Grammar: Gerunds and infinitives ©Ángela Ruiz 2009-10

Gerund is used…

• After prepositions: He was interested in buying new books. • As a noun, especially when it is the subject of a sentence: Smoking is bad for your health. • After certain verbs: He was looking forward to having holidays.

ADMIT ADVISE AVOID

CAN’T HELP CAN’T IMAGINE CAN’T STAND COMPLETE CONSIDER DISCUSS DISLIKE

DON’T MIND

ENJOY FINISH GIVE UP IMAGINE

KEEP MENTION MIND MISS

PRACTISE RECOMMENDREGRET REPORT RESIST RISK

SUGGEST LOOK FORWARD TOBE USED TO

CONTRIBUTE TO OBJECT TO

PREFER “X” TO ATTENTION! In negative sentences, we write NOT in front of the gerund. Imagine NOT going to school!

Infinitive is used… • After nouns: This is a new way to do it. • After adjectives: It’s good to help other people. • After certain verbs: Would you like to help me?

AFFORD APPEAR AGREE

ARRANGE ASK

ATTEMPT

BEG CHOOSE DARE DECIDE

DEMAND DESERVE

EXPECT FAIL HESITATE HOPE

INTEND LEARN MANAGE MEAN

NEED OFFER PREPARE PRETEND PROMISE

REFUSE

SEEM THREATEN WAIT WANT WISH

Verbs + gerund / infinitive

Like, love, prefer, hate, begin, start You can use either infinitive or gerund. The meaning is more or less the same. In British English gerund is used to talk about hobbies and infinitive to talk about habits and routines. Example: I like climbing mountains. (hobby)

I hate to get up early in the morning. (habit, routine)

Remember, Forget, Regret

REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + infinitive = olvidar hacer algo en el futuro REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + gerund = olvidar hacer algo que ha pasado Examples: I remember telling you the train to Oxford left at 6.30. - Recuerdo haberte dicho que el tren a Oxford salía a las 6.30. I remember to put off the gas every time I leave home. - Recuerdo apagar el gas cada vez que salgo de casa.

Stop STOP + infinitive = parar para hacer algo STOP + gerund = parar una acción Examples: She only stopped to have a cup of tea. – Sólo paró para tomar una taza de té. She stopped working at the age of 72. – Dejó de trabajar a los 72.

Try TRY + infinitive = intentar hacer algo (y normalmente no conseguirlo) TRY + gerund = probar algo Examples: He tried to open the door with the wrong key. – Intentó abrir la puerta con la llave equivocada. Try going to bed early. – Intenta ir a la cama más temprano.

Propose PROPOSE + infinitive = to intend PROPOSE + gerund = suggest

Examples: He proposes to live in London forever. He proposed going to the cinema.

Mean MEAN + infinitive: intend MEAN + gerund: involve

Examples: I didn’t mean to kill him. To lead a healthy life means avoiding stress.

Go on GO ON + infinitive: continue introducing a new action. GO ON + gerund: keep on doing the same thing. Examples: First I dusted the house. Then I went on to sweep. She went on sleeping all day long.

Need, Deserve El uso del infinitivo tiene un valor pasivo: Ex. These shoes need repairing→These shoes need to be repaired

After WOULD LIKE, WOULD PREFER, WOULD HATE, WOULD LOVE infinitive is used. Ex. Do you like dancing? / Would you like to dance?