Verb combimation
(Infinitive vs -ing form)
A. -ing and infinitive (1): verb + -ing form or infinitive
1. Verbs followed by -ing form
avoid |
consider |
delay |
deny |
dislike |
enjoy |
finish |
can’t help |
involve |
justify |
like (=enjoy) |
look forward to |
mind |
miss |
postpone |
practise |
risk |
suggest |
can’t stand |
carry on |
put off |
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Note. In the expression look forward to, the word to
is a preposition. Prepositions (e.g., in, on, at, with, from, etc.) are
always followed by the -ing form rather than infinitive.
2. Expressions bellow are followed by the -ing form
It’s a waste of time/money ...
There’s no point (in) ...
It’s no use ...
It’s (not) worth ...
It's not worth repairing the camera. It would be cheaper to
buy a new one.
3. Verb followed by to + infinitive
afford |
agree |
arrange |
attempt |
claim |
decide |
demand |
deserve |
expect |
fail |
guarantee |
hesitate |
hope |
learn |
manage |
neglect |
offer |
plan |
prepare |
pretend |
promise |
refuse |
seem |
tend |
threaten |
train |
want |
would like |
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He have arranged to meet the visitors at the factory
We were very unhappy with service they had provided. We refused to pay
them.
The company is taking on a lot of new staff. They plan to extend their
researches in a new area.
He was angry about the way company had treated him. They threaten to
stop his project.
4. Passive forms
There are passive forms of the -ing form and the infinitive.
The passive form of the -ing form is made with being
+ past participle (e.g., being done):
Everyone likes being congratulated when they have
worked hard.
The passive infinitive is formed by to be + past participle
(e.g., to be done):
She expects to be promoted soon.
B. -ing and infinitive (2): verbs and objects
5. Verb + object + infinitive
There are a number of verbs that can take a direct object and to
+ infinitive.
common examples are:
advice |
allow |
ask |
enable |
encourage |
force |
invite |
order |
persuade |
remind |
tell |
warn |
The lawer advised me to read the contract carefully.
The negotiators persuaded the union to accept the pay deal.
The court ordered company to pay compensation.
The fall in demand forced us to cut production
They invited me to speak at the conference.
6. Reporting what people say
Many of listed above words can be used to report what people say
"Could you cam back later?" he asked me.
He asked me to come back later.
The verb warn is usually used with not to do:
He said, "Don't put all your money in one company"
He warned me not to put all my money in one company.
7. Make and let
The verbs make and let are followed by an object and the
bare infinitive (e.g., go, work,see)
-
We use make to talk about something we have to do (but don’t want
to do)
She wanted to go home, but her boss made her stay until the
work was finished.
-
We use let when we talk about being given permission for something.
My boss let me have the afternoon off to go to my sister’s
wedding.
-
The verb help can be followed by an infinitive with or without to
Could you help me (to) put these boxes in the van.
7. Verbs of perception
The verb of perception (see, watch, notice, hear, listen, feel)
are followed by bare infinitive or by -ing form (present participle).
-
If we want to say that we heard or saw the whole action from beginning
to end, we usually use bare infinitive
I saw him sing the cheque.
-
If we want to say that only saw or heard part of the action, we use -ing
form
I saw the consultant waiting in reception.
(I saw consultant. He was waiting in reception.)
C. -ing and infinitive (3): changes in meaning
8. Verb + -ing or infinitive?
Some verbs can be followed by either -ing form or the infinitive
and the meaning of the verb changes. Here are some common examples:
I remember sending them the cheque. |
I sent and I can remember now that did it. |
I remembered to send them the cheque. |
I remembered, and then I sent it. |
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I will never forget meeting the President. |
I met him, and he impressed me. |
I won’t forget to give her your message. |
I have made a note of it, and I will give
it to her when I see her. |
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We have stopped dealing with that firm. |
We used to deal with them, but we don't
deal with them any more. |
At 12.00 we stopped to have a break |
We stopped for a break. |
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I regret saying that I was not interested in
the work. |
I sais I was not interesting in the work,
and I now think that was a bad mistake. |
I regret to say that we will not be able to
give you contract. |
I am sorry that I have to say this. |
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If printer doesn’t work, try turning everything
off and then starting again. |
Do this and see what happens. |
I will try to negotiate better deal. |
I will make an effort to do this. |
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This advertisement needs redesigning. |
This advertisement needs to be redesigned. |
We need to increase productivity |
It’s necessary to increase productivity. |
9. Like and would like
When the verb like means enjoy, it’s followed by the -ing
form. However, expression would like (want to) is followed by the
infinitive.
I like going abroad on marketing trips. (I enjoy
this.)
I would like to go more often. (I want to go more often.)
We can also use prefer and would prefer in the same way.
I prefer working at home to working at the office.
(I enjoy this more.)
10. to + -ing or infinitive?
The word to can be part of infinitive (I want to see you).
However, in the following examples, to is a preposition, so it is
followed by the -ing form:
look forward to |
object to, an objection to |
be used to, get used to |
react to, a reaction to |
in addition to |
respond to, a respond to |
Mixed examples
This is nothing wrong with the photocopier. It just needs
servicing.
We need to look at this proposal very carefully before we
make a decision.
I’ll make a note in my diary so that I will remember to send
you information you need.
I am not sure if (_ _) I have met Mr. Martino, but I remember hearing
his name.
Task 1-4
A.
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I don’t mind staying late.
