc.

 Verb + Infinitive OR Verb + Object + Infinitive ( Some verbs have two patterns)
Examples: 1. We all want to have English classes. (Pattern 1)
2. He wants all his friends to come to his party. (Pattern 1)

Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives OR by Object + Infinitives:

 expect to / expect someone to need to / need someone to etc. (Book Page 313)

Reference List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives (Book Page 325)

Common Verbs Followed by either Infinitives OR Gerunds

Verbs Followed by Gerunds Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Same Meaning Different Meaning

enjoy admit avoid discuss want decide afford pretend
mind misss appreciate quit
Begin like continue remember forget
wait promise arrange demand
Start intend stop try regret
etc. etc.
book page324
etc. book page 317
book page 325

Examples:
1. She likes to cook.
Same meaning
2. She likes cooking
3.
1. I stopped to call you. ( for a purpose – in order to do another thing )
Different meaning
2. I stopped calling you. ( stop an activity-I will not call you any more )
Try + Gerund = to test something, to see if it works or not.
Example: I tried using less salt on my food, as it is healthier. (Maybe it will taste good with less salt.)
Try + Infinitive = make an effort to do something difficult.
Example: Could you please try to open this jar for me? I can’t open it. (It is difficult to open.)

Stop + Gerund = you quit doing something. (The action is not happening any more.)
Example: I've stopped buying the newspaper because now I read the news online. (I stopped this activity.)
Stop + Infinitive = someone stops doing something in order to do something else.
Example: I stopped to buy milk on my way home. (I stopped at the grocery in order to buy milk.)

Forget + Gerund = you have already done something, but you forget doing it. ( You have no memory)
bringing
Example: I forgot to bring my books to school. (I didn't bring my books.)
Forget + Infinitive = you intended to do something, but didn’t remember to do it.
Example: I forgot to bring my lunch today. (I need to bring my lunch, but I forgot.)

Remember + Gerund = having a memory of doing something in the past.

Example: I still remember being nervous on my first day of school. (I recalled this event.)
Remember + Infinitive = you had the intention of doing something, and you remembered to do it.
Example: I remembered to pay the bills on time last month. (She remembered to do a duty.)

Regret + Gerund = you did something in the past and you are not happy about it.
Example: I regret being late for school. (I wish I hadn’t being late.)
Regret + Infinitive = to tell bad news. You are not happy about it (usually used in formal cases only).
Example: We regret to tell you that your application was not accepted. (We’re sorry for this bad news.)
 Activity
Complete each sentence with the correct form of verb in parentheses:
telling
1. I regretted (tell) ________________her my secret because she told everyone at my school.
to inform
2. We regret (inform) ________________ you that the flight has been delayed for another two hours.
switching
3. I remember (switch) _________________off the lights when I went on holiday.
to try
4. I want (try) ________________ studying
(study) _________________ with a friend to see if it helps us stay more motivated.
to study
5. I'm trying (study) ________________ but it's impossible with all this noise.
to ask
6. He stopped the video (ask) _______________ the students some questions.
turning
7. Have you tried (turn) ________________ the computer off and on again?
to get
8. She tried (get) __________________ into the club, but she got ID’d.
watching
9. I remember (watch) ___________________ this film before.
meeting
10.She didn’t recognize him at all. She forgot (meet) ___________________him last summer.
to buy
11.Please remember (buy) ____________________ some milk on the way home.
locking
12.He forgot (lock) ______________________ the door when he went out.
to be
13.He always tries (be) as punctual as possible, but sometimes he is still late.
to look
14. On the way to Edinburgh, we stopped (look) _______________ at an old castle.
using
15.We’ve stopped (use)______________ plastic bags in supermarkets. We take our own bag with us now when we go shopping.
falling
16. I remember (fall) ________________ down the stairs when I was four years old.

More self-Practice: Book p. (318) Exercise: 30 & 32

Book p. (320) Exercise: 35
 It is + Adjective + Infinitive :
Examples:
1. It is easy to ride a bike. It is easy for boys to ride a bike.
2. It is difficult to guess what will happen. It is difficult for us to guess what will happen.
3. It is necessary to eat healthy food. It is necessary for people to eat healthy food.
Make sentences:
important / have / time for your self It is important to have time for yourself.
boring / watch TV / every week
relaxing / hang out / with your friends itIt is
is relaxing
relaxing for
for you
you with
to hang out with your friend.
yor friends

 Infinitive as subject of a sentence:

Examples: To ride a bike is easy for boys.
Use the above examples to form sentences with infinitive as a subject:

1. To guess what will happen is difficult fo us.

2. To eat healthy food is necessary for people.
  Adjective + Infinitive = used to describe a person feelings.
Form: Subject + be verb + Infinitive
Examples:
1. I am happy to help you.
2. She was afraid to ask for help.
3. I am sorry to bother you.

Common Adjectives Followed by Infinitives:

glad to - lucky to - anxious to - surprised to etc.
Reference List : Book page (333)

 Using Infinitives with too & enough:

1. Infinitive with too = shows why something is impossible to do
Form: Subject + be verb + too + adjective + infinitive
Examples:

1. It is too cold to go swimming.

2. This lesson is too hard to understand.
3. This food is too spicy to eat.
4. This mountain is too dangerous to climb.
5. The driving test is too difficult to pass.

We can add "for + person" to be more specific.

1. It is too cold for them to go swimming.

 2. Infinitive with enough = It is possible to do something
Three Forms: 1. adjective + enough + infinitive Example: He isn't old enough to drive his car.
2. enough + noun + infinitive Example: I have enough money to buy this computer.
3. noun + enough + infinitive Example: I have money enough to buy this computer.

Activity: Fill In the Correct Word ( too or enough).

1. I left the coffee for a minute to cool because it was____________ hot to drink.
2. He wasn't strong ________________ to lift that heavy box.
3. There aren’t ________________ policemen in our town.
4. Do you have ________________ information to help me with this problem?
5. It is ________________ difficult to do for a little child.
6. I do not have ______________ time to prepare dinner.
7. I didn't buy the car because it was _________________________ expensive.
8. He didn't work hard ________________ to pass the exam.