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Gerunds and Infinitives

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Title: Gerunds and Infinitives

1
Gerunds and Infinitives
2

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding
"-ing." You can use a gerund as the subject, the
complement, or the object of a sentence.
Ex/ Reading helps you learn English. subject of
sentence
Her favorite hobby is reading. complement
of sentence
I enjoy reading. object of sentence
Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."
Ex/ He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not
smoking.
Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. You
can also use an infinitive as the subject, the
complement, or the object of a sentence.
Ex/ To learn is important. subject of sentence
The most important thing is to learn.
complement of sentence
He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."
Ex/ I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.
Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the
subject or the complement of a sentence. However,
as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound
more like normal, spoken English, whereas
infinitives sound more abstract.
Ex/ Learning is important. normal subject
To learn is important. abstract subject -
less common
The most important thing is learning.
normal complement
The most important thing is to learn.
abstract complement - less common
As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult
to choose between a gerund or an infinitive.
Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines
whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

4
The most common verbs followed by a gerund are

Ex/ I really appreciate having time to relax.
Have you considered getting a job abroad?
Excuse my interrupting
You mentioned having been in hospital last
year.
The ing form is used after all prepositions
(including to, when it is a preposition). The
infinitive is impossible in these cases.
Ex/ You should check the oil before starting the
car.
You cant make an omelette without breaking
eggs.
Hes always talking about moving to the
country.
I look forward to hearing from you.

6
Gerund or infinitive?Some verbs can be followed
by either a gerund or an infinitive, usually with
a difference of meaning. The most important are

Remember, forget, stop, go on, and regret
gerund refers to things that happen earlier
infinivite refers to things that happen after
the remembering
Ex/ I shall always remember meeting you for the
first time.
Remember to go to the post office.
I really must stop smoking.(stop what one
is doing or does)
Every half hour I stop work to smoke a
cigarette. (make a break)
I shall never forget seeing the Queen.
(forget what one has done or what has happened)
Shes always forgetting to give me my
letters (what one has to do)

regret gerund be sorry for what has happened
regret infinitive be sorry for what one is
going to say
Ex/ I dont regret telling her what I thought.
I regret to inform you that we are unable
to offer you employment.
Interested in gerund interested in the idea
of doing something
Interested infinitive interested by what one
learns or experiences
Ex/ Im interested in working in Switzerland.
I was interested to read in the papers that
scientists have found out how the universe was
form.
Like gerund enjoy
Like infinitive choose to, be in the habit,
think it right to
Love, hate and prefer not much difference
between gerund and infinitive, but refering to
one particular occasion better infinitive.

Ex/ I like walking in the rain.
I like to get up early so that I can get
plenty of work done before lunch.
Would like always followed by the infinitive.
Ex/ What would you like to do tomorrow?
Love, hate and prefer not much difference
between gerund and infinitive, but refering to
one particular occasion better infinitive.
Ex/ I love lying / to lie on my back and staring
/ to stare at the sky.
I prefer working / to work in the mornings.
I hate to mention it, but you owe me some
money.

Allow, advise, forbid and permit gerund there
is no personal object.
Allow, advise, forbid and permit infinitive
if we say who is allowed, advised, etc.
Ex/ Sorry, we dont allow smoking in the lecture
room.
We dont allow people to smoke in here.
I wouldnt advise taking the car.
I wouldnt advise you to take the car.
Try gerund make and experiment, do something
to see what will happen
Ex/ I tried sending her flowers but it didnt
have any effect.
Try putting in some vinegar, taht might
make it taste a bit better.
Try infinitive make an effort, attempt to do
something difficult.
Ex/ Please, try to understand.
I once tried to learn Japanese.

Afraid of gerund afraid of infinitive.
Little difference of meaning.
Ex/ Im afraid of flying / to fly
Im afraid of telling / to tell her.
Begin and start gerund or infinitive. No real
difference of meaning.
Ex/ How old were you when you first started
playing the piano?
After begin and start, the verbs understand and
realize are only used in the infinitive.
Ex/ She began to understand what he really
wanted.
Propose, attempt, intend, continue, cant bear
and be accustomed to gerund or infinitive.
Infinitive more common with propose, attempt and
intend.
Ex/ I cant bear getting /to get my hands dirty.
He intends to double the advertising
budget.

Sorry infinitive we apologize for something
that we are doing or about to do.
Ex/ Sorry to disturb you, could I speak to you
for a moment?
Sorry gerund we apologize for something we
have done (we use for -ing or that-clause)
Ex/ Im sorry for waking you up yesterday.
Im sorry that I woke you up yesterday.

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