Infinitive vs Gerund

The basics

Form of the infinitive

Infinitives

After a verb

After an object

After an adjective

After a question word

With to Without to With to Without to

She wants to study

She must study

He advised her to study

He let her go

I m pleased to meet you He s glad to go

I don t know what to do

Infinitive only after these verbs

e.g. She decided to go agree, (can afford), aim, appear, happen, ask, hesitate, can t wait, pretend, etc.

Form of the gerund or -ing

Gerund

After the verb

He admitted stealing

After a preposition (by, before, for, etc)

I look forward to hearing from you

Gerund only after these verbs

e.g. He suggested going to the South avoid, keep (on), mention, (not mind), fancy, give up, deny, consider, advise, dislike, etc.

Infinitive or gerund
No change in meaning Like, prefer, love, hate, intend, start, propose Mary likes to watch TV Mary likes watching TV

Infinitive or gerund
Change in meaning: remember, forget, regret Infinitive after the action, Gerund before the action Remember study Study Remember emember to study Don t forget to study I regret to say now I remember studying I forgot studying He regrets not studying

Infinitive or gerund
Change in meaning: stop Infinitive: for a reason Gerund: quit

I stopped to study

He stopped to talk

He stopped studying He stopped talking

Infinitive or gerund
Change in meaning: go on, try Infinitive: different Joan was talking to M, and then she went on to talk to Pete Infinitive: make effort She tried to speak aloud Gerund: continue Joan went on talking and talking Gerund: experiment She tried speaking aloud, then she was understood

Infinitive or gerund
Change in meaning: see, hear, listen to, notice,

watch
Infinitive without to : complete action I saw him switch on the light I heard him come home Gerund: action in progress I saw him switching on the light I heard him coming home

Infinitive or gerund
Different verbs Used to: a habit in the past Be used to but not anymore Be accustomed to

I used to play cards, but not any more. He used to dance, but not any more.

He is used to working late. He is accustomed to working at night.

Your task is
a) To download this PPT and complete it with verbs that are followed by infinitive, gerund, or either. b) To practice the use of verbs by forming sentences or paragraphs. c) Work on your own. Changing lives: write about your life so that the other person knows everything about you. Use as many as possible verbs followed by Inf or gerund. Due date: Monday 9th January