Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR

Infinitives (Similar Meaning)

can't He can't bear being alone. He can't bear to be alone.
bear

can't Nancy can't stand working the Nancy can't stand to work the
stand late shift. late shift.

cease The government ceased The government ceased to

providing free health care. provide free health care.

continue She continued talking. She continued to talk.

hate He hates cleaning dishes. He hates to clean dishes.

like Samantha likes reading. Samantha likes to read.

love We love scuba diving. We love to scuba dive.

neglect He neglected doing his daily He neglected to do his daily

chores. chores.

prefer He prefers eating at 7 PM. He prefers to eat at 7 PM.

propose Drew proposed paying for the Drew proposed to pay for the
trip. trip.

REMEMBER

Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and
gerunds and infinitives can often be used interchangeably, there is still a
meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real
activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about
potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference
in meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably,
such as in the examples below.

Examples:

 The British reporter likes living in New York. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK AND HE
LIKES WHAT HE EXPERIENCES THERE.
  The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the
United States. HE LIKES THE OPTION OR POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN NEW YORK WHEN HE
WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES.
 I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I LIKE THE
EXPERIENCE OF SPEAKING FRENCH, AND THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL WHEN I SPEAK THE
LANGUAGE.

 I like to speak French when I'm in France. I PREFER THE OPTION OF SPEAKING
FRENCH WHEN I AM IN FRANCE.

GERUNDS AND
INFINITIVES:
THEIR NOUN ROLES

Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything
that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name
activities rather than people or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and
infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the adjective complement, that we throw
in here, free of charge).

Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:

a. Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.

b. To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.

It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as

the subject (as in Ib), but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a
Subject Complement:

a. Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.

The gerund can also play this role:

b. Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.

 Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role of
Noun Complement and Appositive:

a. Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.

b. I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.
c. Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a
goal within reach.

The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very
partial list of abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these
adjectives with an infinitive phrase (their desire to play in the championship game, a
motivation to pass all their courses, her permission to stay up late, a gentle reminder to
do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.

advice opportunity refusal

appeal order reminder
command permission request
decision plan requirement
desire possibility suggestion
fact preparation tendency
instruction proposal wish
motivation recommendation

Infinitive phrases often follow certain adjectives. When this happens, the
infinitive is said to play the role of Adjective Complement. (This is not a noun
function, but we will include it here nonetheless.)

a. She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.

b. She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.
c. But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.

Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.

ahead determined lucky

amazed disappointed pleased
anxious eager proud
apt eligible ready
ashamed fortunate reluctant
bound glad sad
careful happy shocked
certain hesitant sorry
content liable surprised
delighted likely upset
 Although we do not find many infinitives in this next category, it is not
uncommon to find gerunds taking on the role of Object of a Preposition:

a. She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.

b. She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.

Two prepositions, except and but, will sometimes take an infinitive.

a. The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.
b. What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?

And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:

Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these
decisions will seem quite arbitrary. The next section is about making the choice between
gerund and infinitive forms as direct object.

Verbs that take other verb forms as objects are called catenatives (from a word that
means to link, as in a chain). Catenatives can be found at the head of a series of linked
constructions, as in "We agreed to try to decide to stop eating between meals."
Catenatives are also characterized by their tendency to describe mental processes and
resolutions. (Kolln)

Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether
to use a gerund or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom
English is a second language. Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide
running? On the other hand, we might avoid running, but we would not avoid to run.
And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It is clear that some verbs
take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either. The following
tables of verbs should help you understand the various options that regulate our choice
of infinitive or gerund.

Some students may find it convenient to have a list

of verbs that take infinitives, verbs that take
gerunds, verbs that take either—without the lists
being broken into verb categories as they are
below. Click the button to see such a list.

We also make available a chart of 81 verbs that take gerunds

and infinitives along with pop-up examples of their usage.
Click HERE for that chart.

The verbs in the table below will be followed by an infinitive. We decided to leave. He
manages, somehow, to win. It is threatening to rain. Notice that many, but not all, of
these verbs suggest a potential event.

Some of the verbs in the following table may be followed by a gerund if they are
describing an "actual, vivid or fulfilled action" (Frodesen). We love running. They
began farming the land. These are described, also, below.
Emotion
care hate love
desire like regret
hate loathe yearn
Choice or Intent
agree hope prepare
choose intend propose
decide need refuse
decide plan want
expect prefer wish
Initiation, Completion, Incompletion
begin get start
cease hesitate try
commence manage undertake
fail neglect
Mental Process
forget learn remember
know how
Request and Promise
demand promise threaten
offer swear vow
Intransitives
appear seem tend
happen
Miscellaneous
afford claim pretend
arrange continue wait

The verbs in the next table will often be followed by an infinitive, but they will also be
accompanied by a second object. We asked the intruders to leave quietly. They taught
the children to swim. The teacher convinced his students to try harder.

