TO-INFINITIVE, BARE-INFINITIVE & GERUND

--In a sentence, if a verb is used after the main verb, it can be in 3

different forms:

1. To-infinitive
e.g. I want to eat something.
(verb) (to-infinitive)

2. Bare-infinitive
e.g. I saw him cry yesterday.
(verb) (bare-inf)

3. Gerund
e.g. I like swimming.
(verb) (gerund)
(1) TO-INFINITIVE

Agree offer decide appear forget fail promise tell

refuse seem plan attempt learn hope afford ask
threaten want arrange pretend allow tend manage dare

-- ‘To-infinitive’ is usually used after the above verbs

e.g. I agreed to cooperate with them.

(verb) (to-infinitive)

He wants to buy this computer.

(verb) (to-inf)

Sentence Making: _____________________________________________

(2) BARE-INFINITIVE

see , notice, observe, watch, hear, feel, smell, make, let

-- ‘Bare-infinitive’ is usually used after the above verbs.

-- An ‘object’ is usually placed between the ‘verb’ and ‘bare-
infinitive’.

e.g. She saw him steal your purse yesterday.

(verb) (object) (bare-inf)

They heard someone knock the door.

(verb) (object) (bare-inf)

Sentence Making: ___________________________________________

(3) GERUND

stop keep postpone admit consider miss delay

finish mind imagine deny involve fancy regret
avoid risk practise enjoy suggest can’t help

-- ‘Gerund’ is usually used after the above verbs.

e.g. Do you mind opening the door?

(verb) (gerund)

I won’t risk doing this.

(verb) (gerund)

Sentence Making:___________________________________________
Fill in the blanks by using ‘to-inf’, ‘bare-inf’ or ‘gerund’.
1. Could you please stop ____________(make)
making so much noise?
2. Tom refused ____________(lend)
to lend me any money.
3. Don’t let them ____________(try)
try this dangerous game!
4. I don’t enjoy ____________ (write) letters.
5. Miss Lee was verywriting
strict. No one dared ____________ (talk) during her
lessons. to talk
6. I ‘ve arranged ____________(play) tennis tomorrow afternoon.
to play
7. Tom made Ann ____________(cry) yesterday.
8. Have you finished ____________(wash)
cry your hair yet?
9. Ann offered ____________(look)
washing after our children while we were out.
10.He admitted _____________(steal)
to look our car.
11.She doesn’t wantstealing
____________(go) home now.
12.It is not allowed ____________(talk)
to go in the library.
13.Would you mind ____________(answer)
to talk me some questions?
14.They are watching their children ____________(play).
answering
play