INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO

We use the infinitive without to after:

modal verbs ( can, could, may, might, should..)You should listen to the song attentively to grasp its meaning.

certain verbs, such as let, make, hear and see.I saw him open the box and then I heard him laugh to himself.

verbal idioms would rather and had better.I’d rather swim in the pool that go down to the beach.Richard has just arrived. You’d better see what he wants.

INFINITIVE WITH TO

These verbs are followed by to infinitive:

ask, beg, expect, mean (=intend), want, would like, would love, would hate and would prefer.

You can say:

Verb + to Verb + object + towe expected to be on time. We expected Jim to be on time.I would like to go now. I would like you to go now.

VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE

These verbs have the structure verb + object + to:

enable, force, get(= persuade, arrange for), invite, persuade, remind, teach, tell, order, warn.

They invited me to go to the concert.

Remind me to pay the phone bill.

GERUND

The gerund is formed by adding the ending -ing to the verb:

run _ running

It is used after:

some verbs: admit, avoid, confess, deny, dislike, enjoy, finish, imagine, keep, love, mention, mind, miss, practice, recommend, risk, stop, suggest.e.g. Many people enjoy doing the shopping in department stores.

prepositions or some expressions that end in a preposition: about, after, at before, by, in, of, on, for, good at, bad at, interested ine.g. She’s not good at playing football.

A) Fill in the gaps with the infinitive (with or without to).

Secure e-mail

The Internet is not the safest place __________________ (be) sending mail.

There are many ways of hackers __________________(cut) in and

__________________(interfere) with them. Did you know that is possible for

someone __________________ (read) and __________________(alter) your e-mail

while it is being sent to someone else? Many people don’t realize how risky it

can be __________________(send) mail this way. Still even with all the risk e-

mail messaging is growing in numbers. If you are helping contribute to this

growing number of e-mails, then you want __________________(make) sure

that you protect yourself. You can __________________ (do) this by using

secure e-mail when you send out messages. This way you don’t have

__________________ (worry) about being embarrassed because someone

altered the mail you sent. Take time __________________ (learn) as much

about how secure mail protects you as possible. No one wants a hacker

__________________ (get) control of their personal information. This would be

things like your address or phone number. They could even

__________________(find) out where you work and they could

__________________(start) calling you at home or send you mail at your home

address. This is so important for you __________________ (protect) your

personal information.

B) Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form: gerund or

infinitive.

1. She agreed __________________ (buy) a new chandelier.

2. I look forward to __________________ (see) you at the concert.

3. My parents wanted me __________________(be) home at 10 0’ clock.

4. Are you thinking of __________________(spend) next weekend in the

country?

5. Avoid __________________ (make) silly mistakes.

6. They go on __________________(listen) loud music.

7. Do you know what __________________ (do) if there’s a fire in the

office?

8. I enjoy __________________ (write) postcards.

9. I’ve got some work __________________(do).

10. I meant __________________(say) four, but I said forty.

11. My sister likes __________________(bake) cakes.

12. Mike postponed __________________(do) the exam.

13. Do you intend __________________(eat) a cake for breakfast?

14. When we finish __________________(drink) our tea, we’ll probably go

shopping.

15. Are you planning __________________(go) to the meeting?

16. Mary expects __________________(pass) the exam tomorrow.

17. After the film, I hope __________________(get) some flour at the

supermarket.

18. My friends and I intend __________________(go) out after dinner.

19. Yesterday Peter meant __________________(talk) to you, but he didn’t

have time.

20. I was warned __________________ (not tell) anyone about what I saw.

C) Rewrite the sentences using the words given. The first one is done for

you as an example.

1. My mother allows me to use her car.

lets

My mother lets me use her car.

2. Don´t let me forget to pay the electricity bill.

remind

_______________________________ the electricity bill.

3. I think you should meet her.

want

I ____________________________ meet her.

4. Someone said I shouldn’t trust strangers.

warned

I ___________________________ trust strangers.

5. Why don’t you come and stay with us for the weekend?

invite

They _______________________ for the weekend.

6. The robbers made us give them our mobile phones.

forced

The robbers ____________________ our mobile phones.

Our teacher lets us use the dictionary in the tests.

allows

7. Our teacher _____________________ the dictionary in the tests.

Answer key

A) to be; to cut; interfere; to read; alter; to send; to make; do; to worry; to learn; to get; find; start; to protect.

B)

1. to buy2. seeing3. to be4. spending5. making6. listening7. to do8. writing9. to do10.to say11.baking12.doing13.to eat14.drinking15.to go16.to pass17.to get18.to go19.to talk20.not to tell

C)

2. Remind me to pay the electricity bill.

3. I want to meet her.

4. I was warned not to trust strangers.

5. They invited me / us to came and stay with them for the weekend.

6. The robbers forced us to give them our mobile phones.

7. Our teacher allows us to use the dictionary in tests.