Unit 17: -ing form or infinitive
Ngữ pháp -ing form or infinitive / prefer, would rather, had better / infinitives of purpose
📘 Giải thích tiếng Việt
Phrase + -ing form (danh động từ)
Sau một số động từ/danh từ/tính từ ta dùng -ing form: admit, avoid, deny, enjoy, finish, mind, practise, put off, risk, suggest, can't help… Ví dụ: I've finished writing my essay.
Sau giới từ luôn dùng -ing: interested in hearing more. Có thể chèn tân ngữ trước -ing: I can't stand people cheating.
Phrase + full infinitive (to + V)
Nhiều động từ/tính từ đi với to + V: agree, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, plan, promise, refuse, seem, want, would like… Ví dụ: Your answer appears to be wrong. Nhiều từ chèn tân ngữ trước to: My mum didn't want me to take the exam.
Verb + bare infinitive (V nguyên)
Sau feel, hear, let, make, notice, see, watch + tân ngữ + V nguyên: You never let me say the answer. Các động từ tri giác có thể dùng -ing để nhấn hành động đang diễn ra. Ở thể bị động, hear, make, see lại dùng to + V: I was made to stand.
Đổi hình thức, đổi nghĩa
Một số động từ dùng cả hai dạng nhưng nghĩa khác nhau: remember, forget, stop, try, regret, go on, mean. Nhóm begin, continue, love, hate, prefer, start thì gần như không đổi nghĩa.
Prefer / would rather / had better
prefer A to B: sở thích chung. would prefer to V rather than (dịp cụ thể). would rather + V nguyên than: I'd rather have it on Wednesday than Tuesday. Nói về người khác: would rather + sb + quá khứ: I'd rather you didn't sit there. had better + V nguyên = lời khuyên: You'd better ask your parents.
To-infinitive chỉ mục đích
Diễn đạt mục đích: to V, in order to V, so as to V, hoặc so (that) + mệnh đề. Mục đích phủ định phải dùng in order not to / so as not to (không dùng not to đứng một mình).
Theory
Verb/noun/adjective phrase + -ing form
Some verb, noun and adjective phrases are usually followed by the -ing form: I've finished writing my essay.
These include: admit, appreciate, avoid, can't help, delay, deny, detest, dislike, discuss, enjoy, escape, face, fancy, feel like, finish, give up, involve, keep (on), mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, put off, resist, risk, suggest, understand
⚠️ Some can also be followed by an object before the -ing form: I can't stand people cheating in exams.
When we put a verb after a preposition, we almost always use an -ing form: I'm interested in hearing more.
Verb/noun/adjective phrase + full infinitive
Some verb, noun and adjective phrases are usually followed by the full infinitive: Your answer appears to be wrong.
These include: able, afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, beg, choose, decide, encourage, expect, fail, happen, help, hope, manage, offer, plan, pleased, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, tend, want, wish, would like
⚠️ Some can also be followed by an object before the full infinitive: My mum didn't want me to take the exam.
Verb + bare infinitive
Some verbs can be followed by an object + the bare infinitive: You never let me say the answer.
These include: feel, hear, let, make, notice, see, watch
⚠️ feel, hear, notice, see, watch can also be followed by the -ing form (action in progress).
In the passive, hear, make, see use the full infinitive: I was made to stand in the corner.
Verb + full infinitive or -ing form with little or no change in meaning
These include: begin, can't bear/stand, continue, hate, intend, love, prefer, start
Verb + full infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning
These include: consider, forget, go on, imagine, learn, like, mean, regret, remember, stop, teach, try
Prefer, would rather, had better
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| prefer + noun/-ing + to + noun/-ing | general preference | I prefer reading to speaking. |
| would prefer + full infinitive + rather than | specific preference (this occasion) | I'd prefer to have the lesson on Wednesday rather than (to) have it on Tuesday. |
| would rather + bare infinitive + than | general or specific preference | I'd rather have the lesson on Wednesday than (have it) on Tuesday. |
| would rather + sb + past simple/past continuous | preference about someone else | I'd rather you didn't sit next to Brian. |
| had better + bare infinitive | giving advice | You'd better ask your parents. |
Infinitives of purpose
- the full infinitive: I went to university to avoid getting a job!
