GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

In English, both gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that function as nouns, allowing for more
flexibility and variety in sentence construction. Understanding when to use gerunds or infinitives is
crucial for effective communication.

A. Gerunds:
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb and functions as a noun. It can be used as the subject of a
sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.

Examples:

1. Subject: Swimming is my favorite exercise.

2. Object of a Verb: I enjoy reading novels.
3. Object of a Preposition: She is interested in hiking.

A1. Common verbs used with gerunds

Enjoy: I enjoy swimming.
Dislike: They dislike studying for exams.
Hate: He hates doing the dishes.
Start: They started working on the project
yesterday.
Continue: We can't continue ignoring the issue.
Keep: I keep forgetting your name.
Imagine: Can you imagine living in a different
country?
Admit: He admitted cheating on the test.
Consider: Have you considered changing your
job?
Suggest: I suggest trying the new restaurant.
Spend time: I spend my time doing some
research.
Like: She likes playing the piano.
Love: We love hiking in the mountains.
Prefer: She prefers reading novels to watching
TV.
Begin: Let's begin discussing the plan.
Finish: He finished cleaning the house.
Stop: She stopped worrying about the problem.
Practice: They practice speaking English every
day.
Avoid: We should avoid making the same
mistake.
Mind: Do you mind waiting for a moment?
Recommend: She recommends watching that
movie.
Miss: I miss playing with my dad.

A2. Common phrasal verbs used with gerunds

Look forward to: I look forward to meeting you.
Be used to: She is used to waking up early.
Be worth: The movie is worth watching
End up: We ended up going to the beach.
Be interested in: Are you interested in joining
the team?
Give up: Don't give up trying to learn a new
language.
Keep on: She kept on talking about her trip.
Look forward to: They look forward to having a
picnic.
Be fond of: He is fond of playing the guitar.
Have trouble: I have trouble understanding this
concept.
 Think about: She's thinking about changing her Talk about: We talked about going on a
job. vacation.
Dream of: He dreams of traveling the world. Be capable of: She is capable of solving complex
problems.
Insist on: They insist on being present at the
meeting.

B. Infinitives:
An infinitive is the base form of a verb with the particle "to" (e.g., to run, to eat). Like gerunds,
infinitives can also function as nouns, taking on various roles in a sentence.

Examples:

1. After adjectives: My best very easy to persuade.

2. Express a reason or purpose: Anny is arrested to commit a crime.
3. After some verbs: want, need, learn and etc.

B1. Common verbs used with infinitives:

Agree: They agreed to meet at the park.
Hope: I hope to visit Europe next year.
Want: He wants to learn to play the piano.
Offer: She offered to help with the assignment.
Seem: It seems to be a difficult task.
Need: You need to complete the form.
Desire: She desires to travel the world.
Expect: We expect to receive the results soon.
Try: I try to stop him.
Forget: I don’t forget to call my mom every day.
Would like: I would like to participate this
ceremony.
Decide: She decided to take a break.
Plan: We plan to start a new project.
Intend: They intend to finish the work by Friday.
Refuse: He refused to answer the question.
Learn: She wants to learn to speak French.
Attempt: They attempted to climb the
mountain.
Promise: He promised to finish the report on
time.
(Can’t) Afford: I can’t afford to stay in a hotel
for ten days.
Remember: I don’t remember to take my pills.
Help: She will help you to paint the room.
Pretend: He pretends to love her.

B2. Verb + person + infinitive to

When using the construction "verb + person + infinitive to," it often involves expressing one person's
encouragement, request, or suggestion for another person to perform a certain action.

Here are some examples:

Advise: She advised me to take a break after
studying for hours.
Encourage: We encourage our employees to
attend professional development workshops.
Permit: The teacher permitted the students to
use calculators during the exam.
Tell: He told his son to clean up his room before
Ask: He asked his colleague to help with the
presentation.
Invite: They invited their friends to join them
for dinner.
Remind: I reminded her to submit the report by
the end of the day.
Warn: The doctor warned him to avoid certain
 going out. foods for better health.
Urge: We urge you to consider the Instruct: The coach instructed the players to
environmental impact of your choices. focus on their defence strategy.

Remember, this structure is often used when one person is influencing or directing another
person's actions. The choice of verb can convey different tones, such as advice, request,
encouragement, or instruction.

B3. Infinitive without to

The infinitive form of a verb typically includes the particle "to," as in "to eat," "to study," or "to run."
However, there are a few verbs that are exceptions and are followed directly by the infinitive without
"to."

Here are some common examples:

Modal Verbs:
I can swim.
She may join us later.
He must finish his homework.
Let:
Let me help you.
They let us go early.
Make:
She made him apologize.
They made me sing.
Help:
She helped him pack his bags.
He helped me find my keys.
Watch (in certain contexts):
I watched him perform.
They watched the sun rise.

It's important to note that while "to" is typically part of the infinitive form, these verbs are
exceptions and take the base form of the verb directly. Keep in mind that these examples are
specific instances, and in general, most verbs will use the "to" form in the infinitive.

C. Using both Gerunds and Infinitives

Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds (-ing) and infinitives (to do). For some of these verbs,
the choice between using a gerund or an infinitive does not change the meaning, while for others, it
does.

STOP

When used to mean quitting, giving up, or ceasing, it is followed by a verb with the -ing suffix.

- My father is a heavy smoker. He can't stop smoking.

- Stop laughing.

When used in the sense of stopping or halting, it is followed by a to-infinitive.

- We stopped to have something to drink and eat.

TRY

When used to mean attempting or trying, it is followed by a verb with the -ing suffix.

- You can't start this car like this. Why don't you try pushing?

When used in the sense of making an effort, it is followed by a to-infinitive.

- They are trying to push the car to start.

GO ON

Used to continue doing something, it is followed by a gerund.

- They went on reading about birds.

(They were already reading about birds and continued with the same topic.)

Used to continue with a new action or topic, it is followed by to-infinitive.

- They went on to read about birds.

(They were already reading and switched to the topic of birds.)

REMEMBER

When used to mean recalling, it is followed by a gerund.

- I remember sleeping in this room twenty years ago.

When used in the sense of recalling with the intention, it is followed by a to-infinitive.

- I remembered to tell him about it only when I saw him.

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FORGET

When something that has been done is forgotten, a gerund is used.

- How honest you are! I have forgotten giving you some money. (How honest you are! I forgot that I
gave you some money.)

When something to be done is forgotten, a to-infinitive is used.

- I have forgotten to give him some money. (I forgot to give him some money, and it wasn't given.)

REGRET

When used to express remorse, it is followed by a gerund.

- I regret laughing at the lame boy when he fell to the ground. (I am sorry for laughing at the lame
boy when he fell.)

Especially when delivering bad news, expressing regret or sorrow, it is followed by an infinitive.

- We regret to inform you that your cat died. (We are sorry to inform you that your cat has died.)

AFRAID

In situations expressing the feeling of fear, "of" and a gerund are used.

- He was afraid of riding horses when he was a child. (He was afraid of riding horses, but we cannot
conclude that he definitely did not ride.)

If something cannot be done due to fear, these situations are expressed with an infinitive.

- He was afraid to ride horses when he was a child. (He was afraid of riding horses, and he did not
ride.)

AGREE

When used to give consent for someone to do something, it is followed by a gerund. This is mostly
with the structure "agree to."

- The teacher agreed to my listening to him. (The teacher gave consent for me to listen to him.)

When used to agree to do something, it is followed by a to-infinitive.

- I think he will agree to study with me tomorrow. (I believe he will consent to study with me
tomorrow.)
MEAN

When used to express the action of saying, a gerund is used. (The subject of the sentence cannot be
a person.)

- The new Prime Minister is determined to end the anarchy and smuggling. Perhaps it will mean
getting exhausted or getting killed by outlaws. But he seems fearless. (The new Prime Minister is
determined to end anarchy and smuggling. Perhaps ending these issues will result in getting
exhausted or getting killed by outlaws. But he seems fearless.)

When used in the sense of intending, meaning, or having in mind, a to-infinitive is used.

- He means to earn as much money as he could buy a house before he returns. (He intends to save
enough money to buy a house before he returns.)

PROPOSE

When used to suggest or recommend, it is followed by a gerund.

- The naughty boy proposed playing till morning. (The naughty boy suggested playing until morning.)

When used in the sense of intending, it is followed by a to-infinitive.

- The children proposed to play till morning. (The children intended to play until morning.)

LOVE, LIKE, HATE, PREFER

When used on their own, they are followed by a gerund.

- The students love talking to their teachers. (The students enjoy talking to their teachers.)

When used with "would," they are followed by an infinitive. (would/like/love/prefer/hate)

- The students would love to talk to their teachers. (The students would enjoy talking to their
teachers.)

- I'd hate to wait at the dinner table. (I would dislike waiting at the dinner table.)

- I'd prefer to stay here. (I would prefer to stay here.)

LIKE

When used to express approval, it is followed by a to-infinitive. When used to express preference or
enjoyment, it is followed by a gerund.
- Our neighbor's wife likes to see the doctor once a month. (Our neighbor's wife approves of seeing
the doctor once a month.)

- I don't like to climb mountains. (I do not approve of climbing mountains.)

CARE

When used in the sense of caring, being concerned, or worrying, it is followed by a gerund.

- If you promise to help me, sir, I don't care going to prison. (If you promise to help me, sir, I am not
concerned about going to prison.)

When used in the sense of having a preference or liking, it is followed by an infinitive

- Children today don't care to play outside. They would care to play computer games. (Children today
do not prefer to play outside. They would prefer to play computer games.)

ADVISE, RECOMMEND, ALLOW, PERMIT

If the individuals involved are not mentioned, a gerund is used.

- They advised giving up the work. (They recommended giving up the work.)

- The rules don't allow the workers to sleep during the working hours. (The rules prohibit the workers
from sleeping during working hours.)

BEGIN, START, CONTINUE, CEASE

They can be used with both gerunds and to-infinitives.

- I began to study at noon. (I started studying at noon.)

- The workers continued to work. (The workers continued working.)

- People never cease to worry about themselves. (People never stop worrying about themselves.)

ATTEMPT, INTEND

These verbs can be used with both gerunds and infinitives.

- I'll attempt to finish it today. (I'll attempt finishing it today.)

- I intend to finish it today. (I intend finishing it today.)

Verbs followed by a gerund or an infinitive without "to"
When a direct object follows the verbs "hear," "watch," "feel," "notice," and "see," the subsequent
verb either remains in its base form without any suffix or takes the -ing suffix.

1. If the entire action of the verb is heard, watched, felt, noticed, or seen, the following verb
comes in its base form without any suffix.

Examples:

- I saw him open the door and enter the room.

(I witnessed the entire action of him opening the door and entering the room.)

- I watched the children play.

(I observed the entire activity of the children playing.)

- I heard him start the car and drive away.

(I perceived the entire action of him starting the car and driving away.)

2. If only a part of the action is heard, watched, felt, noticed, or seen, the following verb takes
the -ing suffix.

- They saw me playing football.

(They observed a part of the action, seeing me playing football.)

- I felt someone following us.

(I sensed a part of the action, feeling someone following us.)

- I heard them talking about me.

(I perceived a part of the action, hearing them talking about me.)