GERUND VS. INFINITIVE
2nd Bachillerato
José Ángel Ballesteros Lorenzo
GERUND & INFINITIVE 1.- Infinitive a) Infinitive of purpose. It conveys the purpose of the action. e.g. I went to the supermarket to buy some food. Purpose is also expressed by means of in order to e.g. I went to the supermarket in order to buy some food.
b) After certain adjectives: Customary Dangerous Difficult Easy Helpful Likely Nice Useful Useless …
e.g. In Spain, it is customary to eat twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve. He is likely to come to the party. BUT It is likely that he will come to the party.
c) After certain verbs: Verb + infinitive Afford Agree Appear Attempt Arrange Care e.g.
Hesitate Hope Claim Consent Decide Demand
Mean Offer Plan Deserve Fail Pretend
Promise Refuse Regret Learn Manage Tend
Threaten Volunteer Wait Wish Prepare Seem
Struggle Swear
I can’t afford to buy a new computer right now. He claimed to be a descendant of Queen Elizabeth I, which is
impossible. I have learnt to play the guitar.
d) After certain verbs: Verb+Od+infinitive Allow Challenge Convince Dare
e.g.
Enable Forbid Force Hire
Invite Order Permit Persuade
Remind Require Teach Tell
Urge Warn
We advised him to go to the doctor. Kyle reminded me to buy the tickets for the concert.
e) After certain verbs: Verb+infinitive or Verb+Od+infinitive e.g. I asked to go to the toilet. I asked him to open the door for me.
Ask Beg Expect Need Want
He really expected to pass this test. We really expected him to work harder. I want to go away. I want you to go away.
2.-Gerund a) Functioning as a noun (Subject of the sentence, head of a noun phrase…) e.g.
Working hard is the only way to success. The killing of people in some countries is inevitable.
b) After a preposition. e.g.
I’m tired of talking about the same thing over and over again. He is quite good at telling lies; that’s what he’s good at.
c) After certain verbs: Verb+gerund Admit Anticipate Appreciate Avoid Can’t help Complete
Consider Delay Deny Discuss Dislike Enjoy
Finish Imagine Keep Mention Mind Miss
Postpone Practice Quit Recall Recollect Recommend
Regret Resent Resist Risk Suggest Tolerate
Understand
e.g.
He admitted killing the magistrate. They denied stealing the money.
3.- Verbs +infinitive/gerund - Advise
He advised telling the truth Subject + verb + gerund He advised me to tell the truth Subject + verb + Od + infinitive
- Forget
He forgot sending the emails and sent them again . (He did it, but forgot that he had
done it) I forgot to send the emails, so Jack had to send them. (He didn’t do it because he forgot to do so)
- Remember
I remember writing the letter. I know I wrote it. (I did it and I remember it)
I remembered to write the letter. I didn’t forget. (I did it because I didn’t forget)
- Stop
He stopped smoking. (He doesn’t smoke now)
She was driving, but he stopped to answer the call. (She stopped driving in order to answer the call)