Intermediate120 min
Infinitive and -ing
Mistake to avoid: Don’t use the infinitive after prepositions. Always use the -ing form (e.g., I look forward to meeting you, I look forward to to meet you is incorrect).
Infinitive and -ing
| Verb | to + Infinitive Meaning / Example | -ing Meaning / Example |
|---|---|---|
| try | Make an attempt to do it. I tried to fix the roof. | Test or experiment with something. Try drinking green tea if you have a stomachache. |
| remember | Remember and then do it. Remember to feed the dog! | Recall a memory. I remember going to school for the first time when I was five. |
| forget | Not do something because you don’t remember. I forgot to feed the dog! | Have no memory of doing it. I forget posting that letter. |
| stop | Pause in order to do something else. I stopped to call my mother. | Finish and no longer do the activity. I stopped watching TV two years ago. |
- Infinitive after the verb 'be': We can use a to-infinitive after 'be'.
My idea is to build an app.
The purpose of the call was to choose a design. - Infinitive to express a purpose:
- To make the perfect cup of tea, leave the bag in the water for three minutes.
- You should practise every day to get better. - So as (not) to: A formal alternative for expressing purpose.
The house was built with big windows so as to let in lots of light.
She ran to school so as not to be late. - -ing form after a preposition: Use -ing, not the infinitive, after a preposition.
I passed my exams by working hard.
Quiz
Question 1 of 10
Choose the correct form: I want ___ to the party tonight.
to go
going
The People Who Never Forget: What Research is Telling Us About People with Amazing Memories
Have you ever wished you could commit something to memory effortlessly, or that important details wouldn't simply slip your mind at crucial moments? While most of us struggle to jog our memory about what we had for lunch last Tuesday, there's a rare group of people who can recall something at the drop of a hat with extraordinary precision.
Scientists have been racking their brains to understand individuals with exceptional memory abilities. These remarkable people don't just have memories like elephants – they possess what researchers call Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Unlike the rest of us, who might draw a blank when asked about specific dates from years ago, these individuals can bring back to mind vivid details about almost any day of their lives.
Memory serves these exceptional people in ways that seem almost supernatural. When researchers refresh their memory by mentioning a random date, HSAM individuals can instantly cast their mind back and describe exactly what they were doing, what the weather was like, and even what they wore. It's as if their memory bank contains perfectly preserved snapshots of their entire existence.
Recent studies shed light on the neurological differences in these extraordinary brains. Brain scans reveal that people with superior memory have enlarged areas in regions associated with autobiographical memory. However, researchers bear in mind that having a perfect memory isn't always a blessing. Some individuals report that painful memories stick in their mind just as clearly as happy ones, making it difficult to put traumatic experiences behind them.
Interestingly, these people don't necessarily learn something by heart faster than others, nor do they perform better on traditional memory tests. Their gift seems specifically related to personal experiences rather than general information. This rings a bell with researchers who are beginning to understand that memory isn't a single system but rather multiple, interconnected processes.
What's fascinating is that these individuals often take a trip down memory lane involuntarily. Random triggers can bring memories flooding back without warning. A particular smell might trigger a memory from decades ago, complete with emotional and sensory details that would normally fade from memory over time.
Scientists keep in mind that studying these exceptional individuals could unlock the secrets of memory formation and storage. Understanding how their brains retain information so effectively might help develop treatments for memory disorders and improve learning techniques for everyone.
While most of us will continue to occasionally have a memory lapse or need to search our memory for misplaced information, research into these remarkable individuals helps us appreciate the incredible complexity of human memory. Their abilities serve as a reminder that the human brain still holds many mysteries waiting to be discovered.
Perhaps one day, we'll all be able to commit things to memory with such remarkable clarity – though we might want to think twice about whether remembering everything would truly be a gift or a burden.
Scientists have been racking their brains to understand individuals with exceptional memory abilities. These remarkable people don't just have memories like elephants – they possess what researchers call Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Unlike the rest of us, who might draw a blank when asked about specific dates from years ago, these individuals can bring back to mind vivid details about almost any day of their lives.
Memory serves these exceptional people in ways that seem almost supernatural. When researchers refresh their memory by mentioning a random date, HSAM individuals can instantly cast their mind back and describe exactly what they were doing, what the weather was like, and even what they wore. It's as if their memory bank contains perfectly preserved snapshots of their entire existence.
Recent studies shed light on the neurological differences in these extraordinary brains. Brain scans reveal that people with superior memory have enlarged areas in regions associated with autobiographical memory. However, researchers bear in mind that having a perfect memory isn't always a blessing. Some individuals report that painful memories stick in their mind just as clearly as happy ones, making it difficult to put traumatic experiences behind them.
Interestingly, these people don't necessarily learn something by heart faster than others, nor do they perform better on traditional memory tests. Their gift seems specifically related to personal experiences rather than general information. This rings a bell with researchers who are beginning to understand that memory isn't a single system but rather multiple, interconnected processes.
