Grammar for PET:

Infinitive or –ing form?

Katie Dirksmeier
Infinitives and gerunds:
One, the other, or
both?
What is an infinitive?

What is a gerund?
 Gerunds can also be called…

When do we use each of them?

 Example sentences?
Infinitive or gerund? (verb + verb)
 You decide whether to use the infinitive or the
gerund depending on:
 The first verb that you used
 What you want to say

 In this presentation:
 Verbs that are always/only followed by the infinitive
 Verbs that are always/only followed by the gerund
 Verbs that can be followed by either the gerund or infinitive
without a change in meaning
 Verbs that can be followed by either the gerund or infinitive
with a change in meaning depending on which is used
 Verbs that are followed by the infinitive
Optimistic Verbs Discussion Verbs
Hope Would like* Ask* Persuade**
Expect* Would love*
Remind** Convince**
Plan Help*
Agree Offer Tell** Teach**
Wish Intend Invite** Warn**
Want Aim Order** Instruct**
Promise
Urge**
>We promise to do our chores after dinner. >My mom reminded me to take
out the trash on my way out.
Hypothetical Verbs Unfulfilled Verbs
Pretend
Fail Need*
Appear
Refuse
Seem
>She pretended to be asleep. >Sam refuses to eat anything that isn’t green.

Think of some example sentences with the starred verbs:

What do you notice? Why do you think they are starred?
Verbs (+ object) + infinitive form
 Followed by infinitive and  Followed by infinitive and
sometimes have object: ALWAYS have object:
 Ask  Force
 Expect  Instruct
 >meaning w/object?  Invite
 Help  Order
 Want  Persuade
 Would like  Remind
 Would love  Teach
 Would hate  Tell
 Would prefer  Warn
 When do you use an object  The object can be in the
pronoun? Example? form of the passive voice…
Verb + Infinitive: Negative form
They agreed to leave.
 Change the sentence so it means “They agreed to
stay.”

In the negative, the form becomes:

verb1 + not + infinitive
OR verb1 + object + not + infinitive
(if there is an object)
Expressions with the Infinitive
 To be about
 Peter was about to start his homework when the phone
rang.
 To do (one’s) best
 I did my best to arrive on time, but somehow I was late
again.
 To make up (one’s) mind
 Sally made up her mind to do whatever necessary to win the
contest.
 To set out
 Gary packed his things and set out to make the long journey
back to the campsite.
Gerund (-ing form)
Pessimistic Verbs Other Discussion Verbs
Avoid Consider
Dislike Discuss
Deny Recommend
Miss Suggest
Quit Insist on
Regret
Other Verbs That Are Followed by
the Gerund Form
Admit Imagine
Delay Involve
Enjoy Keep
Feel like Mind/Not Mind
Finish
Verb + Gerund: Negative form
I dislike having a lot of homework.
 Can you make this sentence negative so that it
means you enjoy having lots of assignments?

In the negative, the form becomes:

verb1 + not + gerund
Expressions with the Gerund Form
 To be against
 Michael was against cheating of any kind.
To be interested in
 Over the summer, Erica became very interested in
knitting and sewing.
 Can’t stand
 Alex can’t stand talking during movies and always
tries to silence anyone chatting in the cinema.
To look forward to
 I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Verbs Followed by Infinitive or Gerund

We can use either the infinitive or the gerund

with little or no change in meaning:
 Begin These verbs MUST have an object when
 Continue used with the infinitive…Why?
•Advise
 Like
•Allow
 Love
•Encourage
 Prefer •Forbid
 Hate •Permit

 Start •Recommend
Verbs with Meaning Changes:
 Remember to:  Remember –ing:
 Remember to lock the  I remember locking the
door. door.
 = an action that is  = an action in the past.
necessary.
Verbs with Meaning Changes:
 Forget to:  Forget –ing:
 Don’t forget to phone  I’ll never forget meeting
me. her.
 = an action that is  = an action in the past.
necessary.
Verbs with Meaning Changes:
 Try to:
 Try to get to the concert
as soon as possible so you
get a seat.
 = if you can, something
you should do
 Try –ing:
 Try adding a bit more salt
to make the spinach taste
better.
 = an experiment,
suggestion
Verbs with Meaning Changes:
 Stop to:
 She stopped to eat some
chocolate.
 = she stopped because
she wanted to eat some
chocolate
 Stop –ing:
 She stopped eating
chocolate.
 = she no longer eats
chocolate; an activity that
is no longer occurring,
finished, or paused
http://www.e-grammar.org/infinitive-gerund/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHmMzCi