Gerunds and Infinitives
 A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." You can use
a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a
sentence.
Ex/ Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
I enjoy reading. object of sentence
 Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."
Ex/ He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not smoking.
 Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. You can also use an infinitive
as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Ex/ To learn is important. subject of sentence
The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
He wants to learn. object of sentence
 Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."
Ex/ I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.
 Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the
complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements,
gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English,
whereas infinitives sound more abstract.
Ex/ Learning is important. normal subject
To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
The most important thing is learning. normal complement
The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less
common
 As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a
gerund or an infinitive. Usually, the main verb in the sentence
determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
The most common verbs followed by a gerund are:
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Admit
Appreciate
Avoid
Consider
Delay
Deny
Detest
Dislike
Enjoy
Escape
Excuse
Feel like
Finish
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Forgive
Give up
Can’t help
Imagine
Mention
Mind
Miss
Postpone
Practise
Resist
Risk
Can’t stand
Suggest
Understand
Ex/ I really appreciate having time to relax.
Have you considered getting a job abroad?
Excuse my interrupting…
You mentioned having been in hospital last year.
 The –ing form is used after all prepositions (including to, when it is a
preposition). The infinitive is impossible in these cases.
Ex/ You should check the oil before starting the car.
You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
He’s always talking about moving to the country.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Gerund or infinitive?
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, usually
with a difference of meaning. The most important are:
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Advise
Allow
Can’t bear
Begin
Continue
Forbid
Forget
Go on
Hate
Hear
Like
Love
Permit
• Prefer
• Propose
• Regret
• Remember
• See
• Start
• Stop
• Try
• Watch
 Certain adjectives:
Accustomed/ afraid/ certain/ sorry/
Interested/ sure/ used.
• Remember, forget, stop, go on, and regret:
+ gerund refers to things that happen earlier
+ infinivite refers to things that happen after the remembering…
Ex/ I shall always remember meeting you for the first time.
Remember to go to the post office.
I really must stop smoking.(stop what one is doing or does)
Every half hour I stop work to smoke a cigarette. (make a break)
I shall never forget seeing the Queen. (forget what one has done
or what has happened)
She’s always forgetting to give me my letters (what one has to do)
 regret + gerund = be sorry for what has happened
 regret + infinitive = be sorry for what one is going to say
Ex/ I don’t regret telling her what I thought.
I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you employment.
 Interested in + gerund = interested in the idea of doing something
 Interested + infinitive = interested by what one learns or
experiences
Ex/ I’m interested in working in Switzerland.
I was interested to read in the papers that scientists have found
out how the universe was form.
 Like + gerund = enjoy
 Like + infinitive = choose to, be in the habit, think it right to
 Love, hate and prefer : not much difference between gerund and
infinitive, but refering to one particular occasion better infinitive.
Ex/ I like walking in the rain.
I like to get up early so that I can get plenty of work done before
lunch.
 Would like always followed by the infinitive.
Ex/ What would you like to do tomorrow?
 Love, hate and prefer : not much difference between gerund and
infinitive, but refering to one particular occasion better infinitive.
Ex/ I love lying / to lie on my back and staring / to stare at the sky.
I prefer working / to work in the mornings.
I hate to mention it, but you owe me some money.
 Allow, advise, forbid and permit + gerund = there is no personal
object.
 Allow, advise, forbid and permit + infinitive = if we say who is
allowed, advised, etc.
Ex/ Sorry, we don’t allow smoking in the lecture room.
We don’t allow people to smoke in here.
I wouldn’t advise taking the car.
I wouldn’t advise you to take the car.
 Try + gerund = make and experiment, do something to see what
will happen
Ex/ I tried sending her flowers but it didn’t have any effect.
Try putting in some vinegar, taht might make it taste a bit better.
 Try + infinitive = make an effort, attempt to do something difficult.
Ex/ Please, try to understand.
I once tried to learn Japanese.
 Afraid of + gerund = afraid of + infinitive. Little difference of
meaning.
Ex/ I’m afraid of flying / to fly
I’m afraid of telling / to tell her.
 Begin and start + gerund or infinitive. No real difference of
meaning.
Ex/ How old were you when you first started playing the piano?
 After begin and start, the verbs understand and realize are only
used in the infinitive.
Ex/ She began to understand what he really wanted.
 Propose, attempt, intend, continue, can’t bear and be
accustomed to + gerund or infinitive. Infinitive more common with
propose, attempt and intend.
Ex/ I can’t bear getting /to get my hands dirty.
He intends to double the advertising budget.
 Sorry + infinitive = we apologize for something that we are doing or
about to do.
Ex/ Sorry to disturb you, could I speak to you for a moment?
Sorry + gerund = we apologize for something we have done (we use
for + -ing or that-clause)
Ex/ I’m sorry for waking you up yesterday.
I’m sorry that I woke you up yesterday.