The verbs in blue, with an asterisk, can also follow the same pattern as the verbs in the
table above (i.e., the second object is optional). We all wanted to go. They promised to
be home early.

Communication
advise forbid remind
ask* invite require
beg* order tell
challenge permit warn
command persuade urge
convince promise*
Instruction
encourage instruct train
help teach
Causing
allow force need*
cause get would like*
choose hire
Miscellaneous
dare* trust want*
expect* prepare*

Gerunds accompany a form of the verb to go in many idiomatic expressions: Let's go

shopping. We went jogging yesterday. She goes bowling every Friday night.

The following verbs will be followed by a gerund. Did I mention reading that novel last
summer? I recommend leaving while we can. I have quit smoking These verbs tend to
describe actual events.

Initiation, Completion and Incompletion

anticipate delay quit
avoid finish risk
begin get through start
cease give up stop
complete postpone try
Communication
admit encourage report
advise mention suggest
deny recommend urge
discuss
Continuing Action
continue practice keep
can't help involve keep on
Emotion
appreciate love regret
dislike mind can't stand
enjoy don't mind resent
hate miss resist
like prefer tolerate
Mental Process
anticipate imagine see
consider recall can't see
forget remember understand

The verbs in the following table can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, and
there will be virtually no difference in the meaning of the two sentences. I like to play
basketball in the park. I like playing basketball in the park.

attempt like regret

begin love can't stand
continue neglect stand
hate prefer start

The verbs in this next, very small table can be followed by either an infinitive or a
gerund, but there will be a difference in meaning. I stopped smoking means something
quite different, for instance, from I stopped to smoke. The infinitive form will usually
describe a potential action.

forget remember stop

Finally, the verbs below will be followed by either a gerund or a simple verb and a
second subject will be required. I saw the team losing its composure. I overheard my
landlord discussing a rent increase. (I heard Bill sing/singing.) These verbs involve the
senses.

Verbs Involving Senses

feel look at overhear

hear notice see
listen to observe watch

Verbs of perception — hear, see, watch — and a handful of other verbs — help, let, and
make — will take what is called the bare infinitive, an infinitive without the particle
"to." This is true of these verbs only in the active voice.

a. We watched him clear the table.

b. They heard the thief crash through the door.
c. She made me do it.
d. We helped her finish the homework.
Using Possessives with Gerunds

Do we say "I can't stand him singing in the shower," or do we say "I can't stand his
singing in the shower"? Well, you have to decide what you find objectionable: is it him,
the fact that he is singing in the shower, or is it the singing that is being done by him
that you can't stand? Chances are, it's the latter, it's the singing that belongs to him that
bugs you. So we would say, "I can't stand his singing in the shower."

On the other hand, do we say "I noticed your standing in the alley last night"? Probably
not, because it's not the action that we noticed; it's the person. So we'd say and write,
instead, "I noticed you standing in the alley last night." Usually, however, when a noun
or pronoun precedes a gerund, that noun or pronoun takes a possessive form. This is
especially true of formal, academic writing.

There are exceptions to this. (What would the study of language be without exceptions?)

 When the noun preceding the gerund is modified by other words, use the
common form of that noun, not the possessive.
a. Federico was pleased by Carlos's making the Dean's List for
the first time.
but
b. Federico was pleased by Carlos, his oldest son, making the
Dean's List for the first time.

When the noun preceding the gerund is plural, collective, or abstract, use
the common form of that noun, not the possessive.

c. Professor Villa was amazed by her students working as hard

as they did.
d. The class working collaboratively was somebody else's idea.
e. It was a case of old age getting the better of them.

There are certain situations in which the possessive and the gerund create
an awkward combination. This seems to be particularly true when
indefinite pronouns are involved.

f. I was shocked by somebody's making that remark.

This would be greatly improved by saying, instead . . .
g. I was shocked that somebody would make that remark.

This is also true when the "owner" of the gerund comes wrapped in a noun
phrase:

o I was thankful for the guy next door shoveling snow from my
driveway.
TO + infinitive or gerund: FORGET, REMEMBER,
REGRET, GO ON, STOP, TRY
The to + infinitive after these verbs expresses purpose as it replaces a purpose clause, while the gerund is the object

of the verb and refers to a completed action.

Don’t forget to meet her at 10 this morning. (= You should meet her at 10…)

I’ll never forget meeting her for the first time. (= I’ll never forget when I met her the first time.)

When you were in London did you remember to visit the British Museum? (= …did you remember that you should

visit the British Museum?)

I don’t remember ever visiting this museum. (= I don’t remember if I have ever visited this museum.)

