TO-INFINITIVE, BARE-INFINITIVE & GERUND
--In a sentence, if a verb is used after the main verb, it can be in 3
different forms:
1. To-infinitive
e.g. I want
to eat something.
(verb) (to-infinitive)
2. Bare-infinitive
e.g. I saw him cry
yesterday.
(verb)
(bare-inf)
3. Gerund
e.g. I like swimming.
(verb) (gerund)
(1) TO-INFINITIVE
Agree offer
refuse seem
threaten want
decide appear forget fail promise tell
plan
attempt learn hope afford ask
arrange pretend allow tend manage dare
-- ‘To-infinitive’ is usually used after the above verbs
e.g. I agreed to cooperate with them.
(verb) (to-infinitive)
He wants to buy this computer.
(verb) (to-inf)
Sentence Making: _____________________________________________
(2) BARE-INFINITIVE
see , notice, observe, watch, hear, feel, smell, make, let
-- ‘Bare-infinitive’ is usually used after the above verbs.
-- An ‘object’ is usually placed between the ‘verb’ and ‘bareinfinitive’.
e.g. She saw him
steal your purse yesterday.
(verb) (object) (bare-inf)
They heard someone knock the door.
(verb) (object) (bare-inf)
Sentence Making: ___________________________________________
(3) GERUND
stop keep postpone admit consider miss delay
finish mind imagine deny involve fancy regret
avoid risk practise enjoy suggest can’t help
-- ‘Gerund’ is usually used after the above verbs.
e.g. Do you mind opening the door?
(verb) (gerund)
I won’t risk doing this.
(verb) (gerund)
Sentence Making:___________________________________________
Fill in the blanks by using ‘to-inf’, ‘bare-inf’ or ‘gerund’.
making
1. Could you please stop ____________(make)
so much noise?
to lend
2. Tom refused ____________(lend)
me any money.
try
3. Don’t let them ____________(try)
this dangerous game!
4. I don’t enjoy ____________
(write) letters.
writing
5. Miss Lee was very strict. No one dared ____________
(talk) during her
to talk
lessons.
to play
6. I ‘ve arranged ____________(play)
tennis tomorrow afternoon.
7. Tom made Ann ____________(cry)
yesterday.
cry
8. Have you finished ____________(wash)
your hair yet?
washing
to look
9. Ann offered ____________(look)
after our children while we were out.
10.He admitted _____________(steal)
our car.
stealing
to go
11.She doesn’t want ____________(go)
home now.
to talk
12.It is not allowed ____________(talk)
in the library.
13.Would you mind ____________(answer)
me some questions?
answering
play
14.They are watching their children ____________(play).