verbs with infinitive or gerund

Verbs followed by ‘ing’ or by ‘to + infinitive’ 

When one verb is followed by another, the second verb can either be an infinitive or an –ing form. Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive, or an –ing form but with a change in meaning. These are some of the most common ones.

LIKE

• I like watching old films on TV.

With an ‘ing’ form, ‘like’ means ‘enjoy’

• I like to wash up as soon as I finish eating.

I might not enjoy washing up but I think it’s the right thing to do.

Remember that ‘would like’ can only be followed by an infinitive.

• I’d like to go to Japan next year, if possible.

TRY

I’m trying to learn Japanese but it’s very difficult.

Try + to + infinitive means that something is difficult and you make an attempt to do it.

• Have you tried using butter instead of oil?

Try + ‘ing’ means make an experiment. It’s not difficult – it might work, it might not.

STOP

Stop + ‘ing’ tells us what has stopped. in this example, buying a newspaper.

• I’ve stopped buying a newspaper every day to try to save money.

Stop + to + infinitive tells us why something stopped. In this example the reason that the bus stopped was to pick up the children.

• The bus stopped to pick up the children.

REMEMBER / FORGET

• Don’t forget to post that letter for me.
• Did you remember to post that letter for me?

Remember/forget + to + infinitive means that you remember something you have to do – a duty or a chore.

• I’ll always remember meeting you for the first time.
• I’ll never forget meeting you for the first time.

Remember/forget + ‘ing’ form means remember something you did in the past – an event or an activity.

Allow, permit or let?

Allow, permit or let?

·         Permit/allow someone + to do something

·         Let someone + do something

·         Passive with permit and allow

Allow, permit and let are verbs that all have a similar meaning: ‘give permission or make it possible for somebody to do or have something’.

Permit is more formal than allow. Allow is more formal than let:

The University has established a Museums Committee to permit more formal discussion of common problems amongst its museums.

The plan for Heathrow will allow airport operator BAA to build a third, shorter runway.

Will you let me pay for the meal?

Let me show you how to open it. It’s a bit tricky.

Permit/allow someone + to do something

We use a direct object + to-infinitive after permit and allow:

[from a newspaper report about a rugby player]

He has not decided yet whether his leg injury will permit him to play this weekend.

I would not allow a child to have a TV or a computer in their room.

Let someone + do something

We use an infinitive without to after let:

[child to parent]

Why don’t you let me go? All my friends are going.

We don’t let employees use the office telephone for personal calls.

Passive with permit and allow

We often use the passive with permit and allow. Permit is often used for official public notices:

Photography is permitted for non-commercial use only.

[talking about a diet]

You’re allowed to eat as much fruit as you like.

We’re not allowed to put posters on the walls.

Warning:

We don’t usually use the passive with let:

The children were allowed to do whatever they wanted.

Not: The children were let do …

Summer Idioms

Now that summer is comming and we are preparing our intensive courses for July and August we would like to teach you some expressions and idioms related to this season, so you can tell everyone all about your holidays!

Here you have the expressions:

The dog days of summer- The hottest period of the summer, typically three weeks or so between July and August. The expression dates back to the Romans!.

 During the dog days of summer it’s too hot to do anything but relax and go swimming.

Indian summer- An unusually warm, dry period in the autumn, almost like an extension of summer.

The children really enjoyed the Indian summer because they could go to the beach in October!

Travel on a shoestring- Typical of university students and other young people, this means to travel very cheaply, staying in youth hostels, and always looking for deals and discounts to make the trip as cheap as possible

 I really learned how to travel on a shoestring when I studied abroad.

Off the beaten path- If you travel off the beaten path, you stay away from the most popular and touristy sights and go instead to places where you may get a more authentic experience.

We’re hoping to get off the beaten path on our next trip to Italy and see some of the undiscovered beauty of the country.

Soak up some sun- Quite simply, to spend some time in the sun and get a tan.

Sandra can’t wait to lie by the pool and soak up some sun on her vacation.

To be off on your vacation- The phrase “to be off” in this case means “to be away.” The expression, then, means to be on holiday, but implying that you’ve traveled somewhere a distance away.

My parents are off on their vacation in Alaska at the moment.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer- An expression that means that just because one good thing has happened doesn’t necessarily indicate that the tendency will continue.

 His baseball team won the first match in the tournament, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. They still have four more games to go!

A summer fling- A short romance during the summer holidays that typically ends before returning to school and/or university in the fall.

Sandy and Danny started out as a summer fling, but ended up staying together after discovering they went to the same high school.

To beat the heat- To escape the heat of summer, typically by finding indoor activities, places to go swimming, etc.

 We’re going to beat the heat by going to the cinema today. They always have the air conditioning turned on.

The midnight sun- This refers to places near the Arctic or Antarctic regions where the sun shines nearly 24 hours.

In Finland I was able to go kayaking under the midnight sun. It was incredible how much light there was so late at night!

What are you doing this summer? Can you use any of these expressions to describe your next holidays? We look forward to hearing from you! and remeber, If you want to improve your English level join in our intensives courses this Summer and get your B1 or B2 certificate.