Gerunds and infinitives Grammar III I CO 2011

Gerunds and infinitives Grammar III I CO – 2011 by Carlos Roberto Mora

Infinitive • The uninflected form of the verb. • The infinitive form may be used alone or in conjunction with the particle to. • An infinitive is the base form of a verb with -to-

Infinitive (to) + Gerund • The infinitive after a verb often describes a future event. After: hope, expect, promise, want… the event in the to-infinitive comes after the activity or thought in the main verb: – I hope to see you next week. • Gerund describes an activity. – We enjoyed seeing you last weekend.

• afford / agree • learn / need • ask / decide • • • promise / refuse expect / fail tell / want hope / wish want / decide - to -

afford / agree • I agree to go to the USA trip this summer. • I can afford to buy this picture. learn / need • We should learn to do housework. • Humans need to drink water.

Hope / wish • I hope to meet Beckham in England. • I wish to fly up high in the sky. Want / decide • I want to do the homework today. • I decide to buy this book.

Expect / fail • We expect to pass the English exam. • We failed to do the homework. Tell / want • He wanted to tell her about his feelings.

Ask / decide • I asked my mum to go shopping with me. • I decided to go hiking this Sunday. Promise / refuse • I promised my mother to finish my homework this weekend. • I refuse to invite Mary to my party.

No major difference in meaning • Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund without any major difference in meaning: Begin Continue Start Intend • Mother Teresa started to live/living in the slums of Calcutta from 1948. • Though she faced many problems, Mother Teresa continued to work/working for the poor.

Gerund (general) to-infinitive (particular situation) • Some verbs are generally followed by the gerund when used in a general sense • The to-infinitive is often used for a particular situation. • I like swimming, but I don’t like to swim on cold days.

The Gerund is formed by adding “ing” to the base form of a verb • swimming • eating • running

The Gerund can be used… As a noun • Running is my favourite sport. (subject) • He tried running faster. (object) • She was afraid of losing. (object of preposition)

After adjectives + preposition accustomed to fond of successful in tired of capable of afraid of good at interested in • She is accustomed to training for many hours. • He is good at running the 200 meters race.

• • admit avoid delay deny enjoy finish keep mind - ing -

Admit • My brother admitted breaking the vase. Avoid • I avoid walking on busy streets. Delay • The school delayed opening this morning.

Finish • I finish doing my homework. Keep • After 4 hours, he keeps standing there. Mind • Would you mind lending your pen to me.

Deny • I deny doing a wrong thing • I deny being late to school every day. • I deny talking during the lesson. Enjoy • I enjoy playing computer games.

After verbs… admit keep advise appreciate understand can’t help try keep mind suggest finish enjoy dislike avoid forgive • John has finished repairing his bicycle. • They enjoy walking in the evening. • Mary dislikes swimming in winter.

I enjoy to swim. right I 　enjoy swimming. Which is correct ?

right I want to study. 　 I want studying. Which is correct ?

I finish to eat. right 　 I finish eating. Which is correct ?

right I need to study. 　 I need studying. Which is correct ?

right I hope to study. 　 I hope studying. Which is correct ?

I stopped to smoke. right 　 I stopped smoking. Which is correct ?

Also… v Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, with NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING I like to read / I like reading v Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but THEIR MEANINGS ARE NOT THE SAME I will remember to call her. (I will be sure to call her in the future. ) I remember calling her. (I have the memory of calling her in the past. )

Gerunds are often used when actions are real, concrete or completed: Ø I stopped smoking. (The smoking was real and happened until I stopped. ) Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future: Ø I stopped to smoke. (I was doing something else, and I stopped; the smoking had not happened yet. )

Summary table for (to) infinitive and gerund To infinitive 1. Use as subject Eg: To smoke is bad for you. Gerund (-ing forms) 1. Use as subject (more common) Eg: Smoking is bad for you. 2. To say why we do things 2. After prepositions (purpose) Eg: I got up early to catch the 7 am train. 3. After some verbs (expect, afford, want, need, prepare, refuse, choose, fail, learn, promise, hesitate. . . etc) Eg: I expect to pass the (on, in, before, for, without, after…etc. ) Eg: You can’t live without eating. Eg: Thank you for listening. 3. After some verbs (eg: dislike, enjoy, practise, mind, avoid, consider, discuss, finish, keep, miss, suggest, keep, can’t help…etc) Eg: I’ll finish studying in June.

Summary table for (to) infinitive and gerund To infinitive 4. After some adjectives and nouns: Adj = easy, happy, glad, nice, Gerund (ing forms) 4. After phrasal verbs: excited, ready, difficult, dangerous. . . etc; Noun = work, money to spend, something to drink, different ways to protect her. …etc) Eg: I am not good at dancing. Eg: I am not interested in singing. Eg: She is ready to leave. (adj) Eg: John will give up smoking. Eg: I am glad to see you. (adj) Eg: I’ve got work to do. (n) 5. Some verbs can be followed by either gerund or (to) infinitive: Eg: I love going to school/I love to go to school 5. Eg: Begin, continue, hate, love, start…etc.

Summary table for (to) infinitive and gerund To infinitive Gerund (ing forms) 6. Used in general sense (Eg: love, like, hate, prefer. . etc) Eg: I like swimming. 6. Used in particular situations Eg: I don’t like swimming on cold days. * Some words can use both toinfinitive and gerund with the same meaning. (Eg: love, like, begin, start, intend, continue. . etc) * Some words can use both toinfinitive and gerund with different meaning. (Eg: remember, try. . etc) 7. No + gerund Eg: No money, no talking. 8. Stop + gerund. Eg: Stop talking, stop writing, stop walking…etc.