What’s in The News? Road to The United States Constitution.

Speaking Practice. Academy Awards.

English Grammar. Verbs + Infinitive or –ING

America’s search for a plan of national government was a slow,  difficult process. Compromise, cooperation, and creativity were required  as the Americans moved from being colonials in a patriarchal monarchy  to citizen-leaders in a representative republic of federal states. Most  of this process took place in the midst of a long, revolutionary war.  Not only were these “the times that try men’s souls,” in the words of  Thomas Paine, they were also the times that tested Americans’ intellects  and practical political skills in creating a strong, national,  republican government.

The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the  first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777, but the  states did not ratify them until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a  loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government,  leaving most of the power with the state governments.

Divisions among the states and even local rebellions threatened to  destroy the fruits of the Revolution. Nationalists, led by James  Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James  Wilson, almost immediately began working toward strengthening the  federal government. They turned a series of regional commercial  conferences into a national constitutional convention at Philadelphia in  1787.

Verbs + Infinitive

Here are some common verbs in English that are followed by the infinitive:

decide

She decided to study biology, not physics.

help

Can you help me to carry these boxes?

It’s very common to remove the word “to”:

Example: Can you help “me carry” these boxes?

hope

We hope to hear from you soon.

I hope it doesn’t rain this weekend.

learn

She’s learning to swim. (With ing)

It’s very common to add the word “how” if you are learning a new skill:

I’m learning “how” to cook.

need

I need to go to the supermarket. We don’t have any eggs.

offer

My friend offered to take me to the airport.

plan

We’re planning to have a big party when our son graduates from college.

pretend

He pretended to be sick so that he didn’t have to take the test.

promise

He promised to call me back as soon as possible.

try

I’m trying to read this book, but it’s too difficult.

want

I want to learn English so that I can study in the U.S.

would like

I’d like to travel to France someday.

Don’t forget that there are three word combinations used just like “Modal Auxiliary Verbs”.