Infinitive: usage

 

Verb Patterns

 

a) verb + -ing

 

After some verbs, we use verb-ing:

• I enjoy going to the cinema.

NOT: I enjoy to go to the cinema.

 

• It was late when we finished watching the movie.

NOT: It was late when we finished to watch the movie.

 

 

Some other verbs which follow this pattern are:

 

suggest	like	love	stop
finish	keep	avoid	hate
	mind	enjoy

• I hate listening to rap music.
• It didn’t stop raining all day.

 

b) to + infinitive

 

After other verbs, we use to + infinitive:

• We wanted to relax on holiday.

NOT: We wanted relaxing on holiday.

 

• We decided to go to Greece.

NOT: We decided going to Greece.

 

 

Some other verbs which follow this pattern are:

 

choose	forget	help	decide
hope	need	plan	want
promise	try	would like	learn

• We hope to go there again next year.
• I promised to buy a present for my sister.

 

In the negative, we use ‘not to…’:

• We tried not to drink too much ouzo.

 

Infinitives of Purpose

 

We can also use infinitives to say why we do something:

• Why do people go to Paris?

… because they want to see the Eiffel Tower.

• To see the Eiffel Tower.

 

• I went to the library…

… because I wanted to get a book.

• … to get a book.

 

• She went to the bakery…

… because she wanted to buy a chocolate cake.

• … to buy a chocolate cake.

 

• We went to the zoo…

… because we wanted to see the animals.

• … to see the animals.