Collins Cobuild English Grammar (85 page)

the
to
-infinitive

the infinitive without
to

the
-ed
participle

Note that the infinitive without
to
and the
-ed
participle form of the verb are used in only a few combinations.

Other kinds of
-ing
form and infinitive are also sometimes used.

Those very close to the blast risk
being burnt
.
Neither Rita nor I recalled ever
having seen
her.
She wanted
to be reassured
.
They claimed
to have shot down
22 planes.

3.188
  The position of
not
in negative structures of this type is explained in paragraphs
5.57
and
5.58
.

Talking about two actions done by the same person

3.189
  When you are talking about two actions that are done by the same person, you use the second verb directly after the first.

Children
enjoy playing
alongside each other.
You
deserve to know
the truth.

verbs followed by an
-ing
participle

3.190
  Some verbs are always followed by an
-ing
participle clause in structures of this kind.

She
admitted lying
to him.
Have you
finished reading
the paper?
He
missed having
someone to dislike.
I
recall being
very impressed with the official anthems.

Here is a list of verbs that are used with an
-ing
participle, but not a
to
-infinitive:

admit

adore

appreciate

avoid

celebrate

commence

consider

contemplate

defer

delay

deny

describe

detest

discontinue

dislike

dread

endure

enjoy

fancy

finish

go

imagine

keep

lie

loathe

mention

mind

miss

postpone

practise

recall

report

resent

resist

risk

sit

stand

stop

suggest

These verbs are also sometimes used with a passive
-ing
form.

They enjoy
being praised
.

Admit
,
celebrate
,
deny
,
mention
, and
recall
are quite often used with a perfect
-ing
form.

Carmichael had denied
having seen
him.

USAGE NOTE

3.191
  Note that
need
can be used with an
-ing
participle after it, but the
-ing
participle then has the same meaning as a passive
to
-infinitive. For example,
The house needs cleaning
means the same as
The house needs to be cleaned
.

Require
and
want
are also occasionally used in the same way, although some people do not like this use of
want
.

verbs followed by a
to
-infinitive

3.192
  Other verbs are used with a
to
-infinitive.

Mrs Babcock had always
longed to go
to Ireland.
She
forgot to bring
a suitcase.
She
wishes to ask
a favour of you.

Here is a list of verbs that are used with a
to
-infinitive, and rarely or never with an
-ing
participle:

ache

afford

agree

aim

appear

arrange

ask

attempt

care

choose

claim

consent

dare

decide

demand

deserve

desire

disdain

endeavour

expect

fail

fight

forget

grow

happen

help

hesitate

hope

intend

learn

live

long

manage

mean

need

neglect

offer

opt

pay

plan

pledge

prepare

pretend

promise

prove

reckon

refuse

resolve

scorn

seek

seem

survive

swear

tend

threaten

trouble

venture

volunteer

vote

vow

wait

want

wish

Most of these verbs can be used with a passive infinitive.

She refused
to be photographed
.
He deserves
to be shot
.