VERB+ ING ( GERUND)

1. After PREPOSITIONS:
They are thinking of leaving the country.
The story is about appreciating values.
We are looking forward to seeing you again.

2. As SUBJECT or Object of a sentence:

Living in a foreign country can be difficult.
Little children should avoid talking to strangers.

3. After certain VERBS: appreciate, avoid, deny, dislike, enjoy,

suggest, etc.
They denied meeting the stranger.
She dislikes being lied to.
We all enjoy walking in the sun.

INFINITIVE

1. To express PURPOSE:
On my way home I stopped to buy bread.

2. After ‘’ TOO” and ‘’ ENOUGH”

You are too old to say such silly things.
She is not old enough to travel alone.

3. After certain VERBS: agree, decide, hope, manage, offer, plan,

refuse, seem, etc.
Finally they agreed to help their colleagues.
We decided to go on the trip by ourselves.
The thief managed to sneak into the house.

INFINITIVE OR GERUND
WITH A DIFFERENCE IN MEANING
remember, regret, forget, try, mean, stop

I remember meeting them last year. ( ing- refers to past)

I must remember to lock the door. ( first remember, then lock)

We tried opening the door by forcing the lock. ( method to reach an

objective)
Try to work harder if you want to succeed. ( objective)

If you want to get tickets, it will mean queuing for hours. ( involve)
He didn’t mean to make you cry. ( intend)

On his way home he stopped to buy some bread. ( in order to)

He stopped smoking. ( quit)

INFINITIVE OR GERUND
WITH LITTLE OR NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING

love, like, begin, continue, hate, prefer, start

It continued snowing/ to snow all day.

She started crying/ to cry when she heard the news.

BUT: WOULD LIKE/ LOVE/HATE TO!