- in order + full infinitive: I went to university in order to avoid getting a job!
- so as + full infinitive: I went to university so as to avoid getting a job!
- so (that): I went to university so (that) I could avoid getting a job!
⚠️ For negative purpose, use in order not to or so as not to (not the infinitive on its own).
Exercise A
Circle the correct word or phrase.
Exercise B
Complete using the correct form (-ing form or full infinitive) of the verb in brackets. You may need to use the passive voice.
Exercise C
Read the text in Exercise D and decide whether each gap should be filled with the -ing form, a bare infinitive or a full infinitive. Write ing, BI or FI for each gap.
Exercise D
Complete using the correct form (-ing form, bare infinitive or full infinitive) of the verbs in the box. Use each verb only once.
Report: William Watson
William Watson sometimes seems to be afraid of (1) __________ hard. He can't help (2) __________ to avoid (3) __________ anything that involves (4) __________ his brain, particularly on Friday afternoons. He seems to detest (5) __________ life seriously, and pretends he isn't capable of (6) __________ anything of worth. This is unfortunate as, with a little more effort, William could succeed in (7) __________ great progress.
However, at present he frequently just wants (8) __________ the fool. He enjoys (9) __________ jokes. Presumably, he imagines this (10) __________ the best way to make friends, but in fact he often just ends up preventing the other students from (11) __________. He has promised on several occasions (12) __________ his behaviour in class, but then he just keeps on (13) __________ in exactly the same way. Recently, I have had to beg him (14) __________ and be quiet in the classroom, but it's difficult to know how to make him (15) __________ to his senses. He just doesn't seem interested in (16) __________ to my opinion. I'm tempted to give up even (17) __________ that he might improve. Having said that though, Mr Watson is an extremely good maths teacher!
Julie Cross – 5A
Exercise E
For each pair of sentences, put a tick (✓) if both sentences mean the same thing. Put a cross (✗) if they have different meanings.
b) I can't bear to be tickled!
b) My boss went on to say that he was very proud of all of us.
b) Have you stopped to have lunch yet?
b) Have you started to have lunch yet?
b) They continued to climb the mountain.
b) We all saw the reporter interview the witness.
b) I love to play practical jokes on my younger brother.
b) Why don't you try to hold your breath for a minute or two?
b) I hate to be cheated by taxi drivers.
Exercise F
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 in each gap.
I __________ my medicine this morning.
I'll __________ Mont Blanc.
I __________ up the washing later.
Darren __________ a suit to work.
Jackie __________ that to Allie.
I __________ your credit card has been cancelled by the bank.
I __________ the car, you know!
Taking that job __________ to do a lot more travelling.
Jim __________ his room before he could go and play in the park.
You __________ that film last night on BBC2, did you?
Learning Latin __________ a waste of time.
Exercise G
Each of the words or phrases in bold is incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.
Exercise H
Write one word in each gap.
Exercise I
Choose the correct answer.
Approaches to learning
People appear (1) __________ in different ways. Some people expect (2) __________ mistakes in their studies and are capable of (3) __________ from their mistakes. They don't mind (4) __________ by their teacher and indeed often ask (5) __________ corrected.
Others, however, dislike (6) __________ mistakes. They try to avoid (7) __________ anything which they might do badly. They would rather (8) __________ something in small steps and be sure they have got it right (9) __________ attempt to do a task based on a subject they don't feel they have finished (10) __________.
Both ways of learning seem (11) __________ equally valid, but a combination of the two may be the best solution. In (12) __________ to learn effectively, students have to remember (13) __________ risks sometimes. But they also have to feel comfortable and secure with what they're doing so (14) __________ not to become demotivated. All students should at least think about (15) __________ the way that they approach learning.
