5C: Talk about Your Favourite Sports

The infinitive of a verb has two forms: the to-infinitive and the infinitive without to. The to-form consists of to plus the base form of the verb:

I want to speak to you.

We came here to work, not to play.

The form without to consists of the base form of the verb:

She made us wait for half an hour.

John lets the dog sleep on the sofa.

We use the to-infinitive after a number of common main verbs. These include:

We arranged to see the bank manager and applied for a loan.

Mrs Harding asked us to call in on our way home.

Did you remember to post the letter to your mother?

He just wants everyone to be happy.

Some of these verbs are also often followed by -ing.

We can use the to-infinitive in a clause with a verb that has no subject (a non-finite clause). The to-infinitive focuses on the idea of an action or the results of an action, rather than the action in itself:

To work in a developing country had always been her ambition.

To get there before lunch, you would have to take the seven o’clock train.

We use the infinitive without to after modal verbs can, could, may, might, will, shall, would, should, must:

She can sleep in the guest room tonight.

Will you need to rent a car during your stay?

We also use the infinitive without to after let, make and (optionally) help:

He lets us use some of his land to grow vegetables.

You can’t make a cat do anything it doesn’t want to do.

I just want to help you (to) understand the situation better.

The gerund is commonly used after quite a few different verbs. The most important of these verbs are shown below. All of these verbs can be followed by nouns instead of gerunds. Remember, gerunds always function as nouns in sentences. Some of these verbs can also be followed by a that-clause. The verbs that require additional usage explanation are displayed as links which lead to more detailed pages.

Verbs which can be followed by nouns or gerunds

Verbs which can be followed by nouns, gerunds, or a that-clause

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or by an infinitive.

Goal check: Talk about Your Favourite Sports

1. What is the sport?

My favorite sport is basketball.

2. Where do you do it?

I usually play basketball at local indoor gyms or outdoor courts in my neighborhood.

3. Does it cost a lot of money?

The cost can vary. If you're playing casually, it's fairly inexpensive—just the cost of a basketball and maybe a gym membership or access fee. However, if you’re playing competitively or joining a team, there might be additional costs like league fees, travel expenses, and special equipment (like high-quality shoes).

4. Why do you like it?

I love basketball because it combines skill, strategy, and physical fitness. It’s a fast-paced game that’s exciting and requires teamwork, which makes it both mentally and physically engaging. The sense of accomplishment from making a great play or helping my team win is really rewarding.

5. Do you need special equipment?

For casual play, you mainly need a basketball and something to play on, like a hoop or court. But for more competitive play, good-quality basketball shoes are a must to prevent injury, and a jersey and shorts make the game more comfortable.