The United States of America is a union of fifty states and is the third largest country in the world

Other adjectives with the to-infinitive are:

• 
  able
  
• 
  unable
  
• 
  due
  
• 
  eager
  
• 
  keen
  
• 
  likely
  
• 
  unlikely
  
• 
  ready
  
• 
  prepared
  
• 
  unwilling
  
• 
  willing
  

Unfortunately I was unable to work for over a week.
I am really tired. I’m ready to go to bed.
We often use the to-infinitive with these adjectives after it to give opinions:

• 
  difficult
  
• 
  easy
  
• 
  possible
  
• 
  impossible
  
• 
  hard
  
• 
  right
  
• 
  wrong
  
• 
  kind
  
• 
  nice
  
• 
  clever
  
• 
  silly
  
• 
  foolish
  

It’s easy to play the piano, but it’s very difficult to play well.
He spoke so quickly it was impossible to understand him.
We use the preposition for to show who these adjectives refer to:

• 
  difficult
  
• 
  easy
  
• 
  possible
  
• 
  impossible
  
• 
  hard
  

It was difficult for us to hear what she was saying.
It is easy for you to criticise other people.
We use the preposition of with other adjectives:
It’s kind of you to help.
It would be silly of him to spend all his money.
• As a postmodifier (see noun phrases) after abstract nouns like:

• 
  ability
  
• 
  desire
  
• 
  need
  
• 
  wish
  
• 
  attempt
  
• 
  failure
  
• 
  opportunity
  
• 
  chance
  
• 
  intention
  

I have no desire to be rich.
They gave him an opportunity to escape.
She was annoyed by her failure to answer the question correctly.
• We often use a to-infinitive as a postmodifier after an indefinite pronoun (See indefinite pronouns):
When I am travelling I always take something to read.
I was all alone. I had no one to talk to.
There is hardly anything to do in most of these small towns.










Verbs which are usually followed by a Gerund:
acknowledge, admit, adore, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, celebrate, confess, contemplate, delay, deny, describe, detest, discuss, dislike, dread, endure, enjoy, fancy, finish, imagine, involve, keep, justify, mention, mind, miss, omit, postpone, practise, quit, recall, recommend, regret, report, resume, risk, suggest, tolerate, understand.

Verbs which are usually followed by an infinitive:
afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, care, choose, claim, come, consent, dare, decide, demand, deserve, determine, elect, expect, fail, get, hate, help, hesitate, hope, hurry, intend, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, resolve, say, seem, tend, threaten, want, wish.





COMPLETE WITH A GERUND OR AN INFINITIVE
1.- She agreed ………………….. (pay) the electricity bill the following week.
2.-Hector dislikes ……………… (go) to the opera.
3.-Martin admitted ………………. (steal) the money from the safe.
4.-Elizabeth didn’t need ………….. (do) the final exams.
5.-I regretted ……………… (forget) to call my grandfather for his birthday.
6.-Your aunt wished …………. (visit) Australia in Summer.
7.-Please, avoid ………………… (touch) the wires with wet hands.
8.-Your friend seems ……………. (be) very busy today.
9.-We suggested ………………… (sell) our apartment at the seaside.
10.-She postponed ………………… (make) a decision for the new shop.
11.-Excuse me, do you mind ………… (clean) the table, please!
12.-It was difficult to climb up the mountain but we kept ……….(go)
13.-I’m amazed because you didn’t hesitate ………… (accept) that job.
14.-The policeman pretended …………. (keep) my identity card.
15.- Robert denied …………… (kidnap) the child.
16.- The car is too expensive so I can’t afford ………….. (buy) it.
17.-Sonia didn’t tolerate …………………. (share) the bedroom with John.
18.-The couple chose ………….(spend) their honeymoon in Canada.
19.-You hate …………… (wait) for your girlfriend.
20.-Barbara celebrated ……………….. (win) the TV contest.
21.- George’s father learnt ……………… (play) the guitar in five years.
22.-Miriam omitted ……………..(invite) her old university colleagues.
23.-My aunt claimed …………… (be) the owner of the red suitcase.
24.-Tina pretended …………….. (borrow) my computer.
25.-All my friends wanted ………….. (go) to the zoo in the afternoon.
26.- The French tourist asked me how ……….. (get) to the post office.
27.-My neighbour enjoys ……….. (collect) stamps and coins.
28.- It was late so we hurried ……………. (catch) the last bus.
29.-Does she know what ………… (do) in case of a fire?
30.-I’d like ………………. (fly) to the Moon soon.