The gerund is used:

a. As the subject of the sentence

e.g. Swimming is a good way of keeping fit.

b. After prepositions

e.g. He is interested in learning all about Egypt and its civilization.

c. After the following expressions

feel like, be used to, get used to, look forward to, be good/bad at, be into, be fond of, be keen on, be busy, it’s no
use, it’s (no) good, it’s (not) worth, there’s no point in, can’t help, can’t stand, spend time, go + activity.

e.g. Are you used to working at night?

d. After the following verbs

admit, avoid, consider, continue, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, fancy, finish, hate, imagine, involve, keep, like, love,
mind, quit, suggest,miss

e.g. The tourists went sightseeing in the afternoon.

The infinitive is used:

a. To express intention

e.g. He filled in the form to apply for the job.

b. After adjectives such as difficult,hard,easy,etc. and others that show feelings or

willingness/unwillingness (sorry, glad, anxious, eager, reluctant, willing, etc.)

e.g. He is willing to spend some time doing voluntary work.

c. After too/enough

e.g. He was too shy to speak in public.

d. After certain verbs

afford, agree, appear, arrange, decide, hesitate, hope, learn, manage, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse,
seem, struggle, swear, volunteer, want, wish, would like/prefer

e.g. The firefighters managed to rescue all the people inside the burning house.

e. Verbs followed by a noun/pronoun and to infinitive.

advise, allow, ask , beg, cause, convince, enable, encourage,expect, force, hire, invite, order, persuade, remind,
teach, tell, want, warn

e.g. The teacher encouraged the children to use an online dictionary.

Note:

f. Make and let have the following construction: verb + noun/pronoun + infinitive without to.

e.g. The book I read last month made me remember my childhood.

g. Begin and start can be followed either by gerund or infinitive without a change in meaning.

e.g. I was jogging in the park when it suddenly started to rain/raining heavily.

Use gerund or infinitive (with or without to)

o I hate__________________(iron) so I’m thinking of________________(get) someone to do it for me.

o _______________________(smoke) is not allowed in all public places.

o They would like________________(move) into another bigger house but they can’t
afford_______________(pay) a higher rent.

o He promised____________________(help) her next time she needed it.

o I can’t stand people_____________________(shout) at me.

o Kate suggested_____________________(go) to Paris at Christmas.

o He finally admitted______________________(rob) the bank.

o She always enjoys_____________________________(read) detective stories.

o Sue refused_______________________(answer) their indiscreet questions.

o They are not old enough________________________(stay) out late at night.

o James voted against________________________(demolish) the building.

o She often avoids_______________________(deal) with serious problems.

o Peter is usually willing__________________________(help) his colleagues.

o She doesn’t mind_________________________(work) long hours.

o The doctor advised my father________________________(follow) a healthy diet.

o His parents made him________________(study) instead of_____________(let) him __________________(go)

out with his friends.

o Mrs Thomson expects her students___________________(hand) in their projects on Monday.

o The little boy denied_____________________(eat) all the chocolates.

o The fire caused many people ___________________ leave their homes in a hurry.

o Yesterday she went to the library____________________(find) information for her History project.
 h. There are certain verbs that have a change in meaning when followed either by a gerund or an infinitive.
Study the examples and do the exercises.

STOP+ GERUND → “GIVE UP AN ACTIVITY OR HABIT”

e.g. George stopped smoking on his doctor’s advice. (He didn’t smoke any more)

STOP+ INFINITIVE → “AN ACTIVITY IS FINISHED IN ORDER TO START A NEW ONE”

e.g. I’m a bit tired of studying. We could stop to have a coffee and relax. (Let’s stop studying in order to have a
coffee and relax)

I have put on weight recently so I have decided to stop _______________ (eat) junk food.

She stopped __________________ (read), closed the book and turn on the TV to watch the tennis match.

Mary stopped _______________ (go out) with her friends when she started dating Richard.

We got to the wedding very late because we didn’t know where the church was and had to stop _______________
(ask) the way several times.

He is a very rude person. I think he should stop_______________ (think) before he speaks.

When she got to the top of the mountain, she stopped _____________________ (take) a photo.

It was a secret so they stopped ____________________________(talk) when I came in.

I’m running out of petrol so I’m going to stop ___________________________(buy) some.

MEAN + GERUND → “INVOLVE”

e.g. If you accept this job, it will mean moving to London. (You’ll have to move to London)

MEAN + INFINITIVE→ “INTEND”

e.g. Sorry I’m late. I meant to get up early but my alarm clock didn’t go off and I overslept. (I was going to get up
early but I couldn’t)

Being a nurse means _____________________ (work) long hours, nights and weekends.

