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English grammar

Infinitives and -ing forms that carry time and voice

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

Infinitives and -ing forms can carry tense and voice of their own. A perfect infinitive (to have done) places the action before the main verb: She seems to have left (she left earlier). A continuous infinitive (to be doing) shows something in progress: He appears to be sleeping. A passive infinitive (to be done) or passive -ing (being done) lets the subject receive the action: The form needs to be signed; I hate being interrupted. A perfect -ing form (having done) stresses that one action was complete before another: Having finished the report, she went home; He denied having taken the money. After seem, appear, claim, pretend, expect, be likely and after reporting passives (is thought to), these forms are how English packs a whole clause into a verb phrase.

Pattern

to have + past participle (earlier) · to be + -ing (in progress) · to be + past participle / being + past participle (passive) · having + past participle (completed first) · seem / appear / claim / pretend / is thought + these forms

Examples

  1. The thieves seem to have entered through the back door.

  2. She pretended to be reading when I walked in.

  3. Nobody likes being told what to do.

  4. Having lived abroad for years, he found the move easy.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: He claims to see the accident yesterday.

    Right: He claims to have seen the accident yesterday.

    An earlier action after claim: perfect infinitive.

  • Wrong: I hate interrupting when I am speaking.

    Right: I hate being interrupted when I am speaking.

    If the subject receives the action, use the passive -ing.

  • Wrong: Having finish the exam, we went out.

    Right: Having finished the exam, we went out.

    having + past participle.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. He seems to have forgotten our meeting.
    2. He seems to have forget our meeting.
    3. He seems having forgotten our meeting.
    4. He seems to forgotten our meeting.
    Show answer

    Answer: A He seems to have forgotten our meeting.

    An earlier action after seem: to have + past participle.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence say about the time?

    She appears to have been crying.

    1. She never cries.
    2. She is crying at this moment and has never stopped.
    3. She was crying until shortly before now.
    4. She will cry later.
    Show answer

    Answer: C She was crying until shortly before now.

    The perfect continuous infinitive: an activity that went on until recently.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    The windows need _____ before the winter.

    1. to be replaced
    2. be replaced
    3. to replace them
    4. replaced
    Show answer

    Answer: A The windows need to be replaced before the winter.

    The windows receive the action: passive infinitive.

  4. 4Change the sentence.

    Put the infinitive in the perfect.

    The bank is believed to lose millions in the crisis.

    1. The bank is believed to have lose millions in the crisis.
    2. The bank is believed to lost millions in the crisis.
    3. The bank is believed to have lost millions in the crisis.
    4. The bank is believed having lost millions in the crisis.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The bank is believed to have lost millions in the crisis.

    A past action after a reporting passive: to have + past participle.

  5. 5This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    I remember to be taken to the zoo as a small child.

    1. I remember having take to the zoo as a small child.
    2. I remember being taken to the zoo as a small child.
    3. I remember to have taken to the zoo as a small child.
    4. I remember be taken to the zoo as a small child.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I remember being taken to the zoo as a small child.

    A memory of something done to you: remember being + past participle.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Have checked the figures twice, I sent the report.
    2. Having checked the figures twice, I sent the report.
    3. Having check the figures twice, I sent the report.
    4. Having been checked the figures twice, I sent the report.
    Show answer

    Answer: B Having checked the figures twice, I sent the report.

    having + past participle: finished before the main action.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    He denied having read the letter.

    1. He read the letter and admitted it.
    2. He said he would not read the letter.
    3. He was not allowed to read the letter.
    4. He said he had not read the letter.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He said he had not read the letter.

    deny having done reports a denial about the past.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    She pretended to be asleep when we came in

    Show answer

    Answer: She pretended to be asleep when we came in.

    A state in progress after pretend: to be + adjective or -ing.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    He hates _____ in front of other people.

    1. being criticised
    2. be criticised
    3. to criticise
    4. criticising them
    Show answer

    Answer: A He hates being criticised in front of other people.

    He receives the criticism: passive -ing.

  10. 10Change the sentence.

    Make the -ing form passive.

    She enjoys it when people praise her work.

    1. She enjoys to be praised her work.
    2. She enjoys praising her work.
    3. She enjoys being praise her work.
    4. She enjoys having her work praised.
    Show answer

    Answer: D She enjoys having her work praised.

    have + object + past participle after enjoy: her work receives the praise.

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