Lesson 28. Infinitive / The "-ing form"

Infinitive / The "-ing form"

The infinitive is the root form of the verb, There are two kinds of infinitive: 

1. the to-infinitive which is the root form of the verb with to: 

He wants to be a football player.

2. the bare infinitive which is the root of the verb without to:

She can ride a horse.

We use to- infinitive:

• after verbs such as: want, agree, ask, help, hope, tell, decide, manage, offer, invite, promise, try:

 

He likes planes. He wants to be a pilot.

• after some verbs such as know, decide, when there is a question word (who, what,where, how,etc.) after them: 

I don't know what to do.

• after the words too and enough:

 

He is too young to drive a car.

• to express purpose, that is, the reason why somebody does something:

 

She is going to the bank to get some money.

 We use bare infinitive:

•  after modal verbs (can, could, must, needn't shall, will, may, etc.):

 
He can't read.

• after the verbs let and make:

My parents always let me watch the late film on Saturdays.