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I really enjoy traveling abroad
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I don’t like traveling to work in rush hours.
I like dealing with difficult customers.
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I dislike taking work home
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I can’t stand asking for more money
B.
-
I really enjoy reading technology news from IDG when I have time for this.
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I don’t mind keeping all my expenses in file.
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I dislike sitting at very days administrative meeting in morning
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I can’t stand reading news and sending some responses in the moning
Task 2
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We were very unhappy with service they had provided. We refused to pay
them.
-
The company is taking on a lot of new staff. They plan to extend their
researches in a new area.
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He was angry about the way company had treated him. They threaten to stop
his project.
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Mire was getting tired of her job. She decided to make a breake.
Task 3
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I enjoy my work, but I wouldn’t mind having more responsibility.
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When I was 16, I decided to start preparing to university.
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If I moved to another town, I would miss seeing carnaval.
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At the moment I can’t afford (to continue watching TV) to reply ot this
message.
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I am really looking forward to meeting you in Amsterdam.
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In a few years time, I hope to be back.
-
At the moment I am considering preparing new working group chapter.
Exercise 1
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The new law will allow supermarkets to open on Sunday
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They persuaded bank to finance the project
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The court ordered company to pay compensation.
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The fall in demand forced us to cut production
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They invited me to speak at the conference.
Exercise 2
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He reminded me to post the letter.
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He encouraged me to apply for the job.
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He advised me to make a formal complaint
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Boss asked him to finish report as soon as possible
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Chief allowed me to leave early if I like
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All warned me not to rush in decision
Exercise 3
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We had to work extremely hard on the training courses.
They made us work extremely hard on the training courses.
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We were allowed to go out at the weekend.
He let us go out at the weekend.
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We gave a presentation every morning
They made us give a presentation avery morning.
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We spoke English all the time
They made us speak English all the time.
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There was a TV we could watch.
They let us watch TV.
Exercise 6
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He was talking to someone on the phone. I heard him. (hear)
I heard them talking to someone on the phone.
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Something was burning. I smelled it.
I smelled something burning.
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She left. I didn’t see her.
I didn’t see her leave.
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He gave a talk on "Quality Control". I heard it.
I heard him give (giving) a talk on "Quality Control"
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Some robots were assembling cars. The visitors watched them.
Visitors watched robots assembling cars.
Task 1
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The made record profit last year, and this will enable us to extend our
research program in emerging technologies.
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My parent encouraged me to attend special training for my future job.
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The government should train more young people in modern IT technologies
to avoid expected gap in workforce deficit for the next four years.
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The conference organisers have invited me to organise special panel on
Caching and indexing.
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Before I went to New York, my colleague warned me not to take with me a
lot of stuff.
Task 3
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Your accountants have made a number of mistakes, and you have to pay the
tax authorities a large fine.
I asked her to be more careful when preparing financial reports. I
advised her to tell me about all problems she meets in her work to make
avoid mistakes next time.
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The 16-year-old daughter of a (_the_) friend comes to you to ask for advice
what career she should take up.
I have encouraged her to make active attempts to find out what is better
suite her wishes. I advised her to look at possible career in Internet
and IT area/business/industry, because of it’s rapidly developing/extending
industry.
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This is nothing wrong with the photocopier. It just needs servicing.
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We need to look at this proposal very carefully before we make a
decision.
-
I’ll make a note in my diary so that I will remember to send you
information you need.
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I am not sure if (_ _) I have met Mr. Martino, but I remember hearing
his name.
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I will never forget walking in my office on my first day at (_on_)
work.
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Could you take this file to Mrs Armstrong? I meant to let her have it this
morning, but I forget giving (_to give_) it to her.
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He found it very difficult to get work because of he was unemployed, and
soon regretted resigning from his previous job. ---- work/job????
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We appointed another candidate for the post, so I regret to say
that we will not be able to offer you the job.
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If their Accounts Department is slow in paying bills, try to send
fax to the chairman. That (_this_) usually works well.
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As a company, we always try to provide our customers with the best
service possible.
Exercise 3
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Our Sales Director is very sociable. She likes going out and meeting new
people.
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I’m afraid I’m fairy busy today, so I’d prefer to arrange meeting for Monday.
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He’s afraid flying, so when he has to go to Frankfurt he prefers traveling
by boat rather than taking plane.
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I’d like to have a word with you about next week’s meeting.
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I like working with my new boss because she gives me a lot of encouragement.
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Could you let me know when you would like me to come and see you?
Task 1
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I know for sure that we placed an order with them. I remember sending them
form myself.
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The meeing had gone for two hours already, so we stopped to have a break.
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I’ll never forget sending first message by e-mail.
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I’m very organized person. I like planning my work for a week.
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I have quite a lot of responsibility at work. In addition to managing a
few projects, I have to prepare minutes of regular technical staff meetings.
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I am really looking forward to receiving from you your proposals for a
new project.
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A lot of business people in this country object to use English language.
Task 2
A
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I prefer to have a holiday abroad because the weather is much better.
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I prefer staying late if I have a lot of work. I don’t like starting work
early.
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I like working alone when I have to prepare a new document.
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On weekend I prefer eating at home because of I like to experiment/cook
new dishes.
B
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I would prefer to be reach because if I was famous, I would not be free.
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I would like to have a larger house that allow me to invite more friend
for a weekend or vacations.
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I would prefer to work for a man because I don’t like speaking much.
I would prefer to have a more demanding job because of want my
professional potentiality to be used better.
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