Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without to.
| Use and Word Lists 
 | Example 
 | 
|---|---|
| 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 
 | 
|---|---|
| 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 
 | 
|---|---|
| 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. | 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 





 
 
 





 
 
 

 
	