INGLÉS INSTRUMENTAL

UNIT 8. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

USE THE GERUND (VERB + -ING):

- as the subject of the sentence:

Hunting elephants is dangerous.
Flying makes me nervous.
- after prepositions and phrasal verbs:
Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
She is good at painting
I look forward to hearing from you soon. (at the end of a letter)
When are you going to give up smoking?
- after certain verbs: enjoy, finish, hate, like, love, mind, practice, spend, stop, or
suggest.
I don’t mind getting up early.

USE THE INFINITIVE (TO + VERB):

- after adjectives:
My flat is easy to find.
- to express the purpose or intention of an action (where the 'to' has the same
meaning as 'in order to' or 'so as to'):
She's gone to collect her pay cheque.
The three bears went into the forest to find food.
- after certain verbs: (can’t) afford, agree, decide, expect, forget, help, hope, learn,
need, offer, plan, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, try, want, or would like.
She’s never learnt to drive.

USE THE INFINITIVE OR GERUND

These common verbs can take either the gerund or infinitive with no difference in
meaning: begin, continue, start, and prefer.
It has started raining.
It has started to rain.

UNIT 8. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES 1

USE THE INFINITIVE OR GERUND

These verbs can take a gerund or an infinitive but the meaning is different.

Try + to infinitive: make an effort to do it.

I was tired. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn’t.

Try + -ing: do something as an experiment or test.

The photocopier doesn’t seem to be working.
Try pressing the green button.

Remember to do something: I remembered that I had to do it, so I did it. You remember
to do something before you do it.
I remembered to lock the door, but I forgot to shut the windows. (= I
remembered that I had to lock it, and so I locked it)

Remember doing something: I did it and now I remember this. You remember doing
something after you have done it.
I know I locked the door. I clearly remember locking it (= I locked it, and
now I remember it)

USE THE INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO

- after modal verbs.

I can’t drive. We must hurry.

- after make and let.

My parents don’t let me go out much.
She always makes me laugh.

EXERCISES

a. Complete with the gerund or infinitive.

E.g. Smoking is banned in all public places. (smoke)

1. It’s very expensive __________ a flat in the centre. (rent)

2. Are you afraid of __________? (fly)

UNIT 8. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES 2

 3. I called the restaurant __________ a table for tonight. (book)
4. Be careful __________ a noise when you come home. (not make)
5. She’s worried about __________ the exam. (fail)
6. Everybody went on _________ until after midnight. (dance)
7. _______ an only child is a bit boring. (be)
8. It’s easy __________ the way if you look at the map. (find)
9. He’s terrible at __________ languages. (learn)
10. Why are you learning Spanish? __________ talk to my in-laws. They’re
Argentinian, ad they don’t speak English. (be able to)

b. Complete the sentences with work, to work, or working.

E.g. I regret not working harder when I was at school.

1. I spent all weekend __________ on the computer.

2. I’ve decided _________ abroad next year.
3. You must __________ harder if you want to get promoted.
4. My boss often makes me __________ late.
5. He isn’t very good at __________ in a team.
6. I don’t mind __________ on Saturdays if I can have a day off during the
week.
7. He’s gone to the UK __________ in his uncle’s shop.
8. __________ with members of your family can be quite difficult.
9. My husband promised not __________ on my birthday.
10. I used __________ in a restaurant when I was a student.

c. Choose the correct form.

Jenny: So how’s it going with Luke?

Emily: Well, not bad. He’s given up smoking/to smoke, so that’s good.
Jenny: What about his friend?
Emily: They’re OK. I don’t mind to spend/spending time with them. They’re quite
nice really.
Jenny: But?
Emily: The thing is, although he says I’m easy to talk/talking to, we don’t seem to be
able/being able to communicate very well.
Jenny: For example?

UNIT 8. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES 3

 Emily: Well, it’s difficult to explain/explaining. But for example, when I suggested to
go/going away together, he was very enthusiastic, but when my family invited
us spending/to spend a week in France with them, he said ‘no’, but he didn’t
say why. I need knowing/to know where this relationship is going.
Jenny: Well, you need to ask/asking him. Don’t expect him to read/reading your
mind. Men aren’t very good at to guess/guessing what other people are
thinking.
Emily: Well, I tried to do/doing that last Saturday oh, there’s my phone. Oh, it’s him.
Hi, Luke…

d. Complete the dialogue with the verbs in the gerund or infinitive with to.

Alex: So, have you decided ____________ (ask) her, Luke?

Luke: Well, I was planning ____________ (do) it yesterday, but then I didn’t. what
if she says ‘no’? ____________ (get) engaged is such a big step. She might
think it’s too soon. I’m worried about ____________ (lose) her.
Alex: You can’t afford ____________ (wait) for ever. You love her, don’t you?
Luke: Er, yes, of course. And I love ____________ (be) with her, I can’t stop
____________ (think) about her.
Alex: Then do it. Phone her now. Invite her out for meal, somewhere really romantic.
Luke: You’re right. I’ll phone her now… Hi, Emily. I just called ____________ (ask)
you if you’re doing anything on Friday night. Would you like ____________
(go) out for a meal? At Café du Marché … OK. Great. I’ll pick you up at 8.00…
No, I won’t forget ____________ (book) a table…

UNIT 8. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES 4