6A GERUNDS

AND
INFINITIVES
 1 I enjoy listening to music. I couldn't help laughing. 3 37 l)) 12
2 I want to speak to you . They can't afford to buy a new car. 2
32 ItI want
mighttorain
speak to you.
tonight. I'dThey can't
rather eatafford
in thantogobuy
outatonight.
new car.
3 It might rain tonight. I'd rather eat in than go out tonight.
When one verb follows another, the first verb determines the form of the
second.
When oneThisverb
canfollows
be the gerund
another,(verb
the first verbordetermines
+ -inB) the infinitivethe(with
formorofwithout
the to).
1 Use the gerund after certain verbs and expressions, e.g. enjoy, can't help.
second. This can be the gerund (verb + -inB) or the infinitive (with or without to).
• When a phrasal verb is followed by another verb, the verb is the gerund,
1 Usee.g.the gerund
carry afteron,
on, keep certain verbs
Bive up, and
look expressions,
forward to, etc. e.g. enjoy, can't help.
• When
2 Use a phrasal verb
the infinitive (with is to)
followed by another
after certain verb,
verbs andthe verb is the gerund,
expressions, e.g.
1
e.g.afford.
want, carry on, keep on, Bive up, lookforward to, etc.
32 Use
Usethe
theinfinitive
infinitive(without to) after
(with to) after modal
certain verbs
verbs andand some expressions,
expressions, e.g.
e.g. miBht, would rather, and after the verbs make and let. 1
want, afford.
• In the passive, make is followed by the infinitive with to. Compare My 2
3 Use themakes
boss infinitive (without
us work hard. Atto) afterwe
school modal
wereverbs
madeand someaexpressions,
to wear uniform.
e.g. miBht, would rather, and after the verbs make and let.
)ii- p.164 Appendix Verb patterns: verbs followed by the gerund or infinitive
• In the passive, make is followed by the infinitive with to. Compare My 2
p boss makes
like, us work
love, hate, hard. At school we were made to wear a uniform.
and prefer
like, love, hate, and prefer are usually used with the gerund in British
)ii- p.164
EnglishAppendix
but canVerb
also patterns: verbsthe
be used with followed by the gerund or infinitive
infinitive.
We tend to use the gerund when we talk generally and the infinitive
p when we talk specifically e.g.
like, love, hate, and prefer
I like swimming (general)
gerunds and infinitives •
•
gerund (verb + -ing}

1 l'1n not very good at ren1embering names. 46 >))

Katie's given up smoking.
2 Driving at night is qu ire t iring.
Shopping is my favo urite thing to do at \veekends.
3 I hate not being on ti111e for thin gs.
I don't mind getting up early.

• We use the gerund (verb + -in8)

1 after prepositions and phrasal verbs .
2 as the subject of a sentence.
3 after so1ne verbs, e.g. hate, spend, don't mind.
th
• C on11non verbs which rake the gerund include: admit, avoid, deny,
dislike, enjoy, feel like, finish , hate, keep, like, love, mind, miss,
practise, prefer , recommend, spend time, stop, suggest, and phrasal
verbs, e.g. give up, go on, etc.
• The negative gerund =not+ verb + -inB

the infinitive with to

 • In the passive, make is followed by the infinitive with to. Compare My
boss makes us work hard. At school we were made to wear a uniform.
)ii- p.164 Appendix Verb patterns: verbs followed by the gerund or infinitive

p like, love, hate, and prefer

like, love, hate, and prefer are usually used with the gerund in British
English but can also be used with the infinitive.
We tend to use the gerund when we talk generally and the infinitive
when we talk specifically e.g.
I like swimming (general)
I like to swim first thing in the morning when there aren't many
people there (specific)
I prefer cycling to driving (general)
You don't need to give me a lift to the station. I prefer to walk (specific)
When like, love, hate, and prefer are used with would, they are always
followed by to+ infinitive, e.g. I'd prefer to stay at home tonight, I'd
love to come with you.

a Complete with a gerund or infinitive with to of a verb b

from the list. You
 practise, prefer , recommend, spend time, stop, suggest, and phrasal
verbs, e.g. give up, go on, etc.
• The negative gerund =not+ verb + -inB

the infinitive with to

1 My fl at is very easy to find . i) 47 >))

2 Lia1n is saving money to buy a ne>v car.
3 My sister has never learned to drive. Try not to make a noise .

• We use the infinitive + to

1 after adjectives.
2 to express a reason or purpose.
3 after son1e verbs, e.g. 1.vant, need, learn.
• Con1n1on verbs \vhich take the infinitive include: (can't) afford, agree,
decide , exp ect , forget, help, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, pretend,
promise, refuse, ren1ember, seem, try, want, would like.
• The negative infinitive = not to + verb.

a Q th e correct forn1. b C ompl

• More verbs take the in finitive than the gerund.
• T hese co1n1non verbs can take either the infinitive
or gerund w ith no d ifference in n1eaning: s tart,
begin, continue, e.g. it started to rain. It started
raintnB.