Sorry, I meant_________________________ (tell) you but I forgot.

Being famous means ________________________ (be) recognized wherever you go.

Tell him that getting up earlier will mean __________________________ (make) an early night.

I think Helen didn’t mean _____________________________ (hurt) your feelings.

Practising extreme sports means __________________________(risk) your life.

If you want to pass your exams, it will mean__________________________ (study) harder than now.

I’m going on a long journey. I mean ___________________________(visit) as many places as I can.

TRY+ GERUND →”IT MEANS THAT YOU USE SEVERAL METHODS TO SEE IF SOMETHING WORKS”

e.g. If you have a headache, try taking an aspirin.

TRY+ INFINITIVE →”IT MEANS THAT YOU MAKE AN EFFORT IN ORDER TO DO SOMENTHING”

e.g. He has tried to take up sport but it is very difficult for him.

Jason tried _____________________________(open) the window but he couldn’t as it was stuck.

If you want to make new friends, try ________________________(join) a sports club.

She feels faint. I think she should try ________________________(eat) something.

A: I can’t sleep! B: Why don’t you try _____________________(count) sheep?

If nothing else works, try __________________________(read) the instructions.

I’ve been trying _________________________(run) this computer programme for hours but I can’t.

This key won’t turn. I’ll try __________________________(oil) the lock.

I’m trying _______________________________(make) myself understood, but they don’t listen to me!

REMEMBER+ GERUND →”THE GERUND REFERS TO A PAST ACTION THAT IS NOT FORGOTTEN”

e.g. I remember breaking my leg when I was a child.

REMEMBER+ INFINITIVE→” IT MEANS YOU DON’T FORGET THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING”

e.g. Bart’s birthday is next Saturday. His party is going to be a surprise. Remember to send the invitations to all his
friends.

It’s a busy restaurant. Remember ____________________(book) a table.

I know I've met her before. I remember ___________________ (meet) her at Jason's party last summer.

You must remember _________________(tell) all the club members about the meeting tomorrow. It’s very
important!

Remember __________________ (empty) your pockets before doing your laundry!

The witness told the police that she remembered _______________(see) the man steal the car.

Do you remember ________________________(be) aggressive when you were a kid?

I was so drunk last night I don’t even remember ____________________________(sing) during the party.

I’ll always remember ________________________(fly) for the first time.

FORGET+ GERUND → “it means that you don’t remember something you have done in the past”

e.g. He’ll never forget seeing U2 in concert. It was an amazing experience!

FORGET+ INFINITIVE → “It means that you forget that you need to do something”

e.g. When she got to the job interview, she realised she had forgotten to get a recent curriculum.

I forgot _________________ (buy) the book. I have to go out again.

She’ll never forget ___________________ (travel) by train across Europe. It was an amazing experience.

She has forgotten__________________ (pay) the rent this month. The owner is a bit angry!

Oh no! I forgot ____________________ (turn) the iron off after using it. I need to go back home right now!

The teacher said, “Don’t forget________________________ (bring) your dictionaries tomorrow”.

I have completely forgotten ___________________ (send) the e-mails. My boss will get very angry!

I’ve completely forgotten __________________________(steal) a bike when I was a child, but everyone says I did!

Don’t forget _________________________(set) the alarm clock before going to bed.

REGRET+ GERUND→”IT MEANS YOU ARE SORRY FOR HAVING DONE SOMETHING IN THE PAST”

e.g. I told her something I didn’t want people to know but she has told everyone. I regret telling her so much
about myself.

REGRET+ INFINITIVE →”IT MEANS YOU ARE SORRY FOR DOING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE”

e.g. We regret to inform you that we don’t need any new staff this year.

I regret _____________________ (go) straight to university after I left school. I wish I’d travelled a bit first.

British airways regrets _______________________(announce) the late arrival of flight BA 467 from Athens.

She has no time for herself. She regrets ____________________(have) so many children.

Mr. Clark regretted ____________________________ (dismiss) Rachel, so he asked her to come back to the
company a few months later.

The child is crying. I regret ______________________(shout) at him.

We regret ____________________________(tell) you that you haven’t passed your driving test.

I regret ____________________________(waste) so much time this term. Now, I won’t pass my exams.

He regretted __________________________(behave) so badly because his parents were rather disappointed.