We regret to tell you that your application has been rejected. (= We are sorry that we have to tell you…)

I regret telling her about the party. (= I am sorry that I have told her about the party.)

Wherever you are, go on to read the next chapter. (= Continue with the next chapter.)

Go on reading the article. (= Continue reading the article.)

We stopped to drink a cup of coffee. (= We stopped in order to drink a cup of coffee.)

Why don’t you stop drinking coffee? (= Why don’t you give up drinking coffee?)

I tried to give up smoking but I couldn’t. (= I made an attempt to give up smoking but I failed.)

I tried giving up smoking but it didn’t help. (= I gave up smoking but it didn’t help.)

After these verbs to + infinitive expresses future, while the gerund refers to past, relative to the time of the verbs.

TO + infinitive or gerund: CONSIDER, IMAGINE

I am considering working abroad. (= I am thinking of working abroad.)

He is considered to be the best person for the job. (= He is regarded as the best man for the job.)

Imagine living at 2,000 metres above sea level! (= What would it be like to live at 2,000 metres above sea level?)

I have imagined him to be much taller. (= I have expected him to be much taller.)

TO + infinitive or gerund: LIKE, HATE, PREFER,

CAN'T BEAR
The verbs like and hate express liking if they are followed by the gerund:

I like getting up early in the morning in the summer. (= I enjoy getting up early...)

I hate dancing so don’t ask me to. (= I don’t like dancing...)

But if they are followed by to + infinitive, they express habitual preference, something that the speaker does not

necessarily like or enjoy but considers as useful, right or wise:

I like to be punctual. (= I think to be punctual is the right thing to do.)

I hate to lie but sometimes I have to. (= I don’t think it’s right to lie but sometimes I have to do it.)
 If the verb like is used in the negative, the gerund expresses that you do something and you don’t enjoy doing it,

whereas the to + infinitive structure means that you don’t want to do it and therefore you don’t.

Sandra didn’t like being photographed, so she was very annoyed when I took her picture.

Sandra didn’t like to be photographed, so her picture wasn’t taken.

Prefer can be used in the following ways:

I prefer walking to taking the bus. (= I like walking better than taking the bus.) (general preference)

If you prefer to walk, it will take you 30 minutes to school. (= If you want to walk, it will take you 30 minutes to

school.)

Can’t bear may also take the gerund or to + infinitive.

I can’t bear meeting him every day. (= I meet him every day, which I don’t like.)

I couldn’t bear to see those poor animals suffer. (= I didn’t want to see them suffer, so I turned away.)

Word Formation
The basic part of any word is the root; to it, you can add a prefix at the beginning and/or a suffix at the end
to change the meaning. For example, in the word "unflattering," the root is simply "flatter," while the prefix
"un-" makes the word negative, and the suffix "-ing" changes it from a verb into an adjective (specifically, a
participle).

English itself does not use prefixes as heavily as it once did, but many English words come from Latin, which
uses prefixes and suffixes (you can use the word affix to refer either to a prefix or a suffix) quite extensively.
For example, the words "prefix," "suffix," and "affix" themselves are all formed from "fix" by the use of
prefixes:

 "ad" (to) + "fix" (attached) = "affix"

 "pre" (before) + "fix" = "prefix"

 "sub" (under) + "fix" = "suffix"

Note that both the "-d" of "ad" and the "-b" of "sub" change the last letter.

Here are some of the most common Latin prefixes (for the meanings of the Latin roots, look up the words in a
good dictionary):

ab
(away) abrupt, absent, absolve
ad
(to) adverb, advertisment, afflict
in
(not) incapable, indecisive, intolerable
inter
(between, among) intercept, interdependent, interprovincial
intra
(within) intramural, intrapersonal, intraprovincial
pre
(before) prefabricate, preface prefer
post
(after) postpone, postscript, postwar
sub
(under) submarine, subscription, suspect
trans
(across) transfer, transit, translate
 

Written by David Megginson

Third Conditional

Introduction
The third conditional (also called conditional type 3) is a structure used for
talking about unreal situations in the past. This page will explain how the third
conditional is formed, and when to use it.

The structure of a third conditional sentence

Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two
clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause explanation

If I had
I would have I failed the exam, because I
studied
passed the exam. didn't study hard enough.
harder,

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause if clause

I probably would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.

We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:

if clause if + subject + past perfect verb*

subject + would (OR could, OR might) have +

main clause past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb "had", and the past
participle (or third form) of the verb.
 Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

If I had studied harder, I probably would

Full form have passed the exam.

Contracted If I'd studied harder, I probably would've

form passed the exam.

