Academic Writing Prep Grammar Focus Classification Essays

2. Infinitive or –ing?
1. verb + verb  ‘to’ infinitive only
I want to go to the cinema.
I want you to do your homework.
Verb + ‘to’ Infinitive Examples
Aim, arrange, attempt, can’t afford,
claim, decide, deserve, hope, intend,
learn, long, manage, offer, plan,
prepare, refuse, seem, tend, threaten,
vote, wish
 I aim to please.
 I managed to
beat him at poker.
Verb + (object) + ‘to’
Infinitive
Examples
choose, expect, help, need,
pay, want, would like
 She wants me to go to the
party.
 I chose you to help me out.

3. Verb + object + ‘to’
Infinitive
Examples
allow, challenge, enable,
encourage, force, inspire,
invite, order, remind, teach,
train, trust, urge
 My parents taught me to
respect other people.
 They allowed her to have the
afternoon off.
2. verb + verb  ‘ing’ only
I enjoy studying English.
I dread my friends finding out about my secret.
Verb + -ing form Examples
Adore, avoid, can’t stand, can’t
help, consider, delay, deny,
describe, detest, dislike, don’t
mind, dread, enjoy, fancy, finish,
imagine, keep, miss, practise,
resent, resist, risk, spend, waste
• I never waste time ironing
my clothes.
• My family always avoids
talking to me.

4. 3. verb + verb  ‘bare’ infinitive [without ‘to’]
Let me help you (to) do the exercise.
When I was a kid, they made me wear a uniform.
[Active Voice]
But: I was made to wear a uniform. [Passive Voice]
Infinitive & –ing
4. verb + verb  ‘to’ infinitive or ‘ing’
[without change in meaning]
I began / started / continued to study / studying French.
They didn’t bother to talk / talking to the boss.

5. 5. verb + verb  ‘to’ infinitive or ‘ing’
[with change in meaning]
B. Try
• Try studying.
• Try and study.
• Try to study.
C. Love / Like / Hate
• I hate paying bills.
• I like to pay my bills on the
deadline.
A. Stop
• I stopped smoking.
• I stopped to smoke.
 I remember going to Rio
at Carnival.
 I remembered to buy a
souvenir there.
 I’ll never forget talking to her
every evening.
 I forgot to send her a birthday
post on Facebook.
D. Remember / Forget

6. E. Regret
• I regret having (had) my tongue pierced.
• I regret to inform you that you have failed the exam.
F. Mean
• Buying this house means paying a high mortgage.
• Do you mean to get married?
Special Cases
1. Prefer
• I prefer chocolate to coffee.
• She seems to prefer watching soap operas to talking to me.
• I would prefer to see a movie rather than stay/staying at
home.
prefer = would rather

7. • We had better not be late for the Ambassador’s party. It
would be unforgivable to arrive late.
• You had better phone him and tell him that you're not going.
• They had better buy me a Christmas present or I shall never
forgive them.
• I would rather watch a video than go to the cinema.
• I would rather be lying on a beach than working.
• I would rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
• I would rather you did something.
would rather = had better
 used to suggest necessary action (slightly threatening
in tone; more urgent than ‘should’ or ‘ought to’)
2. Hear / See / Watch
We watched all the cars cross the finishing line.
I heard someone coming up the stairs.

8. 3. Used to
I used to go to clubs.
[Past Habits] = used to + verb ‘to’ infinitive
But:
I am / got used to driving long distances.
[Present Habits] = get / be + used to + -ing form
4. Dare
Dare can be used without ‘to’ when there is no object.
Compare:
• They dared him to jump.
• I didn't dare (to) say anything.
• How dare you speak like that to me!