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the first lesson

THE INFINITIVE
INFINITIVE AFTER QUESTION WORDS

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These verbs: ask, decide, explain, forget, know, show, tell, understand,
can be followed by a question word such as where, how, what, who, when
or 'whether' + the 'to-infinitive'.

Examples

She asked me how to use the washing machine.
Do you understand what to do?
Tell me when to press the button.
I've forgotten where to put this little screw.
I can't decide whether to wear the red dress or the black one.
The question word Why is followed by the zero infinitive in suggestions:

Examples

Why wait until tomorrow?
Why not ask him now?
Why walk when we can go in the car?
Why not buy a new bed for your bedroom?
Why leave before the end of the game?
Why not spend a week in Beirut and a week in Baghdad?

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GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Part B: GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

B. Verbs where there is a clear difference in meaning:
Verbs marked with an asterisk* can also be followed by a that-clause.
come
forget*
go on

mean*
regret*
remember*

stop
try

Come:
Come + gerund is like other verbs of movement followed by the gerund,
and means that the subject is doing something as they move:

She came running across the field.
Come + to-infinitive means that something happens or develops, perhaps outside the subject's control:

At first I thought he was crazy, but I've come to appreciate his sense of humour.
How did you come to be outside the wrong house?
This word has come to mean something quite different.

Forget, regret and remember:
When these verbs are followed by a gerund, the gerund refers to an action that happened earlier:

I remember locking the door (= I remember now, I locked the door earlier)
He regretted speaking so rudely. (= he regretted at some time in the
past, he had spoken rudely at some earlier time in the past.)
Forget is frequently used with 'never' in the simple future form:

I'll never forget meeting my boss for the first time.
When these verbs are followed by a to-infinitive, the infinitive refers to an action happening at the same time, or later:

I remembered to lock the door (= I thought about it, then I did it.)
Don't forget to buy some eggs! (= Please think about it and then do it.)
We regret to announce the late arrival of the 12.45 from Paddington. (= We feel sorry before we tell you this bad news.)

Go on:
Go on + gerund means to continue with an action:

He went on speaking for two hours.
I can't go on working like this - I'm exhausted.
Go on + to-infinitive means to do the next action, which is often the next stage in a process:

After introducing her proposal, she went on to explain the benefits for the company.
John Smith worked in local government for five years, then went on to become a Member of Parliament.

Mean:
Mean + gerund expresses what the result of an action will be, or what will be necessary:

If you take that job in London it will mean travelling for two hours every day.
We could take the ferry to France, but that will mean spending a night in a hotel.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses an intention or a plan:

Did you mean to dial this number?
I mean to finish this job by the end of the week!
Sorry - I didn't mean to hurt you.

Stop:
Stop + gerund means to finish an action in progress:

I stopped working for them because the wages were so low.
Stop tickling me!
Stop + to-infinitive means to interrupt an activity in order to do
something else, so the infinitive is used to express a purpose:

I stopped to have lunch. (= I was working, or travelling, and I interrupted what I was doing in order to eat.)
It's difficult to concentrate on what you are doing if you have to stop to answer the phone every five minutes.

Try:
Try + gerund means to experiment with an action that might be a solution to your problem.

If you have problems sleeping, you could try doing some yoga before you go to bed, or you could try drinking some warm milk.
'I can't get in touch with Carl.' 'Have you tried e-mailing him?'
Try + to-infinitive means to make an effort to do something. It may be something very difficult or even impossible:

The surgeons tried to save his life but he died on the operating table.
We'll try to phone at 6 o'clock, but it might be hard to find a public telephone.
People have to try to live together in harmony.

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GERUND OR INFINITIVE

The two groups of verbs below can be followed either by the gerund or by
the infinitive. Usually this has no effect on the meaning, but with
some verbs there is a clear difference in meaning. Verbs marked * can
also be followed by a that-clause.

Example: to prefer

I prefer to live in an apartment.
I prefer living in an apartment.

A. Verbs where there is little or no difference in meaning:

allow
attempt
begin
bother
cease
continue

deserve
fear*
hate*
intend*
like
love

neglect
omit
permit
prefer*
recommend*
start

Notes:

1. Allow is used in these two patterns:

a. Allow + object + to-infinitive:

Her parents allowed her to go to the party.
b. Allow + gerund:

Her parents don't allow smoking in the house.
2. Deserve + gerund is not very common, but is mainly used with passive constructions or where there is a passive meaning:

Your proposals deserve being considered in detail.
These ideas deserve discussing. (= to be discussed).
3. The verbs hate, love, like, prefer are usually followed by a gerund
when the meaning is general, and by a to-infinitive when they refer to a
particular time or situation. You must always use the to-infinitive
with the expressions 'would love to', 'would hate to', etc.
Compare:

I hate to tell you, but Uncle Jim is coming this weekend.
I hate looking after elderly relatives!
I love dancing.
I would love to dance with you.

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THE INFINITIVE

VERBS NORMALLY FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE

B. These are the most common of the verbs that are normally followed by a
noun + infinitive. The verbs marked * may also be followed by a
'that-clause'.

Example

VERB NOUN INFINITIVE
He reminded

me

to buy some eggs.

THAT-CLAUSE

He reminded

me

that I had to buy some eggs.

accustom
aid
appoint
assist
cause
challenge
command*
defy
direct*
drive
empower
enable
encourage
entice

entitle
entreat
force
get
implore*
incite
induce
inspire
instruct*
invite
lead
leave (make someone responsible)
oblige

order*
persuade*
press
prompt
provoke
remind*
require*
stimulate
summon
teach
tell
tempt
trust*
warn*

Notes:

* command, direct, entreat, implore, order, require, trust:
there is no noun between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

The general commanded his men to surrender.
The general commanded that his men should surrender.
persuade and remind:
there is always a noun between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

You can't persuade people to buy small cars.
You can't persuade people that small cars are better.
instruct, teach, warn:
the noun is optional between these verbs and a 'that-clause':

She taught her students to appreciate poetry.
She taught her students that poetry was valuable.
She taught that poetry was valuable.
Examples

The professor challenged his students to argue with his theory.
This law empowers the government to charge more taxes.
You can't force me to do something I don't agree with.
You are obliged to drive on the left in England.
I invited the new student to have dinner with me.
What inspired you to write this poem?
The elephant told the mouse to climb up his tail.

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