Using the third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about things which DID NOT HAPPEN in
the past. If your native language does not have a similar construction, you may
find this a little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express
criticism or regret:

Example Explanation
If you had driven more Criticism: You had an accident
carefully, you would not have because you didn't drive carefully
had an accident. enough.

If we had played a little

Regret: We didn't play well, so we
better, we could have won the
lost the game.
game.

If you had saved your money, Criticism: You didn't save your
you could have bought a money, so now you can't afford a
computer. computer.

If it had snowed, we could Regret: It didn't snow, so we

have gone skiing. couldn't go skiing.

The Third Conditional

1. He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.

If he asleep while driving, he his car.

2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough money.

If we enough money, we to the concert.

3. I lost my job because I was late for work.

I my job if I late for work.

4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.

If the wind so strong, the bridge .

5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.

I Sally if I her number.

Third conditional
We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because
they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

 If I had worked harder at school, I would have got better grades.

 If I had had time, I would have gone to see him. But I didn't have time.
 If we had bought that house, we would have had to rebuild the kitchen.
 If we had caught the earlier train, we would have got there on time but we were late.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.

 If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I
didn't.)
 If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. ( But he wasn't there so it
wasn't possible.)
 If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps
if the opportunity had arisen.)
 If I had paid more attention in class, I would have understood the lesson.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.
  I'd have done it. ("if you had asked me but you didn't.")
 I wouldn't have said that. ("if I'd been there.")
 He wouldn't have let him get away with that. ("if he had tried that with me.")

Aprendiendo inglés

Third conditional
Fuente: www.shertonenglish.com

Third Conditional, también -Type III- Refiere a una situación hipotética del pasado y se
forma según la estructura : if + past perfect + conditional perfect. Aquí tienes algunos
ejemplos traducidos.

If clause Main clause

If + Past Perfect tense would/could/might + have + past participle
If I had won the lottery, I would have traveled around the world.


 If you had phoned me, I would have known you were here.

Si tu me hubieses telefoneado, habría sabido que estabas aquí.

 If they had invited us, we would have accepted at once.

Si ellos nos hubiesen invitado, habríamos aceptado de inmediato.

 If she had explained me the problem, I would have understood it.

Si ella me hubiese explicado el problema, lo habría entendido.

 If I hadn't forgotten his number, I would have phoned him.

Si no hubiese olvidado su número, lo habría llamado.

 If it hadn't rained, we would have gone fishing.

Si no hubiese llovido, habríamos ido a pescar.

 If my sister had been here, she would have enjoyed this.

Si mi hermana hubiese estado aquí, habría disfrutado esto.

 If they hadn't drunk so much last night, they wouldn't have felt sick today.

Si no hubiesen tomado tanto anoche, no se habrían sentido enfermos hoy.

 If he had worked more, he could have saved more money.

Si él hubiese trabajado más, podría haver ahorrado más dinero.

Gerund after prepositions (verbs)

Gerund and prepositions - Exercise

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 They were accused of breaking into a shop.

agree with I agree with playing darts.
apologize for They apologize for being late.
believe in She doesn't believe in getting lost in the wood.
blame for 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 I wanted to congratulate you on making such a good speech.
cope with He is not sure how to cope with getting older.
decide against They decided against stealing the car.
depend on Success may depend on becoming more patient.
dream about/of Sue dreams of being a pop star.
feel like They feel like going to bed.
get used to You must get used to working long hours.
insist on The girls insisted on going out with Mark.
look forward to I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.
prevent sb. from sth. How can I prevent Kate from working in this shop?
rely on sth. He doesn't rely on winning in the casino.
succeed in How then can I succeed in learning chemistry?
specialize in The firm specialized in designing websites.
stop sb. from I stopped Andrew from smoking.
talk about/of They often talk about travelling to New Zealand.
think of Frank thinks of playing chess.
warn sb. against We warned them against using this computer.
worry about The patient worries about having the check-up.

Gerunds after Prepositions

This is a good rule. It has no exceptions!
If we want to use a verb after a preposition, it must be a gerund. It is impossible to use
an infinitive after a preposition. So for example, we say:

 I will call you after arriving at the office.

 Please have a drink before leaving.
 I am looking forward to meeting you.
 Do you object to working late?
 Tara always dreams about going on holiday.

Notice that you could replace all the above gerunds with "real" nouns:

 I will call you after my arrival at the office.

 Please have a drink before your departure.
 I am looking forward to our lunch.
 Do you object to this job?
 Tara always dreams about holidays.

The above rule has no exceptions! So why is

"to" followed by "driving" in 1 and by
"drive" in 2?
1. I am used to driving on the left.

2. I used to drive on the left.

Answer

to as preposition Preposition

I am used to driving on the left.

I am used to animals.

to as infinitive Infinitive

I used to drive on the left

I used to smoke.