Lesson 14: when Gerund or Infinitive changes the meaning.

Practice. Choose the correct sentence in each pair:

You need to stop working there. It is a bad place.

You need to stop to work there. It is a bad place.

1. Don't forget to visit your friends during the weekend.

Don't forget visiting your friends during the weekend.

2. You should quit to smoke. It's very unhealthy.

You should quit smoking. It's very unhealthy.

3. Try opening the window. It is very hot in here.

Try to open the window. It is very hot in here.

4. Did you remember to call him? Because I don't.

Did you remember calling him? Because I don't.

Some of the verbs can be followed by both. Either with a little to no change in the
meaning (begin, continue, like, love, prefer, start etc.) or with a considerable change in
meaning (forget, regret, remember, stop, try, quit)
For example:

It started raining = It started to rain. So the verb started has the same meaning with both gerund
and infinitive.

When using gerund or infinitive changes the meaning:

I forgot to call her = I planned to call her, but I forgot to do so. BUT I forgot calling her = I can't
remember whether I called her or not.

I remember visiting him = I remember the fact that I visited him. BUT I remember to visit him
= I remember that I need to visit him.

I stopped to call her = I interrupted some other action in order to call her. BUT I
stopped calling her = I was calling her but now I stopped doing so.

I regret to inform you = I wish I didn't have to tell you. BUT I regret being late = I am sorry
that I am late.

I quit working here = I left my job here. BUT I quit to work here = I quit my last job in order to
work here.

I tried to cook my dinner = I attempted cooking my dinner but I didn't succeed. BUT I
tried playing the guitar = This was one of the options that I tried. Maybe I was bored and
wanted to cheer myself.

IELTS Writing exercise #4. Level: band 6

Correct the mistakes:

I never travelled anywhere.

never traveled anywhere.

1. You always need to believe in you.

You always need to believe in .

2. They have been together for 7 years.

They have been together 7 years.

3. I work here since last year.

here since last year.

4. The box is enough big.

The box is .

5. If we try harder, we wouldn't be so unsuccessful.

If we try harder, we so unsuccessful.

6. Yesterday we discussed about important things.

Yesterday we important things.

7. I am late because the traffic.

I am late because the traffic.

8. I wish to have a nice journey this year.

I to have a nice journey this year.

9. Is very rainy today.

very rainy today.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The diagrams below show the changes that have taken place at West park Secondary School since
its construction in 1950.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where
relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Robots/Technology
Today different types of robots are being developed which can serve as friends, help at work and at home.
Is this a positive or negative development?