Mastering the Infinitive in English Grammar

Using the Infinitive

A. With Verbs

Following these verbs:

  • Afford
  • Agree
  • Appear
  • Attempt
  • Decide
  • Expect
  • Fail
  • Forget
  • Help
  • Hope
  • Intend
  • Learn
  • Manage
  • Need
  • Offer
  • Plan
  • Prepare
  • Promise
  • Propose
  • Refuse
  • Seem
  • Want
  • Would like

Example: I learned to swim last summer. We have decided to go to London in July.

B. With Adjectives and Adverbs

Examples:

  • It’s early to go to bed.
  • I was too tired to go for a walk.
  • The police were not fast enough to catch the thief.

C. With an Object

Verbs followed by an object + infinitive:

  • Advise
  • Allow
  • Ask
  • Enable
  • Encourage
  • Expect
  • Forbid
  • Force
  • Help
  • Invite
  • Order
  • Permit
  • Persuade
  • Prefer
  • Recommend
  • Remind
  • Teach
  • Tell
  • Want
  • Warn
  • Would
Read More

Shakespearean Summaries: ‘Much Ado’ and ‘Midsummer Night’

Much Ado About Nothing: A Summary

Leonato, a respectable nobleman, lives in the idyllic Italian town of Messina. Leonato shares his house with his lovely young daughter, Hero, his niece, Beatrice, and his elderly brother, Antonio (Beatrice’s father). As the play begins, Leonato prepares to welcome some friends home from war. The friends include Don Pedro, a prince, and two fellow soldiers: Claudio and Benedick. Don Juan, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, is also present.

When the soldiers arrive

Read More

Gerunds vs. Infinitives: Exercises and Answer Key

Key for Exercise 2: Gerund or Infinitive

Fill in the correct form.

  1. I can’t imagine working at home.
  2. We have decided against buying a new car.
  3. She seems to like her new job.
  4. The students hope to pass the exam.
  5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of flying.
  6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like doing any work.
  7. Remember to post the letter. Otherwise, they won’t get it by Saturday.
  8. Have you ever learned how to fly such a plane?
  9. They were too lazy to go out with us.
  10. I always enjoy talking to my grandfather. He always tells
Read More

Angelina Jolie: Actress, Humanitarian, and Philanthropist

Angelina Jolie: Actress and Humanitarian

I admire people for what they do, and the works and actions that Angelina Jolie has done during her life have led me to admire her. Angelina Jolie is an American actress, director, writer, producer, humanitarian, and philanthropist.

Angelina started her career as a model at age 16. But then, after her studies at the Academy of Acting, she appeared in several films such as The Bone Collector, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Changeling. Although she rose to fame with

Read More

Comprehensive English Grammar and Vocabulary

Verb Tenses

Present

Past

Future

Simple

play (yo juego)

played (yo jugué)

will play (voy a jugar)

Continuous

am playing (yo estoy jugando)

was playing (yo estaba jugando)

will be playing (yo voy a estar jugando)

Perfect

have played (yo he jugado)

had played (yo había jugado)

will have played (yo habré jugado)

Perfect Continuous

have been playing (yo he estado jugando)

had been playing (yo había estado jugando)

will have been playing (yo habré estado jugando)

Order of elements in a sentence: Subject + Adverb + Verb

Read More

English Grammar: Tenses, Conditionals, and Vocabulary

Zero Conditional

-Zero Conditional (habits, scientific, universal truths, instructions, rules)

if + present simple / present simple

Ej: if Sarah doesn’t sleep eight hours, she has a headache

First Conditional

-First Conditional

if + present simple / future (will + infinitive)

Ej: if John works harder, he will pass his exam

Second Conditional

-Second Conditional

if + past simple / present conditional (would/’d + infinitive

Ej: if John worked harder, he would get a good mark.


Future Tenses

-‘Going to’ (intentions,

Read More