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GERUNDS & INFINITIVES
1
GERUNDS
A GERUND is
a verb in its "ing" form (the present participle); for example,
raining, dancing, laughing, thinking,
creating, running, and so on.
By definition, they are activities . either physical or mental.
These words function as NOUNS in a sentence:
The subject of
the verb:
Swimming is a lot of fun and good exercise.
The object of the verb:
I really
like
swimming.
The object of a preposition: I am looking forward to
swimming in the ocean.
1.1 GERUNDS
AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
Any activity that can be
expressed with the "ing" form of a verb can be the subject of a sentence.
All
gerunds can be the subject of a sentence.
Breathing is necessary.
Driving a car requires good vision.
Helping other people feels good.
1.2 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF A
PREPOSITION
Prepositions (for, with, about, &) must be followed by an object.
The object can be a noun or a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).
I am
tired of
waking up
too early.
I look forward to
meeting
your friend.
I am interested in
learning baseball.
She is responsible for
implementing new policy.
1.2.1 Verb +
Preposition
Here are some
verbs plus a
preposition followed by
a gerund:
to
complain
about __________ing
to insist
on __________ing
to participate
in __________ing
to apologize
for __________ing
to object
to __________ing
to look forward
to __________ing
to think of
__________ing
to win by __________ing
to take part in
__________ing
1.2.2 Verb +
Object + Preposition
Here are some
verbs plus an
object
plus a preposition followed by
a gerund:
to
have difficulty
in __________ing
to take advantage
of __________ing
to have a good
reason for
__________ing
to prevent someone
from __________ing
to keep someone
from __________ing
to stop someone
from __________ing
to thank someone
for __________ing
to
blame someone
for __________ing
to accuse someone of
__________ing
to charge someone
with __________ing
to fine someone
for __________ing
1.2.3 To Be
+ Adjective + Preposition
Here are some
combinations of the verb "to be" plus an
adjective
plus a preposition followed by
a gerund:
to
be accustomed
to __________ing
to be interested
in __________ing
to be excited
about __________ing
to be capable of
__________ing
to be responsible
for __________ing
to be used
to __________ing
to be tired
of __________ing
to be bored
with __________ing
to be good
for __________ing
to be good
at __________ing
to be bad
at __________ing
to be guilty
of __________ing
1.2.4
To Be + Noun + Preposition
Here are some
combinations of the verb "to be" plus an
object
plus a preposition followed by
a gerund:
to
be a victim
of __________ing
to be an advocate
of __________ing
to be a believer
in __________ing
to be a
supporter of __________ing
to be a critic of
__________ing
1.3 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF A
VERB
When it comes
to gerunds as the object of a verb, not all verbs are equal.
That is, some verbs can take a gerund as
their objects, but other verbs cannot.
(Some verbs can take infinitives as their
objects. Some verbs never take an object at all.)
These differences can only be learned, as
individual vocabulary items.
1.3.1 Verb + Gerund:
Here are some
verbs
that are followed by a
gerund.
(These verbs can be followed by any gerund.
The gerunds used in these sentences are only
examples.)
I
admit
losing the
combination to the safe.
I
advise
finding a good
lawyer.
I don't anticipate
waiting very much
longer.
I appreciate
hearing a good
joke.
I avoid
flying as much as
I can.
Would you consider
selling your share
of the company?
We will
delay
signing an
agreement.
I deny
saying that.
We must discuss
hiring more
people.
I dislike
eating alone.
I enjoy
talking with new
people.
I fear
losing his
confidence.
When I
finish
typing this, I'll
help you.
I gave up
explaining my
position to them.
I often
go
dancing.
I can't help
thinking that we
could have done better.
I can't
imagine
spending that much
money.
Business trips
involve
waiting in
airports and staying in hotels.
They
keep
saying that, but
they don't do anything about it.
Did I
mention
seeing him
yesterday?
I don't
mind
working on the
weekend.
I will miss
seeing you
around.
They postponed
starting
construction until next year.
You
should practice
using set
phrases.
I quit
smoking six years
ago.
I recall
meeting him a long
time ago.
I don't
recollect
being there.
I recommend
having the New
York steak.
I resent
having to sign in
each morning.
I couldn't
resist
telling them.
We should not risk
losing their
trust.
I hope they
stop
making so much
noise so I can get some sleep.
He
suggested
starting my own
agency.
They won't
tolerate
trading insider
information.
2 INFINITIVES
An infinitive
may exist with or without the word "to".
For
example, following modal verbs (can, may, must, ... ).
Infinitives
with the word "to" can function as
either the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of a verb.
2.1
INFINITIVES AS THE SUBJECT OF THE
SENTENCE
To read a good book is my favorite form of
relaxation.
To win
means everything to him.
To speak
a foreign language well requires
practice.
