GERUNDS AND

INFINITIVES

PART 1: GERUNDS
GERUNDS-USE
1. As the subject or object of a sentence

Collecting flowers is my hobby.

I like collecting flowers.

2. After prepositions

• They are interested in studying archaeology.

• They dream of becoming archaeologists.
• They are crazy about discovering ancient cities.
• They are tired of digging in the sand.

Other expressions: good at/ bad

at/ keen on/ bored with/ fed up
with/ afraid of
 3. After specific verbs such as:

like
hate
dislike start
can’t stand stop
mind continue
remember
look forward to Begin
forget
enjoy finish
avoid
prefer quit
can’t help
fancy give up
feel like practise
Examples

I enjoy watching football on T.V.

I hate travelling by coach.
She started playing the guitar two years ago.
He is trying to quit smoking.
Do you remember building sandcastles when
we were kids?
 Go + ing

We’re going shopping tomorrow. Other:

I go swimming twice a week. go shopping
go swimming
go fishing
go skiing
etc.
5. be/get used to + ing

I’m used to getting up early in the morning.

 PART 2:
INFINITIVES
FULL INFINITIVE - USE
1. After specific verbs such as:

want decide manage

agree choose achieve
accept plan promise
refuse learn ask
reject hope offer
invite
 Examples
• When I grow up, I want to become a
musician.
• He offered me a cold beer but
I refused to drink it.
• He invited me to go for dinner
but I didn’t have the time.
• It was raining heavily, so he
offered to drive me home.
 3. In the structure: I am + adj. +
full.inf.

• We were surprised to have

an unexpected guest in our
house.
• Oops! I’m sorry to hurt you! I am sorry to
I am surprised to
I am pleased to
I am glad to
I am happy to
I am amazed to
I am delighted to
BARE INFINITIVE (WITHOUT TO) - USE

1. After the modal verbs: can, must, should etc.

He can speak Spanish.

You mustn’t smoke in a hospital.