GERUND AND INFINITIVE

PATTERNS
CLAIRE WALLIS
EX-FACULTY OF LANGUAGES
 KEEPING IT SIMPLE
THERE ARE 3 REASONS WHY WE USE THE
GERUND
1.AS THE SUBJECT (NOUN)
2.AFTER ALL PREPOSITIONS AND PHRASAL
VERBS
3.AFTER CERTAIN VERBS
 KEEPING IT SIMPLE
THERE ARE ALSO 3 REASONS WHY WE USE THE
INFINITIVE
1.AS THE INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE
2.AFTER ADJECTIVES
3.AFTER CERTAIN VERBS
 AFTER CERTAIN VERBS
IT IS NECESSARY TO LEARN BY HEART WHICH
VERBS GO TOGETHER WITH THE GERUND AND
WHICH GO TOGETHER WITH THE INFINITIVE.
 CERTAIN VERBS
HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME LOGIC TO HELP YOU
REMEMBER.
THE INFINITIVE IS NEARLY ALWAYS SUCCESSIVE
(THE ACTIONS GO IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
I would like to visit Paris.
I need to see a dentist.
She demanded to see the manager.
 CERTAIN VERBS
HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME LOGIC TO HELP YOU
REMEMBER.
THE INFINITIVE IS NEARLY ALWAYS SUCCESSIVE
(THE ACTIONS GO IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)
I would like (1) to visit (2) Paris.
I need (1) to see (2) a dentist.
She demanded (1) to see (2) the manager.
 CERTAIN VERBS
THE GERUND, HOWEVER, IS NOT.

The man admitted stealing the painting.

The students denied cheating in the exam.

WHAT IS THE ACTION ORDER IN THESE

SENTENCES?
 CERTAIN VERBS
THE GERUND, HOWEVER, IS NOT.

The man admitted (2) stealing (1) the painting.

The students denied (2) cheating (1) in the
exam.
It is the contrary to the use of the infinitive.
However, this is not foolproof.
 ANOTHER EXAMPLE
I enjoy spending time with friends.
I prefer living by myself.
I love meeting new people.
IN THESE EXAMPLES THIS IS NO ACTION ORDER
BECAUSE THE ACTIONS ARE CONTEMPORARY.
THEREFORE, WE CAN CREATE PATTERNS TO HELP
US REMEMBER BUT WE STILL HAVE TO LEARN
THE VERBS.
 BOTH
THERE ARE CERTAIN VERBS WHICH CAN “TAKE”
BOTH THE GERUND AND INFINITIVE.
1.WITH NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING
(START/BEGIN) It started raining/ It started to
rain.
2.WITH LITTLE DIFFERENCE (LIKE) I like going to
the cinema/ I like to go to the cinema. THE FIRST
MEANS IT MAKES YOU HAPPY. THE SECOND
MEANS YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.
 BOTH
THERE ARE SOME VERBS WHICH GO TOGETHER
WITH BOTH BUT MEAN VERY DIFFERENT
THINGS.
1.I remember visiting Paris as a child.
Remember to do your homework.
1.I regret not studying harder before the exam.
We regret to inform all passengers that there
will be delays.
 BOTH
3. I meant to send you a postcard but I forgot.
Being a doctor means studying for years.
4. I tried to open the window but it was stuck.
Try adding more salt to the dish next time.
5. I stopped smoking 8 years ago.
I stopped to talk to Jane on my way home.
6. The professor went on talking about his new
book for hours.
After he had finished he went on to tell us about his
next project.
 BOTH
THE VERBS WHICH GO TOGETHER WITH BOTH
ARE; REMEMBER, FORGET, REGRET, STOP, TRY,
GO ON, MEAN AND NEED
 OTHER PATTERNS
SOME VERBS NEED AN OBJECT AND OTHERS
DON’T.
He told me to throw away my old toys.
He threatened to throw away my old toys.

SOME VERBS NEED THE BARE INFINITIVE

RATHER THAN THE FULL INFINITIVE.
He made me throw away my old toys.
 NOT JUST BASICS
IT IS POSSIBLE TO USE THE INFINITIVE AND
GERUND IN OTHER FORMS;
PASSIVE
The little girl likes telling stories (gerund active)
The little girl likes being told stories (gerund
passive)
Sarah would like to announce the winner (infinitive
active)
Sarah would like to be announced as the winner
(infinitive passive)
 NOT JUST BASICS
PERFECT
He thanked them for helping him. (gerund
simple)
He thanked them for having helped him.
(gerund in the perfect)
I would like to see Australia. (infinitive simple)
I would like to have seen Sydney when I was in
Australia. (infinitive in the perfect)
 NOT JUST BASICS
CONTINUOUS
He appears to suffer from the flu regularly.
(infinitive simple)
He appears to be suffering from the flu.
(continuous infinitive).
 SUBTLE
SOMETIMES THE DIFFERENCE IS VERY SUBTLE.
I heard Jane sing a song. (the whole song)
I heard Jane singing a song. (part of it)

I saw the man take her purse. (the whole action)

I saw the man taking her purse. (part of it)
 OTHER POSSIBILITIES
SOME VERBS CAN BE FOLLOWED BY OBJECT +
ING OR POSSESSIVE + ING FORM. HOWEVER,
THE LATTER TWO ARE MORE FORMAL.
I resented TOM winning the prize.
I resented TOM’S winning the prize.
I resented HIS winning the prize.
 OTHER POSSIBILITIES
OTHER VERBS WHICH WORK IN THE SAME WAY
ARE VERBS OF LIKING (LIKE, DISLIKE, APPROVE,
DISAPPROVE, DETEST, HATE, LOVE, OBJECT TO,
MIND) AND VERBS OF THINKING (FORGET,
IMAGINE, REMEMBER, THINK OF)

WE ONLY USE THIS STRUCTURE FOR A PERSON

OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE NOT ANIMALS OR
OBJECTS.
 OTHER STRUCTURES
REMEMBER THAT TO IS ALSO A PREPOSITION.
THEREFORE, IT IS OFTEN USED WITH THE ING FORM.
She confessed to stealing the money.
You don’t object to working late, do you?
OTHER VERBS WHICH TAKE THIS STRUCTURE ARE; ADAPT,
ADJUST, ADMIT, LOOK FORWARD, OWN UP, RESORT,
COMMIT
(admit can be used with and without to but must be
used with the gerund)
They can also be used with a noun phrase.