THE GERUND & THE INFINITIVE
1. THE GERUND
Basically, we use the ing GERUND form in the following cases:
After certain verbs and expressions.
Consider Keep
Dislike Mind
Enjoy Miss
Fancy Be worth
Finish Cant help
Go Cant stand
Would you mind moving your suitcase? It is on my foot!
You are so cute! I cant help loving you.
Do you fancy watching a film tonight?
After a preposition.
Ask her advice before doing anything.
They accused him of lying.
She is not used to getting up early.
As a noun generally subject of a sentence.
Eating too much chocolate will make you fat.
Travelling all year round meant that his wife eventually left him for another man.
NOTA BENE
You make a gerund negative, you put NOT in front of it:
He had missed not being with his family for so long.
2. THE INFINITIVE
We use the INFINITIVE + TO in the following cases:
After certain verbs and expressions.
Afford Offer We agreed to meet outside the pub at ten.
Agree Promise
Decide Seem Have you managed to pass all your exams?
Expect Teach
Hope Try Im teaching my nephew to drive.
Intend Want
Learn Would like Do you want us to drive you to the airport?
Manage Would love
Need Would prefer
1
After an adjective.
Are you happy to see us?
It is reasonably easy to learn how to drive.
To express the reason for doing something.
We are leaving early (in order) to have plenty of time at the airport before the flight.
She takes selfies (in order) to remind her of the good time she spends by herself.
NOTA BENE
To make an infinitive negative, we put not before to:
We promised not to say anything.
We use the INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO (the bare infinitive) in the following cases:
After certain verbs and expressions.
Can Should I would rather study than go to the dentists.
Could Let
May Make Youd better take a brolly because it looks like it is going to
Might Had better rain.
Must Would rather
We can use the infinitive with or without to in the following cases:
After the verbs help and dare
Can you help me (to) cross the road? asked the old lady.
Do you dare (to) swim in the North Sea in the winter?
3. GERUND & INFINITIVE
We can use the gerund or the infinitive without to with the following verbs. There is
a slight change in meaning. FEEL/HEAR/SEE/WATCH
The police saw him steal the diamonds = THEY SAW THE WHOLE ACTION FROM START TO
FINISH.
The police saw him stealing the diamonds = THEY SAW THE ACTION IN PROGRESS, BUT NOT
FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.
We heard her play the piano at the concert = WE HEARD THE WHOLE CONCERT.
We heard her playing at the concert = WE DIDNT HEAR ALL THE CONCERT.
We can use the gerund or the infinitive with to, but with a small change of meaning
with these verbs: LIKE/LOVE/HATE/PREFER
2
I like to read = IT IS A HABIT.
I like reading = IT IS A THING THAT IN GENERAL I ENJOY.
We can use BEGIN or START with the gerund or the infinitive with to and there is no
change in meaning.
It began to pour down/pouring down after we arrived at our holiday destination.
With some verbs we use the gerund or the infinitive with to, but there is a CHANGE
IN THE MEANING:
STOP
He stopped to look in the shop window (= HE PHYSICALLY STOPPED AND DID SOMETHING)
He stopped looking in the shop window, went inside and bought the shirt he had been looking
at (= HE GAVE UP DOING SOMETHING) .............. He stopped smoking after twenty-four years.
REMEMBER
I remember buying the newspaper this morning (= I REMEMBER NOW THAT I DID SOMETHING
IN THE PAST)
I remembered to buy the newspaper that my friend wanted (= I REMEMBERED SOMETHING
BEFORE I DID IT)
FORGET
She forgot meeting Peter at the party the night before (= SHE FORGOT ABOUT SOMETHING IN
THE PAST)
She forgot to meet Peter at the station (= SHE DIDNT REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS GOING TO
MEET PETER)
REGRET
He regretted arguing with his parents (= HE ARGUED WITH HIS PARENTS IN THE PAST AND
NOW HE REGRETS IT)
He regretted to inform the employees that they had lost their jobs (= HE WAS SORRY TO TELL
THE WORKERS THAT THEY HAD BECOME UNEMPLOYED)
TRY
They tried skiing and found that they enjoyed it (=THEY EXPERIENCED SKIING)
They tried to ski, but they kept falling over and so they gave up (= THEY ATTEMPTED IT, BUT
COULDNT DO IT)
3
Infinitive or Gerund? - Which is correct?
When you come to the crossroads - stop there.
1. Remember to stop at the crossroads.
2. Remember stopping at the crossroads.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
Yesterday she read the first pages of her new book.
1. She began to read her new book.
2. She began reading her new book.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
I was talking to Marc. But when my boyfriend came in, I could not talk to Marc anymore.
1. I stopped to talk to him.
2. I stopped talking to him.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
I wanted to write a letter, but I didn't know what to write. (So in the end, I didn't write one.)
1. I tried to write a letter.
2. I tried writing a letter.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
I am sorry now for something I said earlier on.
1. I regret to say this.
2. I regret saying this.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
You think your computer does not work, but you just haven't switched on the monitor yet.
1. Your computer does not work? Try to switch on the monitor.
2. Your computer does not work? Try switching on the monitor.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
The joke was so funny, that he burst out in laughter.
1. He started to laugh.
2. He started laughing.
3. Both possibilities are correct.
Yesterday I remembered that last year I was sick on your carpet.
1. I remembered to be sick on your carpet.
2. I remembered being sick on your carpet.
3. Both possibilities are correct.