GERUND AND INFINITIVE

- GERUND. it is used:

o As the subject of a sentence: Reading helps you improve your English

o After prepositions and phrasal verbs. He’s thinking about learning English

o After some verbs and expressions:

ADMIT DENY FINISH LOOK FORWARD TO RECOMMEND

APPRECIATE DETEST FORGIVE MENTION RESIST
AVOID DISCUSS HATE MIND RISK
BEGIN DISLIKE IMAGINE MISS START
NEED SUGGEST
CAN’T HELP DON’T MIND IT’S NO WORTH
(passive meaning)
CAN’T STAND ENCOURAGE INVOLVE PERMIT TOLERATE
CONSIDER ENJOY KEEP POSPONE UNDERSTAND
CONTINUE FANCY LIKE PRACTICE
DELAY FEEL LOVE PREFER

- INFINITIVE WITH “TO”: It is used:

o After adjectives: It’s very easy to use it.

o After TO to express purpose: I went to London to improve my English.

o After a question word: I don’t know where to buy it.

o With TOO and ENOUGH: It’s too cold to go out. She’s young enough to stay up late

o After some verbs: I want to learn English

AFFORD CONTINUE HOPE PRETEND WAIT

AGREE DECIDE INTEND PROMISE WANT
APPEAR DEMAND LEARN PROPOSE WISH
ARRANGE DESERVE MANAGE REFUSE WOULD LIKE
ASK EXPECT MEAN SEEM WOULD LOVE
BEGIN FAIL NEED START WOULD HATE
CLAIM FINISH OFFER SWEAR WOULD PREFER
CARE HAPPEN PLAN TEND
CHOOSE HESITATE PREPARE THREATEN

o With some verbs which are followed by an object: I want you to study English
(quiero que tú estudies inglés”) V OBJ.
- INFINITIVE WITHOUT “TO”: It is used:

o After modal verbs, HAD BETTER, HAD SOONER, HAD RATHER AND WOULD
RATHER: I must leave know. I’d rather go.

o After MAKE and LET when they are followed by a complement

My parents don’t let me go to the party

- VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUND AND INFINITIVE WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE IN MEANING:

BEGIN, BOTHER, CAN'T BEAR, CONTINUE, HATE, LIKE, LOVE, PREFER, START.

*HATE, LIKE, LOVE, PREFER, are followed only by the INFINITIVE when they are
used in the conditional tense. Ex. I would hate to work in an office all day long.
Would you prefer to go to the theatre?

- VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUND AND INFINITIVE WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE IN MEANING:

o REMEMBER: She remembered switching off the light. (Remember to have done
something)

Please, remember to phone me. (Don’t forget to do something)

o FORGET: She forgot telling me a lie. (Forget you have done something)

Don’t forget to phone me. (Remember)

o REGRET: I regret being late. (I’m sorry for something I did)

I regret to tell you this. (I’m sorry to tell you something)

o STOP: I stopped eating fast food. ( Finish an activity)

I stopped to have lunch. (Finish an activity to do another one)

o TRY: Try pressing the red bottom. ( Do something as a test or experiment)

I tried to finish the exercises. (Make an effort)

o GO ON: He went on working for 5 hours. ( Continue doing the same thing)

After studying English, she went on to study French. (Do something new)

o MEAN: Having a bad chest means going without cigarettes. (Involves).

I meant to bring you a couple of your textbooks. (Intend, have the intention)

o ALLOW and PERMIT:

 Followed by gerund: when a person or persons are not mentioned.

I don't allow smoking in the classroom

• Followed by infinitive: when a person or persons are mentioned.

I don't allow my students to smoke in the classroom.

  COMPLETE THE SENTENCES PUTTING THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN THE CORRECT FORM.

1. The kids are looking forward to (eat)__________________ an ice-cream.

2. Mary wanted (go) ______________ to the cinema.

3. After (have) ___________________ breakfast, he went to work on foot.

4. Mary is used to (get up) _________________early because of her job.

5. I have never learnt (cook) ______________.

6. It’s no use (go) _____________to that shop. It’s very expensive.

7. Jane can’t afford (buy) _______________ a new car.

8. She decided (buy) ______________that T-shirt because it was very cheap.

9. He admitted (not do) ________________ his homework.

10. I can’t help (be) _________________ worried about him.

11. I am very proud of (be) _______________an English teacher.

12. I don’t mind (live) __________________ in a small village.

13. My father asked me (buy) _______________ some bread on the way home.

14. When he finished (do) _________________ his homework, he went to bed.

15. Do you fancy (go) _____________ to the cinema tomorrow?

16. She started (work) ___________ as a nurse when she was 22 years old.

17. We don’t allow (smoke) ______________ at school.

18. When I was a child I used (play) ____________ tennis.

19. Our teacher wants us (study) _______________ very hard.

20. Peter wants (learn) _______________ to play golf.

21. Before (go) ____________ home, I had done the shopping.

22. They can’t get used to (live) _____________ in a big town.

23. They refused (go) ______________ to the cinema because they were very tired.

24. I’m looking forward to (visit) _____________ London.

25. My mother advised me (go) ______________ to the doctor.

26. (smoke)______________ is bad for your health.

