GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
GERUNDS
INFINITIVES
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
GERUND
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
INFINITIVE
PREPOITION + GERUND
BE + ADJECTIVE + TO INFINITIVE
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE
GERUNDS
The gerund describes an activity. It does not indicate a time sequence.
Example
We enjoyed seeing you last weekend.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND
The verbs enjoy, detest, hate, love, stop, advise, don’t mind, imagine, feel like, sugest, practice, miss and can’t stand are followed
by a gerund.
Examples
I advise finding a good lawyer.
I hope they stop making so much noise so I can get some sleep.
I hate studying
I hate studying.
I enjoy listening to music.
PREPOSITIONS + GERUNDS
Prepositions such as aggre with, after, admit to, believe in, complain about, confess to, talk about, forget about,
worry about are followed by the gerund.
Example
I agree with playing darts.
INFINITIVES
Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb.
The to-infinitive after a verb often describes a future event, and event following the main verb. For
example, after hope, expect, promise, want, the event in the to-infinitive comes after the activity
or thought in the main verb.
Example
I hope to watch “scream” next week. (future event)
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE
INFINITIVES
The verbs, agree, hope, promise, ask, learn, expect, decide, afford, offer, choose, and want are followed by a verb in the
infinitive form.
Examples
I promise to buy a house.
I decided to eat a sandwich.
They offered to buy the clothes.
BE + ADJECTIVE + TO - INFINITIVE
The verb in the infinitive often refers to an event in the future.
Examples
Wer’e sure to have a good time
They are willing to lend us the money
We can use adjective of feeling, adjectives describing personal characteristics + ofperson, adjectives describingthe
activity before the to-infinitive.
Examples
I’m pleased to see you.
This book is very difficult to read.
It’s good of you to come.
My friend is very amusing to
talk to.
It was selfish of me to ignore you.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND
AND THE INFINITIVE
The verbs, love, like, hate, prefer, begin, start, be, remember, forget, stop, go on, begin, continue, advise, allow,
encourage, forbid, recommend are followed by either and infinitive or a gerund.
NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING.
Examples
I started to shout = I started shouting
I love to read = I love reading.
I hate to wait
I hate to wait = I hate waiting