Advice to students on Using Gerunds and Infinitives
1. Not a base form if using a gerund or an infinitive as a subject.
Finding a job requires a lot of time. Wrong: Find a job requires a lot of time.
2. Be careful with used to and be used to.
I used to hate cheese. Now, I’m used to eating it.
3. Be careful after stop, remember, and forget (very different meanings).
His doctor told him to stop to smoke. (in order to have a cigarette)
His doctor told him to stop smoking. (not to smoke anymore)
4. Don’t use an infinitive after a sense-perception verb.
Wrong: I saw the thief to get on the bus. (use base form-I saw the thief get on the bus)
5. Use a gerund after a preposition.
Wrong: Heb got the ticket for drive without a seatbelt. (for driving…)
6. Don’t forget “to” when introducing with an infinitive.
Wrong: He wanted leave. (He wanted to leave.)
7. After causative verbs make, let, and have, use the base form.
Wrong: He let me to use his car. (He let me use his car.)
8. Don’t omit “it” when introducing an infinitive phrase.
Is important to know a second language. ( It is important to know…)
9. After want, need, expect and similar verbs, use the 0bject pronoun followed by the
infinitive.
Wrong: He wanted that I speak Chinese. (He wanted me to speak Chinese.)
10. Use correct word order after the causative verb “have”.
Wrong: My sister needs to have fix her car. (have her car fixed
11. With a compound infinitive, use the base form after “and”.
Wrong: Mr. Tran needed to finish the book and went to the library. (Mr. Tran needed to
finish the book and (to) go to the library).
12. Remember the verbs that are followed by gerund: e.g., enjoy finish…