27. It started (rain) _______________ before lunch time.

28. After (have) ______________ lunch they went to have a cup of coffee.

29. Sam is good at (learn) ______________ languages.

 30. Peter decided (study) ______________ hard to pass his exams.

31. After (have a shower) ____________________ , I usually have breakfast.

32. It’s no use (worry) ____________ about it.

33. I’ve always dreamt of (be) _____________ a famous painter.

34. I don’t mind (go) ______________ for a walk when it’s raining.

35. Did Mary remember (send) _____________ the e-mails?

36. Peter suggested (go) _______________ to the cinema.

37. It was nice (have) _______________ coffee with you last week.

38. Please, stop (smoke) ________________

39. I spent the whole weekend (study) ______________ English and Maths.

40. My hair needs (dye) ___________ so I need (go) __________ to the hairdresser.

41. The children stopped (talk) _____________ and listened to the teacher.

42. Did you remember (post) ____________ the letter I gave you yesterday?

43. Peter and Mary (make) _________________ a sandcastle but it was impossible.

44. I regret (fail) __________ my driving test.

45. What about (go) ________________ to the theatre tomorrow?

46. Nobody wants (go) __________ out because it’s raining heavily.

47. (Read) ____________books is good for you because you can learn a lot of things.

KEY:

1. EATING 11. BEING 17. TO SMOKE

2. TO GO 12. LIVING 18. TO PLAY

3. HAVING 13. TO BUY 19. TO STUDY

4. GETTING UP 14. DOOING 20. TO LEARN

5. TO COOK 15. GOING 21. GOING

6. GOING 16. TO WORK 22. LIVING

7. TO BUY 23. TO GO

8. TO BUY 24. VISITING

9. NOT DOING 25. TO GO

10. BEING 26. SMOKING

27. TO RAIN 33. BEING 41. TALKING

28. HAVING 34. GOING 42. TO POST

29. LEARNING 35. TO SEND 43. TO MAKE

30. TO STUDY 36. GOING 44. FAILING

31. HAVING A SHOWER 37. TO HAVE 45. GOING

32. WORRYING 38. SMOKING 46. TO GO

39. STUDYING 47. READING

40. DOING/TO GO
 A. REWRITE THE SENTENCES INTO THE PASSIVE.

1. The children broke the window while they were playing football.

___________________________________________________________

2. They had searched every room before they found the stolen painting.

_________________________________________________________

3. The estate agent showed Pam and Bill the old cottage.

__________________________________________________________

4. If they hadn’t tried to run away, the dog wouldn’t have chased them.

__________________________________________________________

5. They will probably ask you to do a written test too.

__________________________________________________________

6. An international film has offered Kim a job in Vienna.

__________________________________________________________

B. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES. USE DIFFERENT TENSES.

1. We didn’t go to the party. We (not invite)______________

2. I can’t use my office at the moment. It (paint) ________________

3. This bridge (build)_____________ for two years now.

4. A favtory is a place where things (make) ______________

5. I have never seen these flowers before. What (they/call)____________________?

6. Some trees (blow) ________________ down in the storm last night.

7. Credit cards (accept) ________________ in every shop in the shopping centre.

8. I (give) ________________ a lift to the airport yesterday.

9. Rome (not build) _______________ in a day.

10. This shawl must (make) ________________ of silk; it’s very soft.

KEY:
 A:

1. The window was broken while the children were playing football.

2. Every room had been searched before the painting was found.

3. Pam and Bill were shown the old cottage by the estate agent. The old cottage was shown to Pam and
Bill by the estate agent.

4. If they hadn’t tried to run away, they wouldn’t have been chased by the dog.

5. You will be probably asked to do a written test.

6. Kim has been offered a job in Vienna by an international firm. / A jobin Vienna has been offered to
Kim by an international firm.

B:

1. Weren’t invited 6. Were blown

2. Is being painted 7. Are accepted

3. Has been built 8. Was given

4. Are made 9. Wasn’t built

5. Are they called? 10. Be made