Giving reasons with infinitives- 2 | Basic English Grammar for Competitive Exams - Bank Exams PDF Download

Commonly, an infinitive is used with the subject it. The sentence structure is "It is ____ + infinitive.…" It refers to the infinitive. This expression is used in many ways.

• It is time to do math.
• It is common to think that way.
• It is appropriate to keep a low profile.
• It was nice to see you.
• It was my pleasure to meet you.
• It was my honor to have dinner with you.
• It is good to see you.
• It was great to go on a trip with them.

Both gerunds and infinitive phrases can function as nouns, in a variety of ways. Gerunds and infinitives can follow certain verbs but not others. You need to remember which verbs can be followed by only a gerund or only an infinitive.

• Verbs that can precede only gerunds: consider, suggest, enjoy, deny, avoid, miss, mind, practice, postpone, resist, finish, quit, give up, put off
• Verbs that can precede only infinitives: offer, decide, hope, attempt, promise, agree, afford, deserve, refuse, undertake, learn, fail, seem, appear, tend, pretend, choose, demand, desire, guarantee, claim, manage, determine, expect, want, wish
• Verbs that can precede either gerunds or infinitives without changing meanings: continue, like, love, begin, start, propose, neglect, stand, hate
• Verbs that can precede either gerunds or infinitives but change meanings: forget, remember, stop, try
  • I stopped watching the movie. (I no longer watched the movie.)
  • I stopped to watch the movie. (I stopped what I was doing to watch the movie.)

Q. Fill in the blanks.
(i) I decided ____ (leave) the job.

to leave

(ii) She pretended ____ (know) me.

to know

(iii) He desires ____ (be) a professor.

to be

(iv) The company considered ____ (sell) its main building.

selling

(v) I expect ____ (win) at this game.

to win

(vi) Do you enjoy ____ (take) care of your pet?

taking

(vii) She hopes ____ (go) on a vacation.

to go

(viii) Did you fail ____ (pass) the exam?

to pass

(ix) They want me ____ (take) this position.

to take

(x) It is great ____ (hear) that they agreed ____ (share) the land.

to hear, to share