The infinitive and the gerund (2)
7.1Some verbs such as begin, start, hate, love, like, prefer and continue can be followed by
a to-infinitive or a gerund without much difference in meaning.
Let’s watch The
Woman in Black,
shall we?
I hate watching/
to watch horror films.
How about Wuthering
Heights or The Vow?
Love stories?
No way!
We do not normally use a gerund after begin, start and continue when these verbs are
in the continuous form.
It’s beginning to clear up. We’ll be able to go out soon.
Compare:
It began raining/to rain before we reached home.
The verbs understand, know and realise that follow begin, start and continue usually take
the to-infinitive form.
She did not begin to realise how much she missed her parents until she studied abroad.
NOTE
1We use a to-infinitive after would like (’d like), would prefer (’d prefer) and would love (’d love).
It’s hot. I’d like to go for a swim. (= I want to go for a swim)
Compare: I don’t like getting up/to get up early.
We also use a bare infinitive after would rather (’d rather).
I don’t want to go to the restaurant. I’d rather go to the cinema.
2We can use prefer in the following structures:
prefer one thing to another thing
prefer doing something to doing another thing
My mother prefers tea to coffee.
I prefer jogging to running.
would prefer to do something rather than do/doing another thing
I’m tired. I’d prefer to stay home tonight rather than go/going out.
Compare:
would rather do something than do something else
I’m tired. I’d rather stay home tonight than go out.
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7.2In some cases, a verb can be followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund with a difference
in meaning. The most common ones include:
remember
We remember doing something that we did earlier.
The light was on
when I got home.
We remember to do something that we must do.
Please remember
to turn off the light
when you leave.
I will.
But I remember
turning it off when
I left.
stop
W hen we stop doing something, we do not do it any
longer.
Hi, Jane.
OH, hi, Kate.
We stop to do something in order to do something
else.
This way,
please.
Coming.
try
She stopped looking at the painting when
she heard someone call her name.
She stopped to look at the painting in the
corridor on her way to her hotel room.
We try doing something to see what will happen.
The car would not start, so they tried pushing it
and hoped it would start that way.
regret
We regret doing something that we have already done.
Kate: You shouldn’t have said that to him.
Jill: Yes, I regret saying that. I’ll apologise
to him.
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We try to do something when we make an effort
to do it.
She tried to push the car to the roadside, but it
wouldn’t move.
We regret to do something that we have to do.
Kate: Carol was upset after reading the letter.
What does it say?
Jill: It says: ‘We regret to inform you that
we are unable to offer you the job’.
Answers / Notes
go on (= continue)
We use go on doing something to talk about
something that continues.
We use go on to do something to talk about a change
to something different.
Mrs Chan went on talking about how
wonderful her son was all evening.
As if we cared, Mrs Chan went on to talk about
her daughter after telling us all about her son.
7.3Two possible structures may be used after the following verbs:
advise
allow
encourage
permit
+ gerund
suggest
+ object + to-infinitive
Mrs Chan doesn’t allow smoking in the house.
Mrs Chan does not allow her husband to smoke in
the house.
Practice
AComplete these sentences using the correct form of the verbs provided. Sometimes there are two possible
answers. The first one has been done for you as an example.
1 When did you start
to learn/learning
2 Would you like
(learn) to play the guitar?
(listen) to my new Shotgun Politics album?
(dance)? You can go to the Hong Kong Dance Festival if
3 Do you like
you do. There’ll be more than 30 performances and lectures.
4 I’d love
tomorrow.
5 It’s beginning
(go) with you, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to. I have a test
(rain). We’d better find shelter.
6 I don’t know how
7 They continued
(use) this machine. Can you show me, please?
(talk) online until late into the night.
(understand) why they
8 After working with her for some time, I began
say she is difficult to work with.
9 Everyone stopped
(talk) and was quiet when the film started.
(buy) some batteries for me?
10 On your way home, could you please stop
(wait).
11 I’m not in a hurry. I don’t mind
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Answers / Notes
12 Let’s take turns
(look after) the dog.
(say) hello for me.
13 If you see Janet, remember
14‘He said he met you at Paul’s house last year.’ ‘But I don’t remember
him at all.’
(surf) to
15 I prefer
(scuba-dive). What about you?
(walk) rather than
16 It’s a beautiful day. I’d prefer
a tram.
(take)
(order) a pizza than eat out.
17 I don’t feel like going out. I’d rather
18 They took turns
(meet)
(read) the book.
(admire) her skills.
19 I saw her play badminton yesterday and I couldn’t help
(choose) it.’
20 ‘I like your new dress!’ ‘You do? Kitty helped me
(walk) until they reached their
21 After taking a short break they kept on
destination.
22 After discussing the first item on the agenda, they went on
second one.
(discuss) the
23 The firefighter suffered serious burns, but he didn’t regret
to save the child from the burning building.
(risk) his life
24 ‘I’m sorry, Mr Wong,’ the personnel manager said, ‘but I regret
you that your application has been unsuccessful.’
B
(inform)
Complete these exchanges using the words provided.
1 A: What did the doctor say?
B:He
advised my mother to have
(advise/my mother/have) an operation as soon as possible.
2 A: Mike decided to try another job.
(advise/him/change) jobs?
B: Who
3 A: Why didn’t you give Kelly a lift?
(let/me/take/her/home).
B: She wouldn’t
(allow/me/take part in) the marathon.
4 A: My parents finally
B: That’s good news.
