Unit 37: -ing and infinitive
Ngữ pháp -ing and infinitive
📘 Giải thích tiếng Việt
Động từ + V-ing
Một số động từ theo sau bằng V-ing: enjoy, avoid, admit, deny, finish, suggest, mind, practise, give up, feel like... Ví dụ: He enjoys making people laugh.
Sau giới từ luôn dùng V-ing: I'm afraid of flying. Lưu ý các cụm kết thúc bằng to nhưng vẫn dùng V-ing: look forward to + V-ing (I look forward to hearing from you). V-ing cũng làm chủ ngữ: Cooking is fun.
Động từ + to + V (to-infinitive)
Một số động từ theo sau bằng to + V: decide, want, hope, promise, agree, offer, refuse, learn, manage, expect, would like... Ví dụ: I decided to apologise.
Có động từ cần tân ngữ + to V (He wants me to tell a joke). Riêng let, make dùng tân ngữ + V nguyên mẫu không to (Let the dog sit); nhưng make ở bị động lại dùng to: He was made to apologise.
Dùng được cả hai, nghĩa đổi
Với begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer: dùng V-ing hay to đều gần như cùng nghĩa. Nhưng một số động từ đổi nghĩa:
- remember/forget + V-ing = nhớ/quên việc đã xảy ra; + to V = nhớ/quên phải làm việc gì.
- stop + V-ing = ngừng hẳn; stop + to V = dừng lại để làm việc khác.
- try + V-ing = thử làm; try + to V = cố gắng làm.
Theory
-ing
Some verbs are sometimes followed by -ing. He enjoys making other people laugh.
• After a preposition, we usually use -ing. ✓ I'm afraid of flying.
✓ I look forward to hearing from you.
✗ I look forward to hear from you.
✓ Cooking is great fun!
Infinitive
Some verbs are sometimes followed by the full infinitive. I decided to apologise to Emma.
✓ Michael was made to apologise by his mother.
✓ He wants me to tell him a joke.
-ing or infinitive
Some verbs can be followed by either -ing or the full infinitive.
I started liking / to like James after he helped me with my problem.
begin, continue, hate, like, love, prefer, start
With some verbs, the meaning changes:
| Verb | + -ing | + full infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | have a memory in your mind Do you remember seeing that comedy? |
do something you are/were planning to Did you remember to say sorry to James? |
| forget | not be able to remember a past event I'd forgotten hearing that joke. |
not do something you are/were planning to do Oh, no! I forgot to invite Shelly! |
| stop | stop an action Stop crying – it's not that bad. |
interrupt an action to do something else I was on my way to see Maria and I stopped to get her some flowers. |
| try | do something to try and solve a problem Have you tried talking to her? |
make an effort to do something I'm trying to say I'm sorry, but you won't listen! |
Exercise A
Circle the correct word or phrase.
Exercise B
If the verb in bold in each sentence is correct, write ✓ (tick). If it is wrong, write the correct form of the verb (-ing, full or bare infinitive).
Exercise C
Choose the correct answer.
Exercise D
Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words.
They finally __________ from the room.
On the way to school, I __________ a new notebook.
We __________ in Milan for a night before flying home.
I don't __________ tonight – let's have a takeaway.
If you __________ that noise, I'm going to get annoyed!
Do you __________ Francis to come into my office, please?
Exercise E
Complete using the correct form of the verbs in the box. Add any other words you need.
Exercise F
Circle the correct word or phrase.
Laughter is the best medicine!The next time you're feeling ill, try (1) watching / to watch a comedy instead of just doing nothing. At least, that's what some doctors suggest (2) doing / to do. If you want (3) getting / to get better, there's nothing like laughter. First of all, an activity you enjoy (4) doing / to do takes your mind off your illness. Time seems (5) passing / to pass more quickly and you stop (6) worrying / to worry about how you feel.
Write the correct word/phrase for each number (1–6):