2.2
INFINITIVES AS THE OBJECT OF THE VERB
Most people
like
to win.
I don't
want
to
go.
We don't
need
to
fight like this.
2.2.1 Verb +
Infinitive
Here are
some verbs
that are followed by a n
infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any
infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are only
examples.)
We can't afford to
remain
outside the market.
Should we
agree to
buy from
them?
It appears to
be a
mistake.
I will arrange to
talk
with them as soon as possible.
I
asked to
see the
manager about it.
I beg to
differ
with you, sir.
Would you
care to
try a
California wine?
They claim to
make the
best potato chips in the world.
We
will never consent to
allow
your name to be put on our product.
Finally, I decided to
do it
myself.
I demand to
know who
is responsible for this!
He
deserves to
get a
promotion.
She expects to
hire an
apprentice.
Do not fail to
let us
know your decision.
If you have
trouble, don't hesitate to
call us
for help.
We hope to
begin by
next week.
I intend to
go home
early.
He learned to
speak
English as a child.
You managed to
overlook
something.
Did you mean to
put my
report in the waste basket?
I
need to
talk to
an expert.
They offered to
buy the
rest from us.
We plan to
expand
our product range.
Are you
prepared to
explain
this disaster?
I don. t pretend to
know all
the answers.
I promise to
do my
best.
He refuses to
answer
my calls.
He seems to
be the
one who is in charge.
We
had to
struggle
to open the window.
Do you
swear to
keep
this a secret?
They threatened to sue us if we didn't pay their fee.
No one volunteered to clean
up after
the picnic.
I cannot wait to
see the
expression on his face when he hears the news.
I want to
find the
right person for this job.
I do not
wish to be
a part
of your scheme.
2.2.2 Verb + Pronoun/Noun +
Infinitive
Here are some verbs
plus
an indirect object
followed by an
infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any
infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are only
examples.)
I would
advise you
to say nothing about
this.
Will you allow me to use your
telephone?
She asked me to help her with her
car.
He begged me to let him come
along.
The weather caused us to take a later
flight.
He challenged me
to
find an error in his figures.
We must convince them
to
investigate the
situation.
I dare you to tell him what you
told me.
I encouraged her
to
continue with the
task.
He expects you
to
finish on time.
I
forbid
you to use that tone of
voice with me.
They forced him
to
reveal his source.
We
should hire
someone to
run our photocopying operation.
I instructed them
to
wait for us here.
I
invited
John to take part
in our discussion.
I
need you to tell me what is
going on here.
My boss
ordered me
to
go to London last week.
We permitted them to talk to our
client.
He persuaded her to listen to
his problem.
He reminded me to bring an umbrella.
This situation requires
us to be very
cautious.
The experience
taught me
to
buckle my seat belt.
He told me to take two aspirins
and go to bed.
She urged me to take the job.
I want you to wash my car.
He warned me not
to
drive too fast around here.
3 GERUNDS OR
INFINITIVES?
Some verbs can
be followed by either a gerund or an
infinitive.
Sometimes, there is no
difference in meaning.
Sometimes there
is.
3.1 VERB +
INFINITIVE = VERB +
GERUND
These
verbs can be followed by either an
infinitive or a gerund, with NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING.
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He
began
to shout.
He
started
to
shout.
He
continued
to
shout.
I
like
to
read.
I
love
to
read.
I
prefer
to
read.
I
hate
to
wait.
I
can't
stand to wait.
I
can't
bear to wait. |
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
= |
He began shouting.
He started shouting.
He continued
shouting.
I like reading.
I love
reading.
I prefer
reading.
I hate waiting.
I can't
stand
waiting.
I can't
bear
waiting. |
3.2 VERB + INFINITIVE
¹ VERB +
GERUND
Some
verbs
can be followed by either an
infinitive or a gerund, but THEIR
MEANINGS ARE NOT THE SAME:
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I will
remember
to
call her.
(I
will be sure to call her in the future.)
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≠ |
I
remember
calling her.
(I have the memory of calling her in
the past.)
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I will not
forget
to
meet him.
(I
will be sure to meet him in the future.)
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≠ |
I will never
forget
meeting them.
(I will not lose the memory of meeting
them.) |
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I
regret
to
say he is not here.
(I am sorry I must tell you he is not
here.)
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≠ |
I
regret
saying it.
(I am sorry I said it.) |
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I will
try
to
ring the bell.
(I will see if it is possible to ring
the bell.)
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≠ |
I will
try
ringing the
bell.
(I will ring the bell to see
if it will help the situation.) |
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I
stopped
to smoke at ten
o. clock.
(I interrupted an activity
and had a cigarette.) |
≠ |
I
stopped
smoking a year
ago.
(I ended my cigarette
habit.) |
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