p Verb + person + infinitive with to

We also use the infinit ive with to after some
verbs, e.g. ask, t ell, want, would like + person.
Can you ask the manager to come?
She told him not to worry.
I want you to do this now.
We'd rea/ly like you to come.
 You need to cle an the car.
ves The car needs cleaning. verbs that can be followed by either gerund or
infinitive with to
und and verbs
1 Some verbs followed by thebyinfinitive
can be followed the gerund or
usic.infinitive
I couldn't (with to)laughing.
help with no difference3in37 l)) 1 It started to rain. It started raining. 3 38 l))
meaning.
u . They The most
can't afford common
to buy a newverbs
car. like this are 2 Remember to lock the door.
start, beBin, and continue. I remember going to Venice as a child.
I'd rather eat in than go out tonight.
2 Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or Sorry, I forgot to do it.
her, infinitive (with
the first verb to) with athe
determines change
form ofofthe
meaning. I'll never forget seeing the Taj Mahal.
+ -inB) or+the
- remember
und (verb infinitive =you
infinitive remember
(with or withoutfirst,
to). I tried to open the window.
then you do something. Remember
rtain verbs and expressions, e.g. enjoy, can't help.+ gerund = Try calling Miriam on her mobile.
you do something then you remember it. You need to cle an the car.
is followed by another verb, the verb is the gerund,
- forBet + infinitive = you didn't remember to do The car needs cleaning.
Bive up, lookforward to, etc.
something.
h to) after certain
forBet verbsYou
+gerund= anddid
expressions,
somethinge.g. and 1 Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or
you won't forget it. It is more common in the infinitive (with to) with no difference in
hout to) after modal verbs and some expressions,
negative. meaning. The most common verbs like this are
and after
- trythe verbs make
+ infinitive and let.
=make an effort to do start, beBin, and continue.
s followed by the infinitive with to. Compare My
something. 2 Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or
hard. Attryschool we were
+ gerund made to wear
= experiment a uniform.
to see if something
infinitive (with to) with a change of meaning.
works.
atterns: verbs followed by the gerund or infinitive - remember + infinitive =you remember first,
- need+ gerund is a passive construction, e.g.
then you do something. Remember + gerund =
needs cleaninB = needs to be cleaned NOT nttttr
prefer to cleaii. you do something then you remember it.
refer are usually used with the gerund in British - forBet + infinitive = you didn't remember to do
be used with the infinitive. something.
erund when
correctweform.
talk generally and the infinitive forBet +gerund= You did something and
cally e.g.
ur hair needs
eral) @J to cut. It's really long!
you won't forget it. It is more common in the
negative.
ng in the
never morning
forget when
to see/ there
seeinB the aren't
GrandmanyCanyon for the
 the infinitive w ithout to
eny,
miss,
l I can't drive. 4 48>))
nd phrasal
\Ve must hurry.
2 She ahvays makes me laugh.
My parents didn't let me go out last night.

• We use the infinitive w ithout to

i) 47 >)) 1 after most 1nodal and auxiliary verbs.
2 after make and let.
oise .
p Verbs that can take a gerund or an infinitive,
but the meaning is different
Try to be on time. (- make an effort to be on
time)
Try doing yoga. ( do it to see if you like it)
Remember to phone him. ('--don't forget to
do it)
, agree,
I remember meeting him years ago. ('-- I have a
pretend,
memory of it)
a Complete with a gerund or infinitive with to of a verb b
from the list. Your
carry call come do drive eat out ge--et:ff take 1 I'll ne
tidy wait work first t
2 I need
I'm exhausted! I don't fancy BOinB out tonight.
crash
1 I suggest a taxi to the airport tomorrow.
It'll be much quicker. 3 Have
2 Even though the snow was really deep, we managed 4 I mus
_____ to the local shop and back. to loc
3 We'd better some shopping- there isn't 5 I had
much food for the weekend. turnin
4 I'm very impatient. I can't stand in queues.
6 Our h
5 I wasn't well and a young man offered my bags. good
6 My parents used to make me my room.
7 Did y
7 We threatened the police if the boys didn't
It's he
stop throwing stones.
8 Do you feel like _____ to the gym with me? 8 We tr
weren
9 I'd prefer instead of getting a takeaway.
10 I don't mind late tonight if you want me to. <Ill( p.5 7
 to cleaii.

f a verb b correct form.

Your hair needs @J to cut. It's really long!
take 1 I'll never forget to see/ seeinB the Grand Canyon for the
first time.
2 I need to call/ callinB the helpline. My computer has
crashed.
orrow.
3 Have you tried to take/ takinB a tablet to help you sleep?
naged 4 I must have my keys somewhere. I can remember
to lock / lockinB the door this morning.
e isn't 5 I had to run home because I had forgotten to turn/
turninB the oven off.
n queues.
6 Our house needs to paint/ paintinB· Do you know any
my bags. good house painters?
room.
7 Did you remember to send/ sendinB your sister a card?
oys didn't
It's her birthday today.

me? 8 We tried to learn/ learninB to ski last winter, but we

weren't very good at it.
away.