MISUSE OF THE INFINITIVE 02

Dialog

Right, you. Pay attention. We’re going through these awful English mistakes. Don’t you dare mess this up, or I’ll never let you forget it. First one. Is this sentence correct: I enjoy to play a game of football?

Oh, um. I think it sounds a bit… clunky? Like, "to play" doesn’t quite fit after "enjoy." So, no, I don't think it's correct.

Ha! You actually got that one. Barely. So, what should it be then, if you’re so clever?

It should be, "I enjoy playing a game of football." You need the -ing form after "enjoy."

Hmph. Fine. You’re right. Verbs like "enjoy" always take the -ing form, not "to" and then the verb. Don't go thinking you’re a genius now though, that was just an easy one. Remember it.

Next. "Please excuse me to be so late." Is that good English?

Er, that one also sounds a bit off. Like, when you say "excuse me," you’re excusing the *action* of being late. So, it should be "Please excuse my being so late" or "Please excuse me for being so late."

Ugh. You've been studying, haven't you? You didn't get this good on your own. Fine, yes, either of those is correct. "Excuse" needs the possessive with -ing, or "for" with -ing. Don't look so smug, it’s not a competition.

Okay, number three. "Have you not finished to speak?" Correct or incorrect?

That’s wrong. It should be "Have you not finished speaking?" "Finished" also needs the -ing form.

Oh, for goodness sake. You’re just getting lucky. Yes, "finish" is another one that takes the -ing form. It’s not that hard, you just have to remember which verbs do.

How about this: "The music went on to play all day." What do you think, genius?

That's wrong. If you mean the music continued, it should be "The music went on playing all day."

Right again. Don’t get cocky. When "go on" means to continue, you use the -ing form. It’s like "keep on," you wouldn't say "keep on to play," would you? Now, try and get one wrong, just for variety.

Alright, this one. "Would you mind to open the door?" Is that correct?

No, that’s not right. It should be "Would you mind opening the door?"

Honestly, it’s like you’re doing this on purpose to annoy me. Yes, when "mind" means to object to something, it needs the -ing form. This is all very simple, you know.

Moving on. "You must practise to speak English." Good or bad?

Bad. It should be "You must practise speaking English."

Gosh, you're not completely hopeless today, are you? Yes, "practise" takes the -ing form, just like "enjoy" and the others. It means the action of doing it, not the intention. You really should practise speaking, by the way. Your grammar is still terrible.

Now, listen to this one carefully. "I do not remember to have seen him." Is that grammatically sound?

Hmm. "I do not remember to have seen him." Sounds… fine to me? Like, you don't recall the event.

Ugh, you absolute nitwit! Finally, you get one wrong! No, that's not right. When you're talking about recalling something that happened in the past, you need the -ing form. It should be "I do not remember seeing him" or "I do not remember having seen him." "To have seen" makes it sound like you remembered an obligation or a plan, not a past event. See? Not so smart after all.

Next. "We couldn't risk to leave him alone." Is that correct?

Oh, I think I know this one. "Risk" should take the -ing form too, right? So, "We couldn't risk leaving him alone."

You're just guessing now, aren't you? Fine, you got it. "Risk" is another verb that always takes the -ing form. Don’t let it go to your head.

Okay, listen: "The wind has almost stopped to blow." Is that correct?

"Stopped to blow"... I think that sounds okay. Like it paused, and the blowing stopped.

No, no, no! Honestly, you really do struggle with this. If the action itself completely stops, you use the -ing form. It should be "The wind has almost stopped blowing." "Stopped to blow" would mean the wind stopped doing something else *in order to* blow, which is just silly. See the difference? One means the action ceased, the other means stopping for a purpose.

Alright, we're nearly there. "He was busy to prepare his lessons." What's wrong with that?

That’s definitely wrong. It should be "He was busy preparing his lessons."

Well, at least you got one right eventually after those two mistakes. Yes, after the adjective "busy," you always use the -ing form. Simple as that.

And this one: "Is today's film worth to see?" Correct?

No, that's wrong. It should be "Is today's film worth seeing?"

Good. Yes, after "worth," it's always the -ing form. Are you sure you’re actually listening, or just nodding along? Because you still make so many silly mistakes.

Penultimate one. "He has no difficulty to do it." Is that acceptable?

"No difficulty to do it." Sounds fine. Easy, really.

Wrong again, you dopey git! It’s "He has no difficulty in doing it." When you use "difficulty" as a noun, you need "in" followed by the -ing form. You always make things harder for yourself.

Last one. Finally. "I had the pleasure to meet him." Is that sentence correct?

Hmm. "Pleasure to meet him." I think that sounds fine, actually. Like it’s a good thing.

No! You’ve messed up the last one too! It should be "I had the pleasure of meeting him." "Have the pleasure" needs "of" and then the -ing form. It’s just how it is. You couldn't even get the easy ones right. Right, that’s all of them. Don't go forgetting everything I just taught you, because I'm not going through it again!

Summary

• 88. Enjoy +-ing. Say: I enjoy playing a game of football.
• 89. Excuse + -ing. Say: Please excuse my being so late. Or: Please excuse me for being so late.
• 90. Finish + -ing. Say: Have you not finished speaking?
• 91. Go on (continue) + -ing. Say: The music went on playing all day.
• 92. Mind (object to) + -ing. Say: Would you mind opening the door?
• 93. Practise + -ing. Say: You must practise speaking English.
• 94. Remember + -ing. Say: I do not remember seeing him. Or: I do not remember having seen him.
• 95. Risk + -ing. Say: We couldn't risk leaving him alone.
• 96. Stop + -ing. Say: The wind has almost stopped blowing.
• 97. Busy + -ing. Say: He was busy preparing his lessons.
• 98. Worth + -ing. Say: Is today's film worth seeing?
• 99. Have difficulty in + -ing. Say: He has no difficulty in doing it.
• 100. Have the pleasure of + -ing. Say: I had the pleasure of meeting him.

Reference: T. J. FITIKIDES, "COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH" p16 - p17