What's fascinating is that these individuals often take a trip down memory lane involuntarily. Random triggers can bring memories flooding back without warning. A particular smell might trigger a memory from decades ago, complete with emotional and sensory details that would normally fade from memory over time.
Scientists keep in mind that studying these exceptional individuals could unlock the secrets of memory formation and storage. Understanding how their brains retain information so effectively might help develop treatments for memory disorders and improve learning techniques for everyone.
While most of us will continue to occasionally have a memory lapse or need to search our memory for misplaced information, research into these remarkable individuals helps us appreciate the incredible complexity of human memory. Their abilities serve as a reminder that the human brain still holds many mysteries waiting to be discovered.
Perhaps one day, we'll all be able to commit things to memory with such remarkable clarity – though we might want to think twice about whether remembering everything would truly be a gift or a burden.
- commit something to memory – To deliberately memorize something so you don’t forget it.
- slip your mind – To be forgotten; when you fail to remember something.
- jog your memory – To help you recall something you’ve forgotten.
- at the drop of a hat – Instantly; without any hesitation or delay.
- rack your brains – To try very hard to remember or think of something.
- memories like elephants – To have a very powerful memory and rarely forget things.
- draw a blank – To fail to remember or retrieve something from memory.
- bring back to mind – To recall or remember something.
- refresh (one’s) memory – To help someone (or yourself) remember something forgotten.
- cast (one’s) mind back – To try to remember something from the past.
- memory bank – The store of information in one’s memory.
- shed light on – To make something easier to understand/to clarify.
- bear in mind – To remember or consider something.
- stick in (one’s) mind – To be remembered for a long time.
- put (traumatic experiences) behind (them) – To forget or stop being troubled by unpleasant experiences.
- learn something by heart – To memorize something exactly.
- rings a bell – To sound familiar; to trigger a vague recollection.
- take a trip down memory lane – To recall or reminisce about happy memories from the past.
- bring memories flooding back – To suddenly remember a lot of things very clearly.
- fade from memory – To be gradually forgotten.
- keep in mind – To remember and consider something important.
- unlock the secrets – To reveal information, knowledge, or understanding about something mysterious.
- retain information – To keep and remember facts or knowledge.
- memory lapse – A period when you forget something.
- search (one’s) memory – To try hard to remember something.
- commit things to memory – To make a special effort to remember something.
Connected Speech: Chunking and Two-Part Collocations
In fluent English, speakers often group words into meaningful 'chunks' or units, rather than pronouncing each word separately. This is called chunking. Understanding and practicing common two-part collocations (fixed pairs of words that often go together) is an important part of this process, especially at B2 level.
When we chunk language, we naturally connect words, making our speech sound more fluid and natural. Common two-part collocations are often "heard as one" unit, for example, take care, make sure, strong coffee, or heavy rain.
Knowing these pairs and practicing saying them together helps your spoken English sound more natural and connected.
When we chunk language, we naturally connect words, making our speech sound more fluid and natural. Common two-part collocations are often "heard as one" unit, for example, take care, make sure, strong coffee, or heavy rain.
Knowing these pairs and practicing saying them together helps your spoken English sound more natural and connected.
- Common Two-Part Collocations at B2 Level:
- make friends
- fast food
- take turns
- keep in touch
- miss the bus
- catch a cold
- strong accent
- tell the truth
- run a business
Tips for practicing chunking and collocations in connected speech:
Chunking collocations in your speech will make you both easier to understand and more confident when speaking English.
- Listen for word pairs in songs, films, and conversations. Notice how native speakers link them together naturally.
- Practice repeating common collocations as single units, not word by word.
- Record yourself and check if you are making smooth connections between the words.
- Try shadowing exercises: listen to a sentence, then repeat it right after, matching the speaker’s rhythm and connections.
Chunking collocations in your speech will make you both easier to understand and more confident when speaking English.
Quiz
Question 1 of 10
Choose the correct infinitive or -ing form: She enjoys ___ in the evenings.
to walk
walking
- 🧠 Describe someone you know who has an amazing memory. What do they do to remember things?
- 🗣️ Have you ever forgotten something important? How did you feel? What did you do?
- 🚍 Can you think of a time when you ‘missed the bus’—literally or metaphorically? What happened?
- 🤔 What tricks or techniques do you use to help you remember new information (like names or vocabulary)?
- 👫 Is it easy or difficult for you to make friends? How important is it to keep in touch with old friends?
- 🇬🇧 Do you or does anyone you know have a strong accent? Has it ever caused misunderstandings when speaking English?
- 💬 Are there any idioms or collocations about memory or speech that you use in your native language? Share some and explain them.
- 🌧️ Describe a time when a particular smell, place, or song brought memories flooding back. What was it?