THE GERUND

We use the –ing form

1) AS A NOUN
 Speaking foreign languages is useful for everyone.
 Listening to music is my hobby.
 Working at nights is relaxing for me.
 Walking is a good form of exercise.

2) USUALLY AFTER THE VERBS: like, love, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer, start, begin, stop,
finish, etc.
 Some men like playing soccer a lot.
 She hates doing aerobics.
 I enjoy watching old films on TV.
 He started writing his composition an hour ago.

3) AFTER PREPOSITIONS (in, on, at, with, by, before, for, near, without, over, under, etc)
 I’m tired of going to work by van every day.
 They have travelled to Piura several times this year for having fun in
Mancora.
 You have to say your sentence without reading them.
 She knocked before opening the door.

4) AFTER THE VERB GO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACTIVITIES

 I go swimming to Pimentel on Sundays.
 Would you like to go dancing this Saturday night?
 We’ve usually gone skiing at the weekends.
 Mr. Smith has gone shopping with me.

5) AFTER THE EXPRESSIONS (be busy, it’s no use, it’s no good, it’s worth, what’s the use
of…?, there’s no point in.)
 Dad is busy repairing the car.
 It’s no good playing computer games the whole day.
 It’s worth practicing grammar a lot.
 It’s no use trying to change her mind.

6) After verbs such as (avoid, admit, risk, confess, deny, look, forward to, mind, regret,
spend, suggest.)
 Anita avoided answering my questions.
 I’m looking forward to working abroad.
 They admitted having the passwords.
 I don’t mind working on Saturdays.

NOTE:
a) We can use the –ing form or the to –infinitive after the verbs (start, begin,
continue, like, prefer and hate)
 He started writing his speech last night.
 He started to write his speech last night.
b) We use the to –infinitive and not the –ing form after the expressions (would love,
would like, would prefer)
 I would like to travel to Sydney.
 I would prefer to stay in this hotel.
 We would love to go, but we have an exam tomorrow.

c) We can use the bare infinitive or the –ing form after the verbs (see, hear, feel,
watch. Note the difference in meaning, however.)
 I saw Emmanuel crossing the street. (I saw the whole action.)
 I saw Emmanuel crossing the street. (I only saw part of the action.)
 THE INIFINITIVE

The infinitive is the root form of the verb. There are two kinds of infinitive:

a) The to -infinitive
b) The bare infinitive which is the root form of the verb without to

We use the to-infinitive

1) After verbs such as (advise, agree, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, promise,
refuse, seem, want, etc)
 He refused to answer my question.
 She promised to do her homework.
 They have always wanted to visit Paris.

2) After be + adjective such as (glad, happy, nice, sorry, good, important, interesting,
etc)
 It’s nice to be back home.
 Javier will be glad to see you soon.
 It has been interesting to visit that web page.

3) After some verbs such as (know, learn, remember, ask, want, to know, etc. when
there is a question word. (who, what, when, where, why, how, etc.)
 I didn’t know how to answer this question.
 Don’t you remember where to put this bolt?
 Betty learnt how to cook when she was twelve.
BUT: I didn’t know why she was crying.

4) With too and enough.

 It’s too cold to go outside.
 My sister isn’t old enough to vote.
 He’s too young to stay in the house alone.

5) To express purpose
 He went to the florist’s to buy some flowers.
 I have just made a summary to improve your vocabulary.
 They will come here to spend the holiday with us.

WE USE THE BARE INFINITIVE

1) After modal verbs (can, could, may, must, should, would, etc)
 We can understand better now.
 Could you open the window, please? I can’t do it.
 I must wash the car today. It’s very dirty.
2) After the verbs let and make
 My parents let me have a party for my birthday last month.
 Let him help you with your tasks.
  She made me cry when she told me her story.

3) After auxiliaries (does, did, will)

 The mechanic didn’t repair my car.
 He will play soccer next Sunday morning.
 She doesn’t have to study very much because she’s very clever.

VERBS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND

Admit Complete Enjoy Mind (as in Quit Risk

object to)
Advise Consider Finish Miss Recall Suggest
Appreciate Discuss Keep (as in Postpone Recommend Tolerate
continue)
Avoid Dislike Mention Practice Resent understand
Can’t help Don’t mind resist

EXPRESSIONS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND

Be excited about Be oppsoed to Believe in Blame (so or sth) for

Be worried about Be used to Participate in Forgive (so or sth) for
Be responsible about Compalin about Succeed in Thank (so or sth) for
Be interested in Dream about / of Take advantage of Keep (so or sth) from
Be accused of Talk about/of Take care of Prevent (so or sth) from
be capable of Think about/of Insist olook forward to Stop (so or sth) from
Be tired of Apologize for
Be accustomed to Make an excuse for
Be committed to Have a reason for

VERBS THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED DIRECTLY BY AN INFINITIVE

Afford claim Hesitate Offer regret wait

Agree Decide Hope Plan Seem Want
Appear Demand Intend Prepare Struggle Wish
Arrange Deserve Learn Pretend Swear Would like
Ask Expect Mean Promise Threaten
Care Fail Need Refuse Volunteer
 VERBS THAT MUST be followed by an object before an infinitive

Advise Challenge Force Need Remind Want

Allow Convince Help Order Require Warn
Ask encourage Hire Permit Teach Would like
Bed Expect Instruct Persuade Tell
Cause Forbid invite Promise Urge