WE USE THE GERUND (VERB+ING) WE USE THE INFINITIVE (TO+VERB)

The negative of the gerund is: Not + Verb+ing The negative infinitive is Not to+ verb

 As the subject of a sentence  To express a reason or a purpose

Smoking is forbidden in all public places I went to the supermarket to get some milk
Nowadays getting a good job can be difficult My son is saving money to buy a surfboard

 After prepositions and phrasal verbs  After adjectives

to give up instead of There’s no point in (no vale la pena) She finds it easy to speak in English
Pleased to meet you
It’s no use It’s no good good at after, before… Glad to know / Disappointed to hear
She’s talking about leaving her job and moving to another country
It's no use crying over spilt milk. (no sirve de mucho)  After too and enough
 After some verbs that express likes/dislikes and Too difficult to do / Easy enough to do
others:  After Wh-words
can’t help admit, fancy mind
poder evitar appreciate feel like miss I don’t know how to do it
can’t stand avoid finish postpone Mary doesn’t like being told what to do
dislike
don’t mind
be worth give up practise  After verbs that refer to a future event,
carry on imagine risk
enjoy consider
(verb+obj+to+inf) and others verbs:
involve spend time expect advise agree choose learn
hate * deny keep (on)
like* hope ask allow decide manage
delay look forward to suggest
love* intend expect appear deserve mean
mention recommend invite
prefer plan arrange fail offer
pretend teach (can’t) afford forget refuse
* In British English are usually with gerund.*+Inf=talk specifically be able
*+ger=talk generally * BUT “I WOULD like to go there” promise tell happen seem
want* can’t wait help*ayudar tend
I spent some time studying phrasal verbs yesterday
would like* hesitate threaten
She doesn’t mind getting up early in the morning
She is considering not buying that house
They are planning to adopt a baby
I look forward to seeing you
He pretended not to know
He suggested watching the film. He suggests that I should go to
I can’t afford to buy that car
New York. He suggested my going to New York.
I asked Peter to play tennis with me.
Alex and Anna invited us to have dinner with them.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE OR THE *I want you to go now. (Nunca I want that you go)
GERUND WITH NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING. *Would you like me to help you?
start begin continue
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE OR THE WITHOUT TO (or bare infinitive)
GERUND WITH DIFFERENCE IN MEANING
 After modal auxiliaries
+ INFINITIVE. (intento con esfuerzo)
You attempt to do something.  After make, let and help
The action is difficult and you may or may not succeed. The verbs “make” (obligar) and “let” (permitir) are followed
Most of the time you don´t.. by the infinitive without “to”. The verb “help” can be
TRY
+ GERUND. (prueba) followed by the to infinitive or by the bare infinitive.
To experiment, to try a new experience to do
something and see what will happen . It is also used to Can you help me (to) study maths? // Let me go
suggest something. I am glad my parents made me study a university degree.
+ INFINITIVE.(agenda)
The meaning is “don’t forget to do it”
 After let’s
REMEMBER Remember to send him an email Let’s go to the beach.
& FORGET + GERUND (Alzheimer)  After verbs of physical perception
The meaning is “I have a memory of it” When you perceive the whole action, from beginning to
+ INFINITIVE. () end.
Parar de hacer algo y seguir haciendo otra cosa I saw him come, I heard her cry.
STOP + GERUND ()  After why and why not
Dejar de hacer algo definitivo Why pay more at other shops?
Stop smoking / Can you stop talking, please?
+ INFINITIVE.I regret to tell you (only possibility)  After would rather (‘d rather) (preferiría)
REGRET When the subjects are the same
+ GERUND I regret doing...
I’d rather stay home and study.
+ INFINITIVE (Very common)
NEED + GERUND (ser +ppio) (Quite uncommon)  After had better (más vale que) (‘d better)
This Is a passive construction. You’d better study harder if yu want to pass,
Needs cleaning= needs to be cleaned