Infinitive or Gerund
to- infinitive
1) to express purpose:
We went to the zoo to see rare
animals.
2) after would like / would
prefer / would love to express a
specific preference:
I would like to have a salad,
please.
3) after adjectives
a) which describe feelings /
emotions (happy, sad, glad);
b) express willingness /
unwilingness (willing, eager,
reluctant);
c) refer to a person’s character
(clever, kind);
d) the adjectives lucky and
fortunate:
I was lucky to win the lottery.
4) after too / enough:
It’s too dangerous to swim here.
5) with it+be+adjective/noun:
It is difficult to do this task.
6) after be+first/second/next/last
She is the first woman to become
a president.
7) after verbs and expressions
such as
ask/learn/explain/decide/find
out/want/want to know when
they are followed by a question
word: Mike wanted to know how
to get to rhe cinema.
8) in the expressions to tell the
truth, to be honest, to sum up,
to begin with:
To be honest, I think you were
unfair.
9) after certain verbs: agree,
appear, decide, expect, hope,
plan, promise, refuse:
I decided to go to the club.
bare infinitive gerund
1) after modal verbs: 1) as a noun:
I can speak English. Reading is fun.
2) after had better / would 2) after prepositions:
rather: I’m good at playing the guitar.
You had better go home, it’s too
late.
3) after the verbs let, make, see, 3) after expressions such as be
hear, feel: busy / it’s no use /it’s (no) good /
My mother made me clean my it’s (not) worth / what’s the use
room. of / can’t help / there’s no point
in / can’t stand / have difficulty
in:
I have difficulty (in) pronouncing
some words.
4) help can be followed by either 4) after expressions: look forward
to-infinitive or bare infinitive: to / in addition to / object to /
I helped her (to) make a cake. prefer:
I prefer going to bed at 10.
5) after
love/like/enjoy/prefer/dislike/hate
to express general preference:
I like swimming.
6) after spend, waste, lose (time,
money):
He spent a lot of money buying a
computer he doesn’t even use.
7) after certain verbs: admit,
appreciate, avoid, continue,
deny, fancy, go (for activities),
imagine, mind, miss, quit, save,
suggest, practise, consider,
prevent