Gerunds

and
Infinitives
What is a Gerund?

Gerunds are made by adding –ing

to the base form of a verb.

Do + -ing = doing
Swim + -ing = swimming
fall + -ing = falling
When do you use Gerunds
after verbs?
There are no patterns for this
rule.
You must memorize which verbs
are followed by gerunds and
which are followed by
infinitives (which we will get to
in a moment)
Verbs that are followed by Gerunds

acknowledge delay excuse mind recall

admit deny fancy (UK) miss recollect
anticipate detest finish postpone regret

appreciate dispute imagine practice resist

avoid dislike involve prevent risk
can’t stand enjoy keep propose suggest
celebrate escape make quit understand
consider report recommend
Infinitives
The infinitive of the verb is the
basic form of the verb.
There are two forms of infinitives
swim, leave, eat, play = bare
infinitive
to swim, to leave, to eat, to play
= full infinitive
VERBS that are followed by Infinitives

afford choose hurry pay seem

agree consent intend plan want

appear decide invite prepare warn

arrange demand learn pretend wish

ask deserve manage promise would like

attempt expect mean refuse Claim

can’t afford fail need remind hesitate

can’t wait hope offer request swear

 Verbs followed by
Gerunds and Infinitives (1)
These verbs take infinitives and gerunds:
begin, continue, hate, try, need, like, love, prefer,
start.

Examples:
1. I hate exercising.
2. I hate to exercise.
3. I love swimming.
4. I love to swim.
The meaning of sentences 1,2 and 3,4 is the
same.
Verbs followed by
Gerunds and Infinitives (2)
These verbs are followed by
gerunds and infinitives:
remember, stop, forget.

BUT the meaning changes if

the verb is followed by an
infinitive or a gerund….
 Examples of Verbs followed by
Gerunds and Infinitives with
changes in meaning
1. Frank remembered mailing the letter.
(Frank had a memory that he mailed the letter. He saw it in his
mind)
2. Frank remembered to mail the letter.
(First he remembered that he needed to mail the letter. Then
he did it: he mailed the letter. He didn’t forget to mail the letter)
3. Sonia stopped eating ice cream.
(She doesn’t eat ice cream anymore)
4. Sonia stopped to eat ice cream.
(She stopped another activity to eat ice cream)
5. Jane forgot to meet John.
(Jane had planned to meet John, but she didn’t meet him
because she forgot about the plan)
6. Jane forgot meeting John.
(Jane met John, but afterwards she didn’t remember that.)