INFINITIVE – TOO/ENOUGH - `-ING’ FORM

INFINITIVE – TOO/ENOUGH - `-ING’ FORM

Can you bear not knowing what a bare infinitive is?

Two kinds of infinitive • Bare infinitive • To-infinitive

Two kinds of infinitive • Bare infinitive e.g. stay, go • To-infinitive e.g. to stay, to go

Use the bare infinitive • After modal verbs, e.g. • After the verbs `let’ and `make’

Use the bare infinitive • After modal verbs, e.g. can, must etc. • After the verbs `let’ and `make’ • Let Bill go home early • Make them sit down

He said, `I will not go!’ • He refused ___________________

He said, `I will not go!’ • He refused to go

Jack will see you. He’ll be glad about that Make this one sentence: Jack will be glad ______________

Jack will see you. He’ll be glad about that Make this one sentence: Jack will be glad to see you

He can operate the computer. Rewrite the sentence He knows ___________________

He can operate the computer. Rewrite the sentence He knows how to operate the computer

It’s very cold so we can’t go outside It’s too cold____________

It’s very cold so we can’t go outside It’s too cold to go outside

Tom’s clever. He can solve this problem Make this into one sentence: Tom is clever enough ______________

Tom’s clever. He can solve this problem Make this into one sentence: Tom is clever enough to solve this problem

This box is very heavy. Tom cannot lift it This box is too heavy _________________

This box is very heavy. Tom cannot lift it This box is too heavy for Tom to lift

Tom is not very strong. He cannot move the box. • Use `enough’ to make one sentence • Tom is not strong ____________________

Tom is not very strong. He cannot move the box. • Use `enough’ to make one sentence • Tom is not strong enough to move the box

There is a lot of space. Everyone can come in. There is enough space _________________________

There is a lot of space. Everyone can come in. There is enough space for everyone to come in

We can use the `-ing’ form • As a noun (either subject or object) • Speaking English is easy • I suggested speaking English • He began collecting stamps • After prepositions • This book is about fishing • I’m tired of doing the same thing every day • I’m looking forward to meeting him (The `to’ is a preposition, not part of an infinitive) • After preposition + noun (Remember for ERS!!) • This story is about a man finding buried treasure

Uses of `ing’-form • After the verb `go’ when we talk about activities • Let’s go running • They used to go pig sticking at the weekends • After special phrases like: it’s no use, be busy, it’s (not) worth etc. • It’s no use shouting to him. He’s too far away to hear.

Some verbs can be used with EITHER the `-ing’ form OR with the to -infinitive • start • He started to make a strange noise • He started making a strange noise • begin • continue • like • love • prefer • hate

With some verbs, the meaning with the infinitive is different from the meaning with the infinitive. • I forgot to take my medicine • I forgot taking my medicine

Some can only be used with the `ing’-form • avoid • admit • confess • deny • regret • suggest (Careful! Everyone in HK gets this wrong!) • enjoy • dislike • mind • Would you mind answering a few questions?

Some verbs and expressions are only used with the to-infinitive • decide • I decided to take the later train • expect • want • would like • would prefer

Finally, with verbs of seeing, hearing and feeling, there is a difference between the meaning with object + bare infinitive and object plus `ing’-form • I saw him crossing the street • I saw him cross the street

Finally, with verbs of seeing, hearing and feeling, there is a difference between the meaning with object + bare infinitive and object plus `ing’-form • I saw him crossing the street (crossing is an action in progress) • I saw him cross the street (crossing is a completed action)

INFINITIVE – TOO/ENOUGH - `-ING’ FORM