We use the Gerund after prepositions.

We use the Gerund after the following phrases: afraid of angry about/at bad at good at clever at crazy about disappointed about/at excited about famous for fed up with fond of glad about happy about/at interested in keen on proud of sick of sorry about/for tired of used to worried about noun + preposition They are afraid of losing the match. Pat is angry about walking in the rain. John is good at working in the garden. He is clever at skateboarding. The girl is crazy about playing tennis. He is disappointed about seeing such a bad report. We are excited about making our own film. Sandy is famous for singing songs. I'm fed up with being treated as a child. Hannah is fond of going to parties. She is glad about getting married again. The children are not happy about seeing a doctor. Are you interested in writing poems? Joe is keen on drawing. She is proud of riding a snowboard. We're sick of sitting around like this. He's sorry for eating in the lesson. I'm tired of waiting for you. She is used to smoking. I'm worried about making mistakes.

We use the Gerund after the following nouns: advantage of chance of choice between danger of difficulty in doubt about hope of What is the advantage of farming over hunting? There's a chance of catching a cold these days. There's a choice between flying to London Heathrow or Stansted. Peggy is in danger of making a mistake. He has difficulty in sending SMS. He is in doubt about buying the correct software for his computer system. There's little hope of catching Schumacher's Ferrari.

idea of interest in method of opportunity of problem of reason for risk of trouble for way of

I like the idea of setting up a new email account. There's no interest in writing letters. This is a simple method of finding solutions. There's some opportunity of bringing her parents together again. He has the problem of swimming too slow. There's a real reason for winning the contest. There's a risk of digging too deep. He was in trouble for stealing. This is a new way of building a wall.

possibility of These new wheels offer the possibility of riding tubeless.

We use the Gerund after prepositions. verb + preposition Exception: to Here we use the phrase: looking forward to + Gerund Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. We use the Gerund after the following phrases: accuse of agree with apologize for believe in blame for They were accused of breaking into a shop. I agree with playing darts. They apologize for being late. She doesn't believe in getting lost in the wood. The reporter is blamed for writing bad stories.

complain about She complains about bullying. concentrate on Do you concentrate on reading or writing? congratulate sb. on cope with decide against depend on feel like get used to insist on prevent sb. from sth. I wanted to congratulate you on making such a good speech. He is not sure how to cope with getting older. They decided against stealing the car. Success may depend on becoming more patient. They feel like going to bed. You must get used to working long hours. The girls insisted on going out with Mark.

dream about/of Sue dreams of being a pop star.

look forward to I'm looking forward to seeing you soon. How can I prevent Kate from working in this shop?

rely on sth. succeed in specialize in stop sb. from talk about/of think of warn sb. against worry about

He doesn't rely on winning in the casino. How then can I succeed in learning chemistry? The firm specialized in designing websites. I stopped Andrew from smoking. They often talk about travelling to New Zealand. Frank thinks of playing chess. We warned them against using this computer. The patient worries about having the check-up.

Gerund after special verbs Gerund/Infinitive - Explanations Gerund/Infinitive - Exercises We use the Gerund after the following verbs: admit avoid He admitted having driven too fast. They avoid going on holiday on Saturdays.

carry on If we carry on sleeping so badly, we may need help. consider Ralph is considering buying a new house. delay deny dislike can't help enjoy finish give up imagine include involve I delayed telling Max the news. She denies reading the book. We dislike reading poems. He couldn't help falling in love with her. I enjoy playing chess. They finished working in the garden. Susan gives up playing ice-hockey. He imagined driving a new car. Your responsibility includes taking reservations on the phone. The project will involve growing plants.

justify keep (on)

I cannot justify paying $100 for this ticket. They keep on running.

mention Did Alex ever mention playing baseball? mind miss practise regret* risk suggest I don't mind sleeping on the couch. They miss playing with their friends. She practised playing hockey. Do you regret having mentioned it? You risk catching a cold. She suggested flying to Cairo.

