8A Gerund Infinitive

Gerunds and Infinitives
• There are three common verb forms in English:
1) gerund or –ing form (e.g. going, running, working etc.)
2) infinitive with to (e.g. to go, to run, to work etc. )
3) infinitive without to (e.g. go, run, work)

gerund the infinitive with to the infinitive without to
(verb + -ing) X (not + verb + -ing) (to + verb) X (not + to + verb)

going X not going to go X not to go go
• after prepositions and phrasal verbs • after adjectives • after modal verbs and auxiliary verbs
• as the subject of a sentence • to express a reason or purpose • after make and let
• after some verbs • after some verbs

Gerund (verb + -ing)
• We use the gerund (verb + -ing)
1) after prepositions and phrasal verbs
I am interested in watching fiction movies.
She is good at playing the piano.
I have given up buying newspapers.
He wants to go on working.
2) as the subject of a sentence
Playing tennis is my favourite activity.
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the building.
Sleeping 8 hrs a day is necessary for a healthy life.
Working late can be exhausting.

3) after some verbs
admit avoid deny dislike enjoy feel like

finish hate keep like love mind
miss practise prefer recommend spend time stop
suggest
! The negative gerund: not + verb + -ing

3) after some verbs
She admitted stealing the money.
He tried to avoid paying his taxes and was taken to court.
He denies not doing anything about their relationship.
I enjoy waking up early.
I hate not being on time for things.
He spends a lot of his time working.

!!! like, love, hate
I like getting up early in the morning.
I like to get up early in the morning.

The infinitive with to
• We use the infinitive + to
1) after adjectives
It is difficult to learn a foreign language.
I find it hard to revise vocabulary.
Do you think this water is safe to drink?
It is impossible to answer these questions.

2) to express a reason or purpose
I called the restaurant to reserve a table.
We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.
My brother is saving money to go on vacation abroad.

3) after some verbs (more verbs take the infinitive than the gerund)
(can’t) afford agree decide expect forget help

hope learn need offer plan pretend
promise refuse seem want would like
! The negative infinitive: not + to + verb

3) after some verbs
The kids offered to do the dishes.
The college principal promised to investigate the matter.
My sister has never learned to drive.
We've decided not to go away after all.
We are planning not to waste our time here.

verb + person + infinitive with to
ask sb. to do sth.

Can you ask the manager to come?
tell sb. to do sth.

She told him not to worry.
want sb. to do sth.

I want you to do this now.
would like sb. to do sth.

We would really like you to come.
Gerund or Infinitive
• Some verbs can take either the infinitive or the gerund with no difference in meaning.
start / begin / continue
It started to rain. = It started raining.
She began to talk. = She began talking.
We continued to search. = We continued searching.

• Some verbs can take either the gerund or infinitive with a difference in meaning.
try
try to do sth. = • to attempt something difficult

• to make an effort to do sth.
• to fail to do sth.
Try to be on time. (= make an effort to be on time)

I was very tired. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn’t.
Please try to be quiet when you come home. Everyone will be asleep.
I tried to move the table, but it was too heavy.
I am going to try to get up early tomorrow.
I’ve been trying to fix my computer myself for hours.
The goalkeeper tried to catch the ball, but he couldn’t.
try
try doing sth. = • do it as an experiment or test (to see if / how it works)
• advice
Try doing yoga. (= do it to see if you like it)

Try pressing the green button to start the photocopier.
She didn’t hear the doorbell. Then I tried knocking on the window.
A: I can’t sleep at night! B: Have you tried meditating or drinking herbal tea?
A: I need help fixing my computer. B: Try turning it off and then turning it back on.
If you want to lose weight, try cooking healthy food.
To remove that stain on your shirt, try using this stain remover.
remember
remember to do sth. = Don’t forget to do sth. / Didn’t forget to do sth.
Remember to buy some bananas. (= Don’t forget to buy them.)

I remembered to lock the door. (= I remembered that I had to lock it, and so I locked it.)
Remember to turn off the lights before you leave the classroom.
All students must remember to bring their ID cards with them.
Remember to do your homework before coming to class tomorrow.
I’m so happy you remembered to call your sister yesterday.
remember
remember doing sth. = I have the memory of a past experience.
She remembers being in hospital when she was a child. (=She has a memory of it.)
He says we’ve met before, but I don’t remember meeting him.
I remember riding my bike every day after school when I was young.
I remember playing with my friends on the playground when I was a child.
He remembers crying on his first day at school.
She remembers falling into the river once.
The infinitive without to
• We use the infinitive without to
1) after most modal and auxiliary verbs.
I can’t drive.
We must hurry.
2) after make and let.
make sb. do sth. She always makes me laugh.

let sb. do sth. My parents didn’t let me go out last night.

8A Gerund Infinitive

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Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives

• There are three common verb forms in English:

1) gerund or –ing form (e.g. going, running, working etc.)

2) infinitive with to (e.g. to go, to run, to work etc. )

3) infinitive without to (e.g. go, run, work)

gerund the infinitive with to the infinitive without to

(verb + -ing) X (not + verb + -ing) (to + verb) X (not + to + verb)

• after some verbs • after some verbs

• We use the gerund (verb + -ing)

1) after prepositions and phrasal verbs

I am interested in watching fiction movies.

She is good at playing the piano.

I have given up buying newspapers.

• We use the gerund (verb + -ing)

2) as the subject of a sentence

Playing tennis is my favourite activity.

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the building.

Sleeping 8 hrs a day is necessary for a healthy life.

Working late can be exhausting.

• We use the gerund (verb + -ing)

3) after some verbs

admit avoid deny dislike enjoy feel like

! The negative gerund: not + verb + -ing

• We use the gerund (verb + -ing)

3) after some verbs

She admitted stealing the money.

He tried to avoid paying his taxes and was taken to court.

He denies not doing anything about their relationship.

I enjoy waking up early.

I hate not being on time for things.

He spends a lot of his time working.

!!! like, love, hate

I like getting up early in the morning.

I like to get up early in the morning.

• We use the infinitive + to

It is difficult to learn a foreign language.

I find it hard to revise vocabulary.

Do you think this water is safe to drink?

It is impossible to answer these questions.

• We use the infinitive + to

2) to express a reason or purpose

I called the restaurant to reserve a table.

We shouted to warn everybody of the danger.

My brother is saving money to go on vacation abroad.

• We use the infinitive + to

(can’t) afford agree decide expect forget help

! The negative infinitive: not + to + verb

• We use the infinitive + to

3) after some verbs

The kids offered to do the dishes.

The college principal promised to investigate the matter.

My sister has never learned to drive.

We've decided not to go away after all.

We are planning not to waste our time here.

verb + person + infinitive with to

ask sb. to do sth.

tell sb. to do sth.

want sb. to do sth.

would like sb. to do sth.