GERUND / TO-INFINITIVE / BARE INFINITIVE
GERUND
The Gerund is used:
1. as a noun (subject of a verb)
e.g. Running is a good sport
2. after prepositions
e.g. Before reading the poem she smiled.
3. after verbs of sensation
feel
see , watch, observe, notice
hear
smell
e.g. I heard them opening the door.
NOTE:
The Gerund describes the action in progress .We observe part of a complete action.
When the action is supposed to be completed the Bare Infinitive is used. We observe the
whole action from beginning to end. (in the Active Voice).
e.g. I heard them open the door.
4. after verbs that mean liking and disliking
like *
dislike*
love*
hate*
enjoy
detest
appreciate
prefer*
NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either Gerund or To-infinitive.
The phrase I would like / I should like can only take the To-infinitive.
e.g. I would like to look at your album.
5. after verbs that mean beginning and end of action
begin*
cease*
start*
finish
stop*
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NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either Gerund or To-infinitive
The Gerund refers to things that happen earlier, the To-infinitive refers to things that happen
after.
e.g. You must stop making noise.
He stops now and then to listen to some music.
With begin and start there is no difference in meaning.
6. after verbs that mean progress of action
continue*
keep on
delay
carry on
go on
NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either a Gerund or a To-infinitive. There is not much
difference.
7. after some negative forms
can’t resist
can’t endure
can’t bear
can’t help
can’t stand
can’t put up with
e.g. I couldn’t resist buying the most expensive one.
8. after the phrases
to be used to
to be accustomed to
to be looking forward to
it’s no good
it’s no use
it’s worth
e.g. He was looking forward to meeting a cinema star. (to be anxious about)
9. after some verbs
admit
appreciate
avoid
consider
defer
defend
delay
deny
detest
dread endure
escape
excuse
face
fancy
finish
forgive
imagine
include
involve
justify
keep
mention
mind
miss
pardon
postpone
practise
prevent
quit
regret
report
resent
resist
risk
save
suggest
understand
e.g. Jane doesn’t mind going to school on foot.
10. as an adjective
e.g. These were the invaders of their hunting ground.
11. as a part of a continuous tense
e.g. They were trying to escape.
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TO-INFINITIVE
The To-infinitive is used:
1. after the verbs
agree
appear
arrange
attempt
care
choose
claim
consent
dare
decide
demand
determine
fail
guarantee
forget
happen
hesitate
hope
intend
learn
long
manage
mean
neglect
omit
plan
pretend
prepare
promise
prove
refuse
seem
seek
show how
swear
tend
turn out
threaten
undertake
e.g. They are planning to visit their grandparents next weekend.
2. as a noun
. the subject of a sentence
e.g. To play sports is good for our health.
. the complement of a verb
e.g. They invited us to go with them.
. the object of a verb
e.g. The teacher wants us to come early.
NOTE: There is the construction:
Verb + Object +To-infinitive
This can happen after the verbs
advise
allow
ask
beg
encourage
expect
forbid
hate
help
intend
mean
oblige
invite
instruct
like
love
offer
order
permit
persuade
prefer
request
remind
tell
tempt
urge
want
wish
3. after the expressions
can’t afford
can’t wait
e.g. We can’t wait to watch that amazing film!
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4. after some adjectives
e.g. I’m happy to tell you the truth.
Adjectives
alarmed
angry
amazed
anxious
astonished
delighted
difficult
disappointed
disputed
easy
glad
happy
hard
horrified
lovely
nice
pleased
relieved
sad
sorry
sure
surprised
5. after “too” “enough” “so...as”
e.g. She is too old to recover.
She is old enough to understand the problem.
6. with an adverbial function of purpose
e.g. I phoned Peter to invite him.
7. with an adjectival function
e.g. That was a silly thing to do.
8. after “where” “when” “how”
e.g. He found out how to blame her.
9. in exclamatory sentences
e.g. Oh! To be on holidays at last!
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BARE INFINITIVE
(Infinitive without TO)
The Bare infinitive is used:
1. after modal verbs (except “ought”, “used”)
e.g. He can play the piano.
2. after auxiliary “do”
e.g. Do you go to London?
3. after “help” “let” “make” , when in the active voice
e.g. Let him go out now.
4. after the following expressions
would rather
would sooner
rather than
sooner than
had better
e.g. He’d rather sleep than watch television..
5. after but (=except)
e.g. He can’t do anything but sleep.
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