COMPACT B2 FIRST – UNIT 4

VERB + TO + INFINITIVE VERB + GERUND

1. After adjectives:
E.g. It's important to learn foreign languages.
2. To express purpose:
E.g. I go to the gym to keep fit.
3. After certain verbs:
- TO + INFINITIVE: (can’t) afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask,
attempt, choose, dare, decide, deserve, expect, fail, happen,
hesitate, hope, learn, manage, offer, prepare, pretend,
promise, refuse, seem, want, would like, would love, would
hate, would prefer...
E.g. She agreed (not) to meet him after work.
- DIRECT OBJECT + TO + INFINITIVE: advise, allow, enable,
encourage, force, invite, order, persuade, recommend,
remind, teach, tell, warn…
E.g. My job enables me to use my language skills.
1. After prepositions and phrasal verbs:
E.g. I'm good at remembering names.
2. As the SUBJECT /OBJECT/COMPLEMENT of a sentence:
SUBJECT: Reading is good for children.
OBJECT: I find shopping for clothes really boring.
COMPLEMENT: E.g. My favourite sport is swimming.
3. After certain verbs:
- VERBS EXPRESSING LIKES AND DISLIKES: adore, detest, dislike,
enjoy, don’t mind, can’t stand…
E.g. I really enjoyed (not) winning the match.
- OTHER VERBS: admit, avoid, can’t help, consider, delay, deny,
fancy, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, imagine, involve, keep,
mind, miss, postpone, put off, practise, prevent, recommend,
regret, resist, risk, spend time, suggest...
E.g. Have you finished cleaning your room?

VERB + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO VERB + TO +INFINITIVE OR + GERUND

1. After most modals and auxiliary verbs:
Can, could, may, might, must, should, needn’t, shall, will, would
E.g. She can’t drive. (Exception: have to and ought to)
2. After HELP, LET, MAKE, WOULD RATHER, HAD BETTER:
E.g. I’d better go- it’s late. I’d rather stay here, though.
1. WITH THE SAME MEANING:
Begin, start, continue, intend.
E.g. It continued (not) raining/to rain all day.
2. WITH A LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN MEANING:
Like, love, hate, prefer + GERUND (most of the times)
E.g. I love going for long walks in the hills.
Like, love, hate, prefer + TO + INFINITIVE (Hate: specific
situations / Like: be in the habit of)
E.g. I hate to interrupt, but we really must be going.
I like to have a shower when I get home from work.

VERB + TO +INFINITIVE OR + GERUND WITH A DIFFERENCE IN MEANING

VERB + TO + INFINITIVE VERB + GERUND
REMEMBER An action you have to do. Recall a memory from the past.
E.g. Did you remember to feed the fish? E.g. I remember going to the circus when I was a child.
FORGET An action you have to do. A memory from the past. (Usually negative)
E.g. Don’t forget to add the suntan cream. E.g. I’ll never forget going to school on my own for the
first time.
TRY Make an effort to do sth but not necessarily As an experiment; you do sth in order to see what
achieve it. Attempt to do sth. happens.
E.g. Alan tried to stop the thief as he ran away. E.g. Try resting for a while: you might feel better then.
MEAN Intends. Involves.
E.g. I meant to phone the electrician but I forgot. E.g. Dieting usually means giving up things you enjoy.
STOP Interrupt an activity in order to do another. No longer do something
E.g. Let’s stop to buy some sweets on the way E.g. I’ve stopped smoking: it’s too expensive.
home.
GO ON Change to a different activity. Continue with the same activity.
E.g. After a successful career as a football player, E.g. Some footballers go on playing professionally until
Johan Cruyff went on to become a respected they’re nearly 40.
manager.
NEED Active meaning Passive meaning.
E.g. I need to get some new shoes. E.g. This house needs painting. (= needs to be painted)