Gerund after special phrases

We use the Gerund after the following phrases: to be busy He is busy reading the paper.

couldn't help She couldn't help eating another apple. don't mind feel like how about I don't mind telling them my opinion. We feel like having a cup of tea. How about walking home instead of taking the car?

it's (no) good It's no good talking to this girl. it's no use spend one's time there's no there's no point It's no use talking to the headmaster. They spend their time reading. There's no cheating anymore. There's no point in complaining further.

what about worth

What about going to the zoo? The book is worth reading.

Gerund after prepositions

We use the Gerund after the following prepositions: after before by in spite of on without After having a shower, I waited for Steven. The tablet must not be taken before getting up in the morning. I manage it by working much longer than 40-hour weeks. In spite of studying a lot he didn't pass the exams. She insisted on calling her sister. He told the joke without laughing.

We use the Gerund or the Infinitive after the following verbs. There are two possible structures after these verbs. Gerund: verb + -ing Infinitive: verb + person + to-infinitive advise allow encourage permit They advise walking to town. They advise us to walk to town. They do not allow smoking here. They do not allow us to smoke here. They encourage doing the test. They encourage us to do the test. They do not permit smoking here. They do not permit us to smoke here.

We use the following structures with the word recommend: recommend They recommend walking to town. They recommend that we walk to town.

Gerund and Infinitive - difference in meaning Gerund/Infinitive - Explanations Gerund/Infinitive - Exercises

Some verbs have different meaning. (when used with Gerund or Infinitive) GERUND INFINITIVE

forget

He'll never forget spending so much Don't forget to spend money on the money on his first tickets. computer.

GERUND go on

INFINITIVE

Go on reading the Go on to read the text. text.

GERUND

INFINITIVE

mean

You have forgotten your homework I meant to phone your mother, but my again. That means mobile didn't work. phoning your mother.

GERUND I remember switching off the lights when I went on holiday.

INFINITIVE

remember

Remember to switch off the lights when you go on holiday.

GERUND stop Stop reading the text.

INFINITIVE Stop to read the text.

GERUND

INFINITIVE

try

Why don't you try running after the dog?

I tried to run after the dog, but I was too slow.

The Infinitive with to the first after: the last Gagarin was the first to fly in a spaceship. Peter was the last to watch the film.

the next He is the next to get his passport.

I'm happy to be here. after: adjectives It's better not to smoke.

certain verbs (agree, choose, forget, after: hope, learn, promise, regret*, want, )

I learn to drive a car.

* After regret the to-infinitive is used when announcing bad news: We regret to inform you that the flight to Munich has been cancelled. In other cases the Gerund is used. question after: words I don't know what to say. Can you tell me how to get to the bus stop?

after:

want/would I want you to help me. like

verb + object + I helped my dad to clean the car. to-infinitive NOTE!!! I want to help you. I want you to help me.

The Infinitive without to after auxiliaries/modals can could may might must mustn't needn't shall should will would after to do do I don't know. He can run very fast. As a boy he could run very fast. I may fly to Africa this summer. I might fly to Africa this summer. I must go now. You mustn't smoke here. You needn't go. We shall sing a song. We should sing a song. She will cook a meal for his birthday. She would cook a meal for his birthday.

after the following expressions: had better would rather You had better clean up your room. Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow.

would sooner why not why should we why should we not

I would sooner read a book than watch this film. Why not ask your neighbour for help? Why should we go by car? Why should we not go by car?

after verbs of perception + object (action has finished): feel hear notice see watch after let + object: Sandy let her child go out alone. let Mother let her daughter decide on her own. let's after make + object: make She made Peggy and Samantha clean the room. Let's go for a walk through the park. She feels the rain fall on her face. I heard Peter sing a song. Mandy noticed the boy climb the tree. They saw him climb up the roof. He watched the thieves steal a car.