Infinitives and Gerunds
C/ San Rafael, 25 46701-Gandia Tfno. 962 965 096
info@escolapiasgandia.es
www.escolapiasgandia.es
COLEGIO ESCOLAPIAS
GANDIA
3 basic verb forms:
V-ING.
Gerund
TO-INF. Infinitive ( with "to" )
INF.
Infinitive (without "to" )
1

USES OF THE GERUND: (V-ING)
1.- The gerund is used as a noun:
Smoking is bad for your health.
Her hobby is painting.
2.- It´s used after prepositions:
Touch your toes without bending your knees.
After swimming I felt cold.
He is thinking of NOT going abroad.
3.- After verbs such as:
FINISH
ENJOY
MIND
INVOLVE
NEGLECT
IMAGINE
GIVE UP
DENY
MISS
AVOID
GO ON
KEEP ON
APOLOGIZE
PUT OFF
ADMIT
FOR
POSTPONE
SUGGEST
INSIST ON
* DENY / REGRET / SUGGEST + THAT + SUBJECT + VERB
4.- After certain idiomatic expressions:
THERE / IT´S NO USE ( no merece la pena)
CAN´T HELP (no poder evitar)
BE FED UP WITH (estar harto de)
CAN´T STAND (no poder soportar, aguantar)
CAN´T BEAR (no poder soportar)
FEEL LIKE (apetecer)
GO +ing (para actividades de recreo): Go hiking/ dancing.
IT´S ( NOT ) WORTH sightseeing ( no merecer la pena)
THERE IS (NO) POINT IN (no hay necesidad de)
TO BE USED TO (estar acostumbrado a)
LOOK FORWARD TO (desear)
PREFER+gerund TO+gerund (preferir__________ a __________)
NEED (en sentido pasivo): Your car needs cleaning.
It´s no worth wasting your time.
She was used to getting up early.
I´ m looking forward to hearing from you.
I prefer going out to staying here.
USES OF TO-INFINITIVE
1.- Infinitive of purpose.
Why did you go out? To post a letter.
We shouted to warn them of the danger.
*Knives are for cutting. (in a general sense)
2.- Verbs with to-infinitive.
AGREE
MANAGE
HOPE
APPEAR
LEARN
PROMISE
ARRAGE
PRETEND
I hope to pass my exams.
We decided not to go to Paris.
AFFORD
PLAN
REFUSE
SEEM
DECIDE
OFFER
* Verb + wh-word + To-INF.
(ask / decide / know / remember / forget / explain / understand )
We decided when to go /we could go to Paris.
3.- Verb +( Complement ) + TO-INF.
WANT
ASK
ADVISE
HELP
TELL
EXPECT
INVITE
WARN
REMIND
WOULD LIKE
WOULD PREFER
ENCOURAGE
She wanted to stay instead of going.
She wanted me to stay.
4.- TO-INF with some constructions.
4.1.- Pronoun/noun + to-infinitive:
We have some homework / something to do.
4.2.- Too + adjective + to-infinitive:
This is too hot to drink.
4.3.- Enough + noun + to-infinitive:
There is enough water for everybody to drink.
4.4.- Adjective/adverb + enough + to-infinitive.
This boy is old enough to watch this film.
5.- Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive.
5.1.- Stop
He stopped smoking last year. (dejó de fumar).
He stopped to smoke a cigarette. (Se paró para fumar).
5.2.- Try
He tried adding salt and water.(probar, experimentar)
Martin tried to pass the test. (intentar, hacer el esfuerzo)
5.3.- Remember /forget / regret.
A.- She will never forget visiting London. (la acción de visitar es anterior)
David always forgets to visit his aunt. (la acción de visitar es posterior a
la de olvidar)
B.- I remember closing the door.( la acción de cerrar es anterior/ me
acuerdo de haber cerrado la puerta)
I remembered to close the door. (la acción de cerrar es posterior / me
acuerdo que tengo que cerrar la puerta).
C.- She regrets wasting so much money. (ya se ha gastado el dinero y lo
lamenta)
She regrets to waste so much money. ( Lamenta tener que gastarlo)
USES OF THE BARE INFINITIVE
(INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO).
1.2.3.4.5.-
Modal verbs (except : have to / ought to / need)
MAKE: They made me pay.
LET: Let me go!
WOULD RATHER:I would rather go than stay. (prefer)
HAD BETTER: you had better study English .(advise).
VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUND OR BARE INFINITIVE.
SEE/ HEAR / FEEL / WATCH may be followed by both constructions.
I heard him playing the guitar ( a part of the action)
I heard him play a music concert. (the complete action)