ENGLISH WORLD

ACADEMY
GERUNDS & INFINITIVES
(+ COMMON MISTAKES AT FCE)
MASTERCLASS

March 2015

GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

C/ Hortes 34, Baixos – Figueres
Tel. 972 677 979 / 661 879 913
englishwacademy@gmail.com
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Knowing when to use gerunds or to use infinitives is one of the most challenging aspects of
learning English. So you must be ready and flexible in order to understand it.

Gerunds
A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing”. You can use a gerund as the subject, the
complement, or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
 Reading helps you learn English. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE
 Her favorite hobby is reading. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE
 I enjoy reading. OBJECT OF SENTENCE

 Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not." Example: The best thing for your health
is not smoking.

WE USE GERUNDS
After prepositions She’s good at playing cards
After Phrasal Verbs He gave up smoking
After verbs of preference I enjoy reading novels / I love travelling
most of the times
After the verb “go” I must go shopping
After several expressions It’s no use having a phone if you haven’t got any credit
on it.
It’s no good lying to your friends.
There’s no point (in) doing this.
I can’t help biting my nails.
I can’t stand/bear waiting in long queues.
I don’t mind going out tonight.
It’s worth doing it.

After several verbs Mention, recommend, quit, avoid, finish, postpone, risk,
admit, advise, deny, discuss, encourage, suggest, involve,
keep, practice, appreciate, mind, miss, regret, tolerate,
resist, consider, imagine, understand, feel like…

Infinitives
Infinitives are the "to" or base form of the verb. You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the
complement, or the object of a sentence.
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Examples:

 To learn is important. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE

 The most important thing is to learn. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE
 He wants to learn. OBJECT OF SENTENCE
Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not." Example: I decided not to go.

WE USE INFINITIVES
After adjectives
After indirect objects
To express purpose
After several expressions
After several verbs
It is difficult to win
He told me to stop messing around.
I to buy a newspaper (in order to buy)
He had no choice except to elect him.
There’s nothing left for us but to pack and leave.
Afford, agree, aim, arrange, attempt, choose, consent,
decide, deserve, demand, expect, fail, happen, hope,
intend, learn, teach, manage, need, offer, plan, pretend,
promise, refuse, seem, swear, threaten, want, prepare,
propose, wish, hesitate, appear…

Bare infinitive

Some verbs are followed by a bare infinitive (without “to”).

WE USE INFINITIVES
After verb “Let” Let me go
After verb “Make” Don’t make me cry
After verb “Help” He helped me do the homework
After Modal verbs You must leave/He should come early.
After I’d rather/I would rather I’d rather go now.

Both
There are several cases where we can use both gerund and infinitives. Sometimes, the meaning
will be different but in several cases, the meaning remains almost the same.

With the same meaning

WE USE INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH SAME MEANING

After verbs “begin/start” It started to rain/It started raining
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After verb “continue” He continued walking/He continued to walk

After verbs of perception
(feel, hear, see, notice, watch, listen, look,
oberve…)
After verbs of preference
(like, hate, love, fancy, loathe, stand,
prefer…)
We watched him clear/clearing the table.
I heard the clock crash/crashing on the floor.
I saw him lose/losing his composure.
I heard the birds sing/singing.
He likes running/He likes to run

With the different meaning

WE USE INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH DIFFERENT MEANING

After verb forget and remember I will never forget visiting the Louvre
Don’t forget to buy salt
I still remember stepping on Mount Kilimanjaro.
I didn’t remember to get the keys.
After verb “stop” He will never stop talking/He stopped to say hello.
After verb “regret” I regret going there/I regret to inform you the flight is
cancelled.
After verb “try” I always try to get there on time (but…)
Try connecting the cable to the socket.

COMMON MISTAKES AT FCE

 Everyday vs. every day: She studies every day/ This book is about everyday life.
 Travel vs. trip vs. journey
 Like vs. as
 Take or sit an exam (not do an exam)
 Make a decision (not *take a decision)
 All vs. everything
 All day vs. the whole day
 I haven’t got a pen or I don’t have a pen (*I haven’t a pen – not correct)
 The Police are investigating the case (not *The Police is)
 *I am agree (this is not correct) – I agree or I don’t agree
 Said to me / told me
 Make vs. do:
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Make a mistake Do the shopping

Make a phone call Do the housework/house chores
Make a cake / some coffee Do the laundry/ironing…
Make a promise Do the homework
Make a mess/fuss Do a favour
Make arrangements Do your best
Make an appointment Do something
Make an attempt Do 30km per hour
Make changes Do business
Make a choice Do a course (study)
Make a decision Do a crossword
Make a comment Do damage/harm
Make a complaint Do the dishes
Make a confession Do exercise
Make a difference Do gardening (any activity)
Make an effort It will do you good!
Make an exception Do your hair/nails
Make an excuse Do a good job
Make a face Do some research
Make fire
Make a fool of yourself
Make fun
Make a good impression
Make a joke
Make love
Make a noise
Make money
Make plans
Make a offer
Make some progress
Make a speech

 Tell vs. say:

Tell the truth Say hello/goodbye

Tell a lie Say something
Tell the time Say something to someone
Tell a story
Tell the difference
Tell someone something

 In/on/at
In the second picture/the newpaper/the photo…
In a car, In a taxi
To be on a boat, on the train, on the bus, on the plane
Travel by car, by bus, by train, by plane… But on foot
On a surface (on the wall, on the door, on the table, on the floor, on the menu, on a page…)
At the supermarket, at the airport, at the park, at the bus stop, at the door, at the entrance, at a
party, at a concert… (not specified)
On/at the corner vs. In the corner
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At the end vs. In the end

at in on
At home In a lift On the beach
At work In the newspaper On a horse
At school In the sky On the radio
At the top/bottom In a row On the TV
At university In Oxford street On the left/right
On the first floor

 Lonely vs. alone

 Arrive at or arrive in (NOT arrive to*)
 I like the place very much (NOT I like very much the place*)
 Order of adjectives: OPINION - SIZE – SHAPE - COLOUR – NATIONALITY/MATERIAL
 Suggest: She suggested that I should… (NOT *She suggested me to…)
 Explain: He explained the situation to us (NOT *He explained us the situation).
 Explain vs. Tell
 Advice: Some advice or a piece of advice (NOT *An advice)
 News: The news or some news or a piece of news (NOT *A new, or two news)
 Uncountable words: Advice, news, information, furniture, equipment…
 The last and the next vs. last and next
 In time vs. on time (The flight arrived on time/Will you arrive in time for dinner?)
 Despite vs. In spite of