GERUND The –ing form of the verb may be the subject of a verb.
Ex. Smoking is not allowed. Laughing helps you live longer.
The gerund may be the object of certain verbs.
Ex. I can’t stand cheating. I love walking in the rain.
Some verbs with a preposition -‐ succeed in, think about, object to, look forward to, give up, …-‐ are followed by a gerund from only.
Ex. They will succeed in completing the project. After preposition the gerund is used. Ex. After having lunch, On breaking the day, …
Some verbs are followed by –ing form: like, enjoy, fancy, admit, consider, miss, finish, mind, hate, imagine, deny, involve, postpone, delay,
suggest, avoid, practice, risk… Ex. He didn’t mind getting up early. They deny cheating in the exam.
After some expressions we use the gerund: Can´t help, can´t stand, can´t resist, can´t bear, to be use to, to be worth…
Ex. I can’t help biting my nails
INFINITIVE Some verbs are followed by a to infinitive:
afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, beg, care, claim, consent, decide, demand, deserve, expect,
fail, hesitate, hope, learn, manage, mean, need, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, struggle, swear, threaten, volunteer, wait,
want, wish. Ex. I can’t afford to buy a new laptop for
Christmas.
Some of the verbs which are followed by a to-‐infinitive require a direct object before the Inf: advise, allow, command, convince, force, instruct,
invite, order, remind, request, teach, tell. Ex. I advise you to prepare for the exam.
Modal verbs –can, could, may, should, will, need,
…-‐ are followed by –inf. Ex. Can you be quiet, please?
You should be more confident.
Some verbs (let, make, see, hear, feel, watch, notice, have) are followed by –inf. Ex. Let him go out. She saw him come in.
In the expressions adj + to inf. Ex. It is easy to understand. This exercise is hard to do.
-‐ing or infinitive? Some verbs can be followed by either a to-‐infinitive or a gerund. In some cases, there is a change in meaning. With the verbs remember, forget, stop and regret the difference in meaning is connected with time. The –ing form
refers to things that happen before the time (in the past) while the to-‐infinitive refers to things that happen after
them (in the future). Ex. Remember to go I remember going there once
I forgot to send you a postcard I’ll never forget seeing snow for the first time I stopped to see what was wrong I stopped reading the moment he arrived
I regret telling her my secret I regret to tell you that you failed your test. I mean to finish it now That meant getting up early
Some verbs have a change in meaning.
She tried to put on the red dress, but it was too small. She tried putting on the red dress, but he didn’t notice her.
A. Complete the sentences by using the correct form to-infinitive or gerund of the verbs in brackets.
1. The soldier refused _____________________ (obey) and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied ___________________ (kill) the old woman for her money. 3. Would you like _______________________ (make) a lot of money? 4. I don’t mind ________________________ (live) with only a little money. 5. I’ll never forget _________________ (ski) in the Alps that winter. 6. Don’t forget ____________________ (post) the letter I gave you. 7. We regret ___________________ (inform) you that you have not passed the
test. 8. The thief tried _________________ (climb) the wall, but he couldn’t. 9. “Will you stop _________________ (talk) in class?” shouted the teacher. 10. I prefer ___________________ (go) to the cinema rather than the theatre.
B. Fill the gaps with to inf or –ing 1. The shop keeps on ____________ (send)
circulars. 2. I was only trying __________ (help) you. 3. I can’t help _____________ (laugh) at
his jokes. 3. They enjoy ____________ (spend) their
holiday in Istanbul. 4. It’s no good ___________ (use) such a
small dictionary. 5. She stopped at Smith’s ____________
(buy) a magazine. 6. My son likes ______________ (travel)
by aeroplane.
C. Choose the best answer. 1. My father began to collect /
collecting stamps years ago. 2. Jane hopes passing / to pass her
exams next month. 3. Stop to tell / telling such stories to
the men. 4. To smile / Smiling helps you
make friends. 5. There’s no point in to do / doing it
now. 6. He promised to write / writing
soon.
D. Write the correct form of the TO INF or –ING of the following verbs: travel push speak obey work kill talk drive ski
1. The soldier refused ____________ orders and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied ____________ the old woman for her money. 3. I’ll never forget ___________ in the Alps that winter. 4. “Will you stop _____________ in class?” shouted the teacher. 5. If the car won’t start, try ____________ it. 6. I prefer ___________ to Istanbul rather than Sicily. 7. I’d rather you ____________ less and ______________ more. 8. They don’t go their daughter __________ alone. 9. At ________________, we set off our honeymoon trip to New Zealand.
ANSWER KEY
A.
1. to obey 6. to post 2. killing 7. to inform 3. to make 8. to climb 4. living 9. talking 5. skiing 10. going
B.
1. sending 2. to help 3. laughing 4. spending 5. to use 6. to buy 7. travelling
C.
1. to collect / collecting 2. to pass 3. telling 4. Smiling 5. going 6. to write 7. Talking
D.
1. The soldier refused to obey orders and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied killing the old woman for her money. 3. I’ll never forget skiing in the Alps that winter. 4. “Will you stop talking in class?” shouted the teacher. 5. If the car won’t start, try pushing it. 6. I prefer travelling to Istanbul rather than Sicily. 7. I’d rather you to speak less and to work more. 8. They don’t want their daughter to go to England alone. 9. At sunrising, we set off our honeymoon trip to New Zealand.
