Using the infinitive instead of a finite verb.
Don’t say: Sir, to go home to get my book.
ü Say: Sir, may I go home to get my book.
Using the third person singular after can, must, etc., instead of the infinitive without to.
Don’t say: Ian can speaks English very well.
ü Say: Ian can speak English very well.
After the verbs can, must, may, shall, and will, use the infinitive without to, and not the third person of the present.
Using the past tense after did instead of the infinitive without to.
(a) To ask questions:
Don’t say: Did you went to school yesterday?
ü Say: Did you go to school yesterday?
(b) To make negatives:
Don’t say: I did not went to school yesterday.
ü Say: I did not go to school yesterday.
Use the present infinitive without to, not the past tense after the auxiliary did.
Using the past tense after did instead of the infinitive without to.
(a) To ask questions:
Don’t say: Did you went to school yesterday?
ü Say: Did you go to school yesterday?
(b) To make negatives:
Don’t say: I did not went to school yesterday.
ü Say: I did not go to school yesterday.
Use the present infinitive without to, not the past tense after the auxiliary did.
Note: the answer to a question beginning with did is always in the past tense: Did you see the picture? – Yes, I saw the picture; or Yes, I did.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
There is no harm in + -ing.
Don’t say: There’s no harm to visit her now.
ü Say: There’s no harm in visiting her now.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
It’s no use + -ing.
Don’t say: It’s no use to cry like a baby.
ü Say: It’s no use crying like a baby.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Have difficulty in + -ing.
Don’t say: She has no difficulty to do it.
ü Say: She has no difficulty in doing it.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Worth + -ing.
Don’t say: Is today’s film worth to see?
ü Say: Is today’s film worth seeing?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After certain adjectives:
Busy + -ing.
Don’t say: He was busy to revise the exams.
ü Say: He was busy revising for the exams.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Remember + -ing.
Don’t say: I don’t remember to have seen him.
ü Say: I don’t remember seeing him.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Mind (object to) + -ing.
Don’t say: Would you mind to open the door?
ü Say: Would you mind opening the door?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Finish + -ing.
Don’t say: Have you finished to speak?
ü Say: Have you finished speaking?
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Enjoy + -ing.
Don’t say: I enjoy to play football.
ü Say: I enjoy playing football.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Used to + -ing.
Don’t say: She is used to get up early.
ü Say: She is used to getting up early.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Think of + -ing.
Don’t say: I often think to go to England.
ü Say: I often think of going to England.
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After words which regularly take a preposition:
Capable of + -ing.
Don’t say: They are quite capable to do that.
ü Say: They are quite capable of doing that.
Misuse of the infinitive
Use the gerund and not the infinitive:
After prepositions or preposition phrases:
Without, etc. + -ing.
Don’t say: Do your work without to speak.
ü Say: Do your work without speaking.
