When to use the infinitive

1. The infinitive form is used after certain verbs:

Afford
Allow
Appear
Demand
Expect
Encourage
like pretend
Agree fail love promise
Arrange forget manage refuse
Ask hate mean (= intend) remember
Begin
Can/cant afford
help need
Start
Teach
Train
Choose hope offer Try
continue intend plan
Want
Would like
decide learn prefer

I forgot to close the window.
Mary needs to leave early.
Why are they encouraged to learn English?
We can't afford to take a long holiday.
2. The infinitive form is always used after adjectives, for example:
- disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised
I was happy to help them.
She will be delighted to see you.
This includes too + adjective:
The water was too cold to swim in.
Is your coffee too hot to drink?
The infinitive form is used after adjective + enough:
He was strong enough to lift it.
She is rich enough to buy two.




When to use -ing
1. The -ing form is used when the word is the subject of a sentence or clause:
Swimming is good exercise.
Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.
2. The -ing form is used after a preposition:
I look forward to meeting you.
They left without saying "Goodbye."
2. The -ing form is used after certain verbs:
admit deny finish mind
avoid dislike give up miss
(cant) help enjoy imagine practise
(cant) stand fancy involve put off
consider feel like keep (on)
Risk
Suggest
I dislike getting up early.
Would you mind opening the window?
Some verbs can be followed by the -ing form or the infinitive without a big change in
meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start.
It started to rain.
It started raining.
I like to play tennis.
I like playing tennis.
Hate, like, love, prefer with would or should
When hate, like, love and prefer are used with would or should, only the to-infinitive is used, not
the -ing form:

Shed love to get a job nearer home.
Not: Shed love getting a job nearer home.
Would you like to have dinner with us on Friday?