NAME: Jhuliana Enriquez Ordoñez

Infinitive and Gerund

Infinitive
After an adjective Example: The new computer is really easy to use.

After certain verbs (with to) Example: He refused to pay the bill.

• afford • expect • manage • refuse

• agree • fail • mean • want
• appear • help (also • offer • wish
• arrange without to) • plan • would like
• beg • hesitate • prepare • would love
• choose • hope • pretend • would prefer
• decide • learn • promise

Gerund

As the subject of a clause Example: Cycling is good for your health.

After a preposition Example: I did my homework before going out.

Verbs followed by Gerund Example: I enjoy cooking.

• admit • can't stand • finish • practise

• advise • deny • keep • suggest
• allow • dislike • mind • waste time
• avoid • enjoy • miss / money
• can't help • fancy • permit

Verbs with Prepositions followed by Gerund

Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.
• accuse of • blame for • dream about/of • look forward to
• agree with • care for • feel like • object to
• apologize for • carry on • forgive for • think of
• ask about • complain about • give up • succeed in
• believe in • concentrate on • insist on • use for
• be used to • depend on • keep on

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Words with the same meaning Example: I started to read. / I started reading.

• attempt • cannot bear • hate • prefer

• begin • cease • intend • start
• bother • continue • love
NAME: Jhuliana Enriquez Ordoñez

Words with the same meaning but different use

Word Infinitive - with an object Gerund – without an object

advise I advise you to go by bus. I advise going by bus.
allow / permit He allowed her to take the car. He allowed taking the car.
forbid She forbids us to smoke. She forbids smoking.

Words with a different meaning

Word Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

with regard to the future with regard to the past
forget / remember Remember to switch off the lights. Do you remember switching off the lights?
Spanish: Recuerda apagar las luces Spanish: ¿Recuerdas haber apagado las luces?
start something new
continue with the same action
go on Go on to read.
Go on reading.
Spanish:
with regard to the future with regard to the past
regret I regret to say that’s wrong. I regret saying that.
Spanish: Lamento decir que está mal. Spanish: Lamento haber dicho que está mal.
interrupt another action terminate
stop I stopped to smoke. I stopped smoking.
Spanish: Paré para fumar. Spanish: Paré de fumar.
do something complicated do it and see what happens
try Try to solve this riddle. Try talking to him.
Spanish: Intenta resolver este acertijo. Spanish: Prueba a hablar con él.

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 1

losing
1) A lot of people are worried about _______their visiting London? (visit)
6) Are you thinking of _______
jobs. (lose) 7) He apologized for arriving
_______ so late. (arrive)
buying a new car. (buy)
2) He agreed _______ 8) Stop to make noise, please; I’m studying.
_______
3) The question is easy to
_______
answer (answer) (make)
going to
4) Not everybody can afford _______ 9) She doesn't mind _______
to work the night shift.
university. (go) (work)
5) I look forward to _______
see you at the weekend. 10) I learned to ride the bike at the age of 5.(ride)
______
(see)

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 2

1) We decided _______
to buy a new car. (buy)
2) I regret _______
telling you we won’t lend you the 7) Avoid _______
making silly mistakes.(make)
money. (tell) 8) My parents wanted me _______
to be home at 11
3) Peter gave up smoking
_______.(smoke) o'clock. (be)
4) He'd like _______
to fly an aeroplane.(fly) 9) I dream about _______
building a big house. (build)
5) I enjoy _______
writing picture postcards. (write) 10) He advised me to_______
not spend so much money.
6) He offered to _______
help help with the cleaning. (not spend)
(help)
NAME: Jhuliana Enriquez Ordoñez

Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1

1 Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets in the appropriate form.

1 waiting
I can't stand ________________ in queues. ( to wait )

2 to be
I wouldn't like ________________ in his shoes. ( to be )

3 working
Jim loves ________________ in Thailand. ( to work )

4 doing
I hate ________________ the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )

5 to buy
Blast! I forgot ________________ milk. ( to buy )

6 In the end we decided ________________

to stay in. ( to stay )

7 to find
I need ________________ some information about Portugal. ( to find )

8 going
My parents like ________________ for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )

9 smoking
Tony gave up ________________ years ago. ( to smoke )

10 to go
I wanted ________________ and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )

11 Mrs Leith offered ________________

to take us to the airport. ( to take )

12 Clare refused ________________

to help clean up after the party. ( to help )

13 to persuade him to come but it was no use. ( to persuade )

I tried ________________

14 smoking
Do you mind not ________________ ? ( to smoke )

15 dancing
Everybody really enjoyed ________________ the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )

16 eating
Lionel admitted ________________ my chocolate mousse. ( to eat )

2 Check your answers and put the verbs in bold into the right columns. Translate the verbs.

VERB + GERUND VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Translation Translation
admit .......................... decide ..........................
___________ .......................... forget ..........................
enjoy .......................... ___________ ..........................
give up .......................... offer ..........................
___________ .......................... refuse ..........................
___________ .......................... try ..........................
love .......................... want ..........................
___________ .......................... would like ..........................