Questions about verbs in their basic (unmarked) forms, such as “be”, “do”, “have”, or “sit”, sometimes introduced by the particle “to” and other times used by itself.
13
votes
1answer
2k views
When should a verb be followed by a gerund instead of an infinitive?
Some verbs are followed by ing, e.g. I enjoy swimming. We can't say I enjoy to swim. Likewise, some verbs are followed by to, e.g. I decided to make a plan.
Which particular verbs are followed by ...
15
votes
10answers
16k views
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb "help": with or without "to"?
For example:
Please, help me to understand this.
or:
Please, help me understand this.
14
votes
3answers
1k views
Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid constructs?
Mark's generosity in this crisis seems to more than make up for his earlier stinginess.
Should those sentences always be avoided, or are there cases where they are valid?
13
votes
4answers
4k views
Order of “not” with infinitive
This is one thing that keeps bugging me, and maybe there's a direct answer.
Grammatically, which one is more correct of these two? Does it make a difference?
I tried not to do that.
I tried ...
9
votes
3answers
9k views
“I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something”
This is what I read in an answer to a previous question:
Verbs Followed by Either Gerund or Infinitive
Sometimes the meaning changes according to the verb used.
<…>
(dis)like
...
2
votes
1answer
350 views
Usage of infinitives in this sentence
In my academics I learned that we use infinitives (to + verb 1st form). So I was surprised when someone told me this sentence is incorrect. I am not able to figure it out why this sentence is ...
5
votes
4answers
478 views
Catenatives followed by infinitives and gerunds
I was wondering if anyone could please help me with this.
What is the difference in meaning when the catenative verb “like” is followed by an infinitive, or by a gerund? For example: Do you like ski ...
2
votes
3answers
186 views
“To do this or do that” or “to do this or *to* do that”?
I saw on the bottom of an email:
To change your email preferences or unsubscribe from certain
messages, click here.
Is that correct or should it be:
To change your email preferences or to ...
8
votes
2answers
13k views
How to use “to + V-ing”?
I saw some scenarios that used the structure "to + V-ing", such as the following:
Looking forward to hearing.
Disposed to using few words.
I would like to apply what I learned in school to helping ...
4
votes
1answer
268 views
“Help rule out” vs. “help to rule out” [duplicate]
Duplicate of:
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
“Could help avoid” vs. “could help to avoid”
“Helping you do ...
1
vote
1answer
177 views
“Heard me [infinitive]” vs. “heard me [gerund]”
"Heard me [infinitive]" vs. "heard me [gerund]"
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talk about it.
At that time, you wouldn't have heard me talking about it.
At that time, ...
8
votes
0answers
400 views
Infinitive without “to”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
Today I found this headline on bbc.co.uk
How one ...
4
votes
5answers
528 views
Why are present participle and infinitive equally acceptable for some verbs, but not others
This question about "started teaching/to teach" made me realise that even though the present participle and infinitive are both acceptable after "started", that's not the case with other superficially ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I know when a verb should be followed by a gerund or an infinitive?
A few weeks ago I posted a question about the usage of a verbal in a particular sentence. But now, I have another question on the same topic, gerund.
Sometimes I don't know for sure if I need to use ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Past tense and “rather than”
I found myself with a sentence like this, using "accept" in the infinitive form after "rather than":
They left the club, rather than accept the terms.
But I'm unsure of its grammatical ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
“Important that John bring/brings” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use the subjunctive mood?
Given the sentence
John brings his lunch to school,
is it correct to say
It is important that John brings his lunch to ...
0
votes
2answers
673 views
Grammatical complements for “allow”
Are any of these verb phrases grammatical?
allows the user of modeling and resolving
allows the user to model and resolve
Which version of the following sentence is correct/better?
"In ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
“I am thinking to invest” or “I am thinking investing”?
Which of the following sentences is correct?
I am thinking to invest in stocks.
I am thinking investing into stocks.
3
votes
2answers
537 views
“Would you have liked to have been” vs. “would you have liked to be”
I was interested in the following sentence which appeared in an article titled “No Rest for the Weary” in The New York Times (February 15, 2008).
