Infinitives – ESL Owl Home

An INFINITIVE is a VERBAL

Examples:

A BARE INFINITIVE

Is formed without TO
Is used with modals (must, have to, ought to, should, could, would, will, might, may, can)
Is used after some verbs: make, let, hear, see

Examples:

Some verbs are followed by the infinitive.

I decided to swim. We cannot say I decided swimming. We use the infinitive.

Some verbs are followed by the gerund.

Some verbs can be followed by the gerund OR the infinitive.
- I like swimming. I like to swim. We can use the gerund OR the infinitive.

(to + verb)

After certain VERBS
- They decided to buy a new house.
- She expects to hear from you soon.
After many ADJECTIVES
- We are happy to be here.
- I am proud to announce the birth of our daughter.
To show PURPOSE
- Lorne and Takashi came to study English.
- He left early to avoid traffic.
After VERBS of thinking and feeling
- choose: We choose to stay home.
- decide: I decided to learn Spanish.
- expect: They expect to arrive by three o’clock.
- hope: She hopes to get a promotion.
- intend: Lara intended to call me, but forgot.
- learn: The children learned to ski when they were five years old.
- mean: I am sorry. I meant to tell you about the meeting.
- prefer: Emma and Matt would prefer to attend a concert than watch a movie.
- would like: I would like to go to New Zealand.
- would love: They would love to join us for dinner.
After VERBS of saying
- agree: The students agreed to do their homework.
- promise: We promised to invite our friends to dinner next Saturday.
- refuse: They refuse to get a new dog.
After some commonly used VERBS
- arrange: We arranged to meet in Milan.
- attempt: They attempted to ski.
- fail: I fail to understand.
- manage: He managed to arrive on time.
- tend: I tend to watch science fiction movies.
- want: She really wants to travel around the world.

(verb without to)

After MODAL auxiliaries
- If you leave now, you should arrive by 10 o’clock.
- He can try again tomorrow.
- You must study more!
- We could invite her to the party.
- I would play with the dog, but I am cooking dinner.
After MAKE, LET, and HELP
- We made her go to school today.
- My parents let us watch a movie last night.
- My daughter helped me bake a cake.
- We have to make it happen.
- Please let them sleep. They are tired.
- They helped build a house.
After expressions with WHY
- Why go out when we can stay home and watch a movie?
- I have been studying English for months. Why stop now?
- Why pay money for something I don’t need?

REMEMBER! Some verbs can be followed by the gerund OR the infinitive.

Tip: Sometimes the meaning changes!

I stopped listening to the radio. I am not listening to the radio anymore.
I stopped to listen to the radio. I am listening to the radio now. I stopped what I was doing and now I am listening to the radio.
I forgot to tell you about the new TV show. I did not tell you about the new TV show. I forgot to tell you. I did not remember to tell you.
I forgot telling you about the new TV show. I told you about the new TV show. I forgot that I told you.
I remembered to tell you about the party. I told you about the party. I remembered to tell you. I did not forget to tell you.
I remember telling you about the party. I told you about the party. I remember that I told you about the party.