Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives
 A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." You can use
a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a
sentence.
Ex/ Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
I enjoy reading. object of sentence
 Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Ex/ He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not smoking.
 Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. You can also use an infinitive
as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Ex/ To learn is important. subject of sentence
The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
He wants to learn. object of sentence
 Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."
Ex/ I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.
 Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the

complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements,
gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English,
whereas infinitives sound more abstract.
Ex/ Learning is important. normal subject
To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
The most important thing is learning. normal complement
The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less
common
 As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a

gerund or an infinitive. Usually, the main verb in the sentence
determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
The most common verbs followed by a gerund are:
• Admit • Forgive
• Appreciate • Give up
• Avoid • Can’t help
• Consider • Imagine
• Delay • Mention
• Deny • Mind
• Detest • Miss
• Dislike • Postpone
• Enjoy • Practise
• Escape • Resist
• Excuse • Risk
• Feel like • Can’t stand
• Finish • Suggest
• Understand
Ex/ I really appreciate having time to relax.
Have you considered getting a job abroad?
Excuse my interrupting…
You mentioned having been in hospital last year.
 The –ing form is used after all prepositions (including to, when it is a
preposition). The infinitive is impossible in these cases.
Ex/ You should check the oil before starting the car.
You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
He’s always talking about moving to the country.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Gerund or infinitive?
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, usually

with a difference of meaning. The most important are:
• Advise • Prefer
• Allow • Propose
• Can’t bear • Regret
• Begin • Remember
• Continue • See
• Forbid • Start
• Forget • Stop
• Go on • Try
• Hate • Watch
• Hear  Certain adjectives:
• Like Accustomed/ afraid/ certain/ sorry/
• Love Interested/ sure/ used.
• Permit
• Remember, forget, stop, go on, and regret:
+ gerund refers to things that happen earlier
+ infinivite refers to things that happen after the remembering…
Ex/ I shall always remember meeting you for the first time.
Remember to go to the post office.
I really must stop smoking.(stop what one is doing or does)

Every half hour I stop work to smoke a cigarette. (make a break)
I shall never forget seeing the Queen. (forget what one has done
or what has happened)
She’s always forgetting to give me my letters (what one has to do)
 regret + gerund = be sorry for what has happened
 regret + infinitive = be sorry for what one is going to say
Ex/ I don’t regret telling her what I thought.
I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you employment.
 Interested in + gerund = interested in the idea of doing something

 Interested + infinitive = interested by what one learns or
experiences
Ex/ I’m interested in working in Switzerland.
I was interested to read in the papers that scientists have found
out how the universe was form.
 Like + gerund = enjoy

 Like + infinitive = choose to, be in the habit, think it right to
 Love, hate and prefer : not much difference between gerund and
infinitive, but refering to one particular occasion better infinitive.
Ex/ I like walking in the rain.
I like to get up early so that I can get plenty of work done before
lunch.
 Would like always followed by the infinitive.

Ex/ What would you like to do tomorrow?
 Love, hate and prefer : not much difference between gerund and
infinitive, but refering to one particular occasion better infinitive.
Ex/ I love lying / to lie on my back and staring / to stare at the sky.
I prefer working / to work in the mornings.
I hate to mention it, but you owe me some money.

 Allow, advise, forbid and permit + gerund = there is no personal
object.
 Allow, advise, forbid and permit + infinitive = if we say who is
allowed, advised, etc.
Ex/ Sorry, we don’t allow smoking in the lecture room.
We don’t allow people to smoke in here.
I wouldn’t advise taking the car.
I wouldn’t advise you to take the car.
 Try + gerund = make and experiment, do something to see what

will happen
Ex/ I tried sending her flowers but it didn’t have any effect.
Try putting in some vinegar, taht might make it taste a bit better.
 Try + infinitive = make an effort, attempt to do something difficult.

Ex/ Please, try to understand.
I once tried to learn Japanese.
 Afraid of + gerund = afraid of + infinitive. Little difference of
meaning.
Ex/ I’m afraid of flying / to fly
I’m afraid of telling / to tell her.
 Begin and start + gerund or infinitive. No real difference of

meaning.
Ex/ How old were you when you first started playing the piano?
 After begin and start, the verbs understand and realize are only
used in the infinitive.
Ex/ She began to understand what he really wanted.
 Propose, attempt, intend, continue, can’t bear and be

accustomed to + gerund or infinitive. Infinitive more common with
propose, attempt and intend.
Ex/ I can’t bear getting /to get my hands dirty.
He intends to double the advertising budget.
 Sorry + infinitive = we apologize for something that we are doing
or about to do.
Ex/ Sorry to disturb you, could I speak to you for a moment?
Sorry + gerund = we apologize for something we have done (we use

for + -ing or that-clause)
Ex/ I’m sorry for waking you up yesterday.
I’m sorry that I woke you up yesterday.

Gerunds and Infinitives

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gerunds and Infinitives

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gerunds and Infinitives

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gerunds and Infinitives

 Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

 Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the

 As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a

Have you considered getting a job abroad?

You mentioned having been in hospital last year.

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

He’s always talking about moving to the country.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, usually

I really must stop smoking.(stop what one is doing or does)

 Interested in + gerund = interested in the idea of doing something

 Like + gerund = enjoy

 Would like always followed by the infinitive.

I hate to mention it, but you owe me some money.

 Try + gerund = make and experiment, do something to see what

 Try + infinitive = make an effort, attempt to do something difficult.

 Begin and start + gerund or infinitive. No real difference of

 Propose, attempt, intend, continue, can’t bear and be

Sorry + gerund = we apologize for something we have done (we use

You might also like