Lesson: Infinitive or -ING

Infinitivo ou -ing?

Às vezes precisamos decidir quando usar um verbo em sua forma:

    -ing (doing, singing)

ou

    infinitiva (to do, to sing).

Por exemplo, apenas uma das seguintes frases está correta. Qual?

    I dislike working late. (???)
    I dislike to work late. (???)

Quando usar a forma infinitiva

Table 1

verb + to + verb
forget	help	learn	teach	train
choose	expect	hope	need	offer
want	would like	agree	refuse	pretend
promise	allow	afford	decide	manage
mean	tend	threaten	attempt	fail
plan	arrange	appear	seem	pretend
dare	intend

1. A forma infinitiva é utilizada depois de certos verbos:

    I forgot to close the window.
    Mary needs to leave early.
    We can't afford to take a long holiday.

2. A forma infinitiva sempre vem depois de adjetivos, por exemplo:

• disappointed, glad, happy, pleased, relieved, sad, surprised

    I was happy to help them.
    She will be delighted to see you.

2.1 Isto inclui too + adjetivo:

    The water was too cold to swim in.
    Is your coffee too hot to drink?

2.2 A forma infinitiva também vem depois de adjetivo + enough:

    He was strong enough to lift it.
    She is rich enough to buy two.

Quando usar -ing

1. A forma -ing é usada quando a palavra é o sujeito de uma sentença ou cláusula:

    Swimming is good exercise.
    Doctors say that smoking is bad for you.

2. A forma -ing é usada depois de uma preposição:

    I look forward to meeting you.
    They left without saying "Goodbye."

Table 2

verb + verb(ing)
avoid	dislike	enjoy	finish	mind
practice	imagine	suggest	stop	deny
delay	regret	admit	consider	involve
miss	postpone	risk

3. A forma -ing é usada depois de certos verbos:

    I dislike getting up early.
    Would you mind opening the window?
    Stop talking for a second, please.
    I miss living with you.

4. Alguns verbos podem ser seguidos de -ing ou ficarem na forma infinitiva sem alterar muito o sentido:

• begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start.

    It started to rain.
    It started raining.
    I like to play tennis.
    I like playing tennis.

Writing practice

Make sentences using the verbs found in table 1 and table 2.

Exercises

1. Lesson:Infinitive or -ING/ExerciseA1