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Answers / Notes
5 A: Let’s ask Billy to lend us his laptop.
B:I don’t think it’s a good idea. He
his laptop.
(not/allow/anyone/use)
6 A: You’re all wet. Why didn’t you take an umbrella with you when you went out?
(not/expect/it/rain).
B:I
7 A: Why are you grateful to Miss Lai?
(encourage/me/have) confidence in myself.
B:She always
8 A: I enjoyed the trip very much.
(remember/go) there two years ago.
B:I’m sure you did. I
It was an unforgettable experience.
C
Complete the sentences in Column A using the phrases in Column B. Use each phrase once only.
Column A
Column B
j
1 He sketched out a map. This enabled us
a. use it
.
.
2 I’ve decided to do it. Nobody can make me
b. change my mind
?
3 Are you hungry? Would you like
c. lending it to you
4 Are you sure this is my CD? I don’t remember
.
5 I’ll borrow Gary’s bicycle. I’m sure he’ll let me
.
6 Julia has had the flu for days, but now she’s beginning
.
e. to come
f. to have something to eat
, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it.
7 I’ll try
? I’d like to have a word with you.
8 Could you stop
9 When he saw me he looked up to say hello, and then went
on
.
g. to come home
h. reading his newspaper
i. working for a moment
10 I’m in a difficult position. Would you please advise me
d. to get better
?
11 Mrs Chan called her husband to remind him
early because they were expecting guests.
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j. to find the place easily
k. what to do
Answers / Notes
DComplete this travel magazine article using the correct form of the verbs provided.
Southeast Asia Travel Destinations
By Alex Wu
Thinking of (1) ____ (travel) abroad on a limited budget? Why not
(2)
____ (spend) a few weeks (3) ____ (make) a tour of Southeast Asia?
Here are three countries that I strongly recommend you visit.
Cambodia
Cambodia is well on its way to (4) ____ (reclaim) its place as an essential
tourist destination. You can take an adventure tour if you have 15 days
to spend there, or you can join the Cambodia Explorer Tour if you can
only afford (5) ____ (stay) there for a few days. If you have even less
time, you can join local tours for individual days.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Indonesia
In addition to ever-popular Bali, which is no doubt worth (6)
____ (visit), Indonesia has plenty more to offer. For example,
Borobudur, a giant Buddhist monument in Central Java, and Komodo
National Park, which is home to the world’s most dangerous lizard,
are also on the itineraries of many visitors to Indonesia.
Vietnam
There are many things you can do in Vietnam. For example, upon
(7)
____ (arrive) in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, you can take a city
tour and enjoy a water puppet performance. After a good night’s rest,
you can continue (8) ____ (go) round the city and spend three hours
(9)
____ (drive) through the countryside of the Red River Delta to
Halong Bay, where you can go on a Halong Bay cruise.
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
I have to say a few words about the climate before (10) ____ (bring)
(10)
this article to an end. I wouldn’t (11) ____ (say) the climate in these
countries is perfect, because at times it can (12) ____ (be) very hot.
(11)
However, you can travel light without (13) ____ (have) to take thick and
heavy clothing with you. Happy travelling!
(13)
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(12)
travelling
Answers / Notes
EComplete this story using the correct form of the verbs provided. Sometimes there are two possible
answers.
My grandma was a good story-teller. She liked (1)
we went to bed. Here is one of her stories:
to tell/telling
(tell) us stories before
One day a poor man tied his horse to a tree and sat down for a rest. A
proud rich man who was passing by saw the poor man and also decided
(take) a rest, so he began (3)
(2)
(tie) his horse to the same tree.
Don’t tie your
horse to this tree.
The poor man warned the rich man (4)
(not/tie)
his horse to the same tree. ‘My horse is wild,’ he said. ‘It’ll kill yours.’
But the rich man would not (5)
(listen). ‘I’ll tie my
horse wherever I like,’ he said. ‘You’ll regret (6)
(do)
this,’ the poor man sighed.
It was hot, and soon the two men fell asleep. Suddenly they heard a
terrible noise. This made both of them (7)
(jump)
to their feet: the horses were fighting!
They tried (8)
(separate) the horses, but before
they succeeded, they found the rich man’s horse had already been killed.
The rich man grew very angry. ‘See what your horse has done!’ he
started (9)
(shout) at the poor man. ‘You must
pay for my horse!’
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Answers / Notes
The rich man forced the poor man (10)
(go) with
him to a judge. He accused the poor man of (11)
(kill)
his horse.
‘Is this true?’ the judge asked. The poor man didn’t (12)
(say) a word. The judge kept (13)
(ask) the same
question, but the poor man kept silent. At last the judge gave up. ‘It’s no
use questioning him,’ he said. ‘This man seems (14)
(be)
dumb.’
‘No, no,’ the rich man said. ‘He can speak all right.’ ‘How do you know?’
asked the judge. ‘He spoke to me before we came here,’ the rich man
replied. ‘He did? What did he (15)
me (16)
(say)?’ ‘He told
(not/tie) my horse to the tree where he
had tied his. He said his horse would (17)
(kill)
mine.’
It was at this moment that the poor man started (18)
(speak). ‘You’ve just heard the truth,’ he said. Then he went on
(19)
(tell) the judge the whole story. ‘His horse was
(20)
(kill) because he refused (21)
(listen) to me,’ the poor man concluded. ‘I’m sorry about his horse, but
what happened was his fault.’ The judge agreed. He let the poor man
(go) free.
(22)
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