Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without to.
Use and Word Lists
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Example
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as the subject of a clause | To know you is to love you. |
after certain expressions (without to) | Why not go to the cinema? |
after certain verbs (without to) | I can swim. |
after certain verbs (with to) | He wants to swim. |
after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive constructions) | They dont know how to swim. |
after certain verbs with objects (without to) | He made her swim. |
after certain verbs with objects (with to) | They wanted him to swim. |
after certain adjectives and their comparisons | Its easier to swim downstream. |
after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned above | We made a promise to swim. (derived from the verb to promise) |
^^ Gerund ^^
Form
ing form of the verb
Use
Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.
Use and Word Lists |
Example
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as the subject of a clause | Cycling is good for your health. |
after certain adjectives | Hes afraid of going by plane. |
after certain prepositions | Before going to bed he turned off the lights. |
after certain verbs | I enjoy cooking. |
after certain verbs with prepositions | I am looking forward to seeing you again. |
after certain nouns | We had problems finding our way back home. |
Use and Word Lists |
Example
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same meaning | I started to read. / I started reading. |
same meaning but different use | She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking. |
different meaning | He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking. |
infinitive or present participle | I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs. |