Gerund and Infinitive

Rules
 Gerund form
• Gerund form is a form that is formed out of
verb by adding to it suffix “-ing” (e.g. read -
reading).
• It can be used as a subject in a sentence or
after a preposition.
• Reading is my favorite hobby.
• I am interested in reading classical literature.
Gerund form
Gerund form
 Infinitive form
• Infinitive form is the very first form of a verb,
the one we can find in a dictionary. (e.g. to
read, to play, to write).
• It can be used to tell a purpose of something.
• To open the door, press the red button.
• To talk to the manager, call this number.
Infinitive form (verb + to infinitive)
Infinitive form (verb + to infinitive)
Infinitive form (verb +object + to infinitive)
Infinitive form (verb +object + to infinitive)
 Gerund and Infinitive forms
• We need to use gerund forms after some of
the verbs and use infinitive forms after the
other.
• I don’t mind going to the cinema.
• He refused to come to my party.
 Gerund rules
• We use the –ing form:
1) as the subject of a sentence: Eating vegetables is good for
you.
2) after like, have, enjoy, don’t mind, dislike, hate: I like
drinking milk.
3) after avoid, appreciate, to be used to, consider, continue,
deny, fancy, go (+activity), imagine, miss, save, suggest,
practice, prevent, spend/waste (time/money) on: Do you
fancy eating out?
4) After prepositions: How about making a cake?
5) With the phrases: it’s wroth, can’t stand, have difficulty,
look forward to, can’t help: I can’t stand eating spicy foods.
 Infinitive rules
• We use the to-infinitive:
1) To express purpose: He went out to buy
some milk.
2) After would like, would prefer, would love: I’d
like to have a steak, please.
3) After too/enough: It was too difficult for her
to learn how to cook.
4) After ask, decide, explain, want, hope,
expect, promise, refuse, etc: He decided to
order takeaway.
 Bare infinitive
• We use bare infinitive (infinitive without “to”) in
some cases:
1) after modal verbs (may, can, should, must,
might, will): You must call as soon as possible.
2) After “make” in the meaning “force” somebody
to do something: This song makes me cry.
3) After let and help: Let me know when you are
free. He couldn't help her clean the room, he
was busy.
 Both possible
• There are some cases when we use either
gerund or infinitive form with no difference in
meaning: begin, start, continue, can’t bear,
intend, ​love, like, hate, prefer.
Both possible
Exercise:
 Both possible
• There are some cases when we use either gerund or
infinitive form but with the difference in meaning: stop,
forget, remember, regret, go on, mean, try (sometimes
want).
• Stop + gerund — перестати, припинити:
Girls, stop whispering, please — Дівчата, припиніть
шепотіти, будь ласка.
• Stop + infinitive — зупинитися з метою щось зробити:
I did not know how to get to your house, so I stopped to ask
the way — Я не знав, як потрапити до вашого дому, тому
зупинився, щоб запитати дорогу.
 Both possible
• Forget + gerund — забути про вже зроблене:
I’ll never forget travelling to New Zealand — Я ніколи не забуду
подорожі до Нової Зеландії.
• Forget + infinitive — забути, що треба зробити:
I’m terribly sorry! I completely forgot to give your brother the
message — Мені страшенно шкода! Я забув передати твоєму
братові повідомлення.
• Remember + gerund — пам’ятати про вже зроблене:
I’ll always remember going for a date for the first time in my
life — Я завжди пам’ятатиму, як пішов на побачення вперше в
житті.
• Remember + infinitive — пам’ятати, що потрібно зробити:
Remember to lock the door when you leave! Не забудьте замкнути
двері, коли виходите!
 Both possible
• Regret + gerund — шкодувати про зроблене:
Sarah had told them some things she later regretted telling
— Сара розповіла їм деякі речі, про що потім пошкодувала.
• Regret + infinitive — шкодувати про те, що доведеться
зробити:
We regret to inform you that your application for a loan has
been denied — На жаль, повідомляємо, що вашу заявку на
кредит було відхилено.
• Want + gerund — потребувати:
You hair wants cutting — Ваше волосся потребує стрижки.
• Want + infinitive — хотіти:
Do you want to try the cake I’ve made? Хочеш спробувати
пиріг, який я зробив?
 Both possible
• Mean + gerund — означати, мати на увазі:
Working in London means getting up at 6 am — Працювати
в Лондоні означає вставати о 6 ранку.
• Mean + infinitive — збиратися, мати на увазі, хотіти:
Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you — О, я не хотів вас лякати.
• Try + gerund — спробувати в якості одного з варіантів:
If the soup is bland, try adding some spices — Якщо суп
прісний, спробуйте додати трохи спецій.
• Try + infinitive — намагатися досягти мети:
The salesperson tried to persuade me to buy the dress
— Продавець намагався переконати мене придбати
сукню.
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