Would you have liked to have been president from ...
2
votes
0answers
100 views
“Helping you do something” or “Helping you to do something”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to use infinitive after the verb “help”: with or without “to”?
In the phrase "Helping you to master Russian", is it ...
1
vote
0answers
84 views
Is it correct to say “John helps you talk with people”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Help to do” or “help do”?
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but English is not my first language.
For me it seems that it is incorrect and ...
0
votes
2answers
224 views
Do I need to add “to” in every clause in a this sentence?
Working in the field helps us to learn how to apply theories to solve real-world problems, to apply […], and to […].
Are the "to" after each comma necessary?
6
votes
2answers
285 views
“It is fun to write letters” vs. “It is fun writing letters”
Grammatically, "It is fun to write English letters." is correct. But is the following also grammatically correct?
It is fun writing English letters.
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Infinitives with “ought not”
Most of the references I can find about the word “ought” indicate that even when negating it, you should use an infinitive: “You ought not to go there.”
That sounds quite bad ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
“I love to [verb]” vs “I love [gerund]” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicates:
Catenatives followed by infinitives and gerunds
“I like to do (be) something” vs “I like doing (being) something”
What is the difference between "I love to sing" and ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
What is an “infinitive”?
I've heard that a verb usually follows the 'infinitive' but how does one define an 'infinitive'?
3
votes
2answers
426 views
Usage of “to be done” [closed]
The following is a transcript of the well-known recorded lecture by Prof. Michael Sandel of Harvard University (the cited portion starts at 43:36):
The only argument this painter makes is that the ...
2
votes
3answers
303 views
“Need just [verb]” vs. “need to just [verb]”
I wonder if it's okay to use these interchangeably:
You need just accept it.
You need to just accept it.
12
votes
4answers
260 views
“Be” as an action rather than a state
I've heard, on rare occasion, a subtle differentiation between be as a state (to passively embody) and be as an action (to actively embody). The latter form often occurs in parallel with do to add ...
5
votes
1answer
745 views
Is 'I would rather…' without an infinitive immediately following it correct?
Consider:
I would rather the walls remain painted in a neutral tint.
Is this proper use of 'I would rather..', without an infinitive immediately following it?
EDIT This suggests that 'I would ...
4
votes
3answers
234 views
'To swiftly go' or 'to go swiftly'? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are split infinitives grammatically incorrect, or are they valid constructs?
One of my friends once told me 'to go' is considered a whole word and no word should be put ...
4
votes
4answers
282 views
Do I have to use the auxiliary before all the verbs?
Which of the following is correct?
I will dance and sing at the concert tonight.
I will dance and will sing at the concert tonight.
Does it happen with to, too? For example:
I ...
3
votes
5answers
297 views
Infinitive vs. present participle (time relations)
I was told that one of the following refers to the past and the other to the future. I cannot decide which is which and would appreciate it if someone could explain the difference between these ...
2
votes
2answers
373 views
'to'-infinitive without the verb
I seem to recall reading somewhere that using a to-infinitive with the actual verb omitted (because it's clear from context) — as in
He asked me to go, but I don't want to. (1)
— is ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
the best thing to do is (to) concentrate on
The best thing to do is to concentrate on something else.
I've known in the sentence like that 'to' should be omitted. So, I wonder if the sentence is grammatical.
*The source of the information ...
1
vote
2answers
313 views
Why do we use “to” after “how”? [closed]
For example:
How to makes this?
Why do I use the to after how?
0
votes
5answers
658 views
Difference in meaning: “would have had to be” vs “would have had to have been”
Being a non native speaker, I cannot spot the difference here:
He would have had to have been there.
He would have had to be there.
The only thing that comes to my mind is that in the first case, ...
-1
votes
1answer
179 views
“Feel committed to [gerund/infinitive]”
Does "feel committed to" require an infinitive or gerund complement?
For example, which of the following is grammatical?
I feel committed to following up on that.
I feel committed to follow ...
