Gerund or infinitive Gerund verb ing 1 We

Gerund or infinitive

Gerund ( verb+ ing)

1. We use the gerund after prepositions ( this incudes phrasal verbs and different expressios) • Examples: • Prepositions: I drank a cup of tea before leaving. After having a shover I waited for the show to start. • Phrasal verbs: I´m keen on swimming in the sea. You need to carry on reading the book, it´s really interesting. I gave up smoking 3 years ago. • Expressions: It´s not worth going to the cinema, that movie is boring There´s no point arguing with him, he Will not change his mind.

• 2. We use the gerund as the subject or object of a sentence: Swimming is a fun exercise Going to parties is fun I enjoy reading

3. We use the gerund after specific verbs: • admit: He admitted having stolen the money. • avoid: They avoid going on tours in the desert. • carry on: If we carry on sleeping so badly, we may need help. • consider : Ralph is considering buying a new car. • delay: I delayed telling my mother the news. • deny: She denied seeing the movie.

• dislike: We dislike reading bad news. • can't/couldn't help: He couldn't help falling in love with her. • enjoy: I enjoy playing basketball. • finish: They finished working in the garden two hours ago. • give up: Susan gave up playing ice-hockey, because she started university.

• Imagine: He imagined driving a truck • Include: Your responsibility includes taking reservations on the phone. • Involve: The project will involve growing fruits and vegetables. • Justify: I cannot justify paying $100 for this dress. • keep (on): They keep on running.

• Mention: Did Alex ever mention playing chess? • Mind: I don't mind sleeping on the sofa. • Miss: They miss playing with their friends in the park. • Practise: She practised playing hockey. • Regret: Do you regret having mentioned it?

• Risk: You risk catching a cold. • Suggest: She suggested flying to Amsterdam.

Infinitive (to +infinitive)

• 1. After adjectives • It is difficult to get up at 5 o´clock in the morning. • I´m happy to be here. • It´s better not to go out , it´s raining. a) after the first • My best friend was the first to see the film. b) after the last • Peter was the last to watch the film. c)after the next • He is the next to get his drivers licence.

2. After specific verbs: • agree: She agreed to give a presentation in front of her class. • ask*: I asked him to leave early, not to miss his train. • decide: We decided to go out for lunch. • help*: He helped to clean the park because he was bothered by the rubbish. • plan: She plans to buy a new car next week. • hope: I hope to pass all my exams. • learn: They are learning to sing as part of a group. • want*: I want to come to the party , but I don’t know if my parents will let me. • would like*: I would like you to see her tonight, but she is too busy. • promise: We promised not to be late. *We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs. • (Note that 'help' can also be followed by the infinitive without 'to' with no difference in meaning: 'I helped to carry it' = 'I helped carry it'. )

We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to’): 1)After modal verbs • I can meet you at the cinema at six o’clock. 2)After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help’ The teacher let us leave early because we finished all the exercises. 3)After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) – I watched her walk away. 4)After expressions with 'why’ : Why spoil your appetite with sweets?