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Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds and Infinitives
-ING OR INFINITIVES?
1. ING forms are often used in similar ways to infinitives.
2. There is no easy way to decide which verbs are by
infinitives, and which are followed by-ing forms.
3. Verbs that can be followed by ing forms (gerund), but not
normally an infinitive:
* Admit
* Appreciate
* Avoid
* Burst out
* consider
* detest
* contemplate
* delay
* deny
* dislike
* endure
* enjoy
* (Cant) stand
* Suggest
* Face
* Fancy
* Mention * Understand
* Mind
* Postpone
* Forgive * Practise
* Give up * Put off
* (Cant) help
* Resent
* Imagine
* Resist
* Involve * Risk
Go Go on
Stop
Intend Like
Watch
BeginLove Permit
Continue Prefer Propose
Forbid
Regret
Forget
See
Remember
Start
2. GO ON
Go on + -ing form: means continue: She went on talking about
her illness until we all went to sleep.
Go on + infinitive refers to a change of activity: she stopped
talking about that and went on to describe her other problems.
3. REGRET
Regret + -ing form looks back at the past at something that
one is sorry that one did: I regret leaving school at 14 it was a
big mistake.
Regret + infinitive is used mostly in announcements of bad
news: We regret to say that we are unable to help you.
6. TRY
Try + -ing: to talk about making an experiment doing
something: I tried sending her flowers, writing her letters,
giving her presents, but she still wouldnt speak to me.
Try + infinitive / try + -ing: to talk about making an effort to do
something difficult: I tried to change the Wheel, but my hands
were too cold or I tried changing the wheel.
7. MEAN
Mean in the sense of involve, have as a result can be followed
by ing form: If you want to pass the exam it will mean studying
hard.
Mean in the sense of intend, mean is followed by an infinitive: I
dont think she means to get married for the moment.
8. LEARN & TEACH
These verbs are followed by ing forms mostly when we are
referring to lessons or subjects to study: she goes to college
twice a week to learn typing.
Infinitives are preferred when we talk about the result of the
study about successfully learning a skill: she learnt to read
German at school, but she learnt to speak it in Germany.
12. STOP
Some verbs that are followed by ing forms can also be
followed by an infinitive of purpose. Stop is an example.
- I stopped running
- I stopped to rest (in order to rest)