Gerund and Infinitive
What is a gerund and what is an infinitive ?
A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding “-ing.” The gerund form of the verb “read” is “reading.” You can use a gerund as the subject or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
Reading helps you learn English.( subject of the sentence)
I enjoy reading. (object of the sentence)
The Infinitive is the “to” form of the verb. There are two forms of the infinitive : Bare (without to ) and full infinitive ( with to ). The infinitive form of “learn” is “to learn.” You can also use an infinitive as the subject or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
To learn is important. (subject of sentence)
He wants to learn. (object of sentence)
Expressions and verbs used with the gerund
| VERBS |
| acknowledge – admit – anticipate – appreciate – attempt – avoid – begin – carry on – can’t help/resist/stand – look forward to – cease – celebrate – complete – confess – consider – delay – deny – detest – discuss – dislike – endure – enjoy – fancy – feel like – finish – forget – give up – go – go on – hate – imagine – include – intend – involve – it’s worth – keep (= continue) – like – love – mention – (don’t)mind – miss – neglect – postpone – practice – prefer – quit – recall – recollect – recommend – regret – remember – resent – resist – risk – spend – start – stop – suggest – tolerate – understand – waste time – spend time – be/get used to – watch |
Examples :
- the doctor advised him to avoid eating junk food
- you need to carry on working if you want to get good grades
- tome gave up smoking 15 years ago.
- she hates watching horror films
| The gerund is used similarly after the following expressions |
| It’s no use … / It’s no good … / There’s no point in …/ What’s the use of …? / To be busy … /Don’t mind … / It’s (not) worth …/ Have difficulty in … / To be accustomed to … |
Examples :
- it’s no use crying over spilled milk.
- tom is busy looking for a job these days
Expressions and verbs used with the Full infinitive ( to+verbs)
| VERBS | adjectives |
| afford – agree – appear – arrange – attempt – beg – begin – care – cease – choose – claim – consent – decide demand – deserve – fail – forget – happen – hate – help – hesitate – hope – intend – learn – like – love – manage – mean need – neglect – offer – plan – prepare – prefer – pretend – promise – propose – refuse – remember – resist – seem – start– stop – struggle – swear – threaten – try – volunteer – wait – want – wish – would hate/like/love/prefer – be allowed to |
nice – glad – sorry – happy – willing – pleased – angry – afraid – ashamed – annoyed |
The Full infinitive is also used after the WH-words and after ( the first , the second , the third…)
examples
- the teacher agreed to postpone our test
- I wish to have / to get a good mark in my exam
- it’s nice to see you
- the mother is annoyed to see her son careless .
- “I don’t know which choice to make” said the girl to her mother
- “the first to get a good mark is going to have a gift” said the teacher to his students
| Verb + object + full infinitive |
| advise – allow – ask – beg – cause – challenge – command – convince – dare – enable – encourage – expect-forbid – force – help – hire – instruct – invite – need – order – permit – persuade – recommend – remind – require – teach-tell – urge – want – warn – wish – would like – would love – would hate – would prefer |
examples :
- I want you to come with me.
- The teacher advised us to revise well.
Expressions and verbs used with the bare infinitive (verbs)
| bare infinitive ( verb) |
| can/could – shall/should – will/would – may/might – have to – must – had better – help – hear – let – let’s – make – would rather/sooner , rather than/ – used to – watch |
examples :
- They can speak English
- let’s revise our lessons
- you had better play some sports before you get fat .
Expressions and verbs used with the Full infinitive ( to+verbs) or the gerund
| full infinitive / gerund |
| attempt – begin – cease – forget – hate – intend – like – love – neglect – prefer recommend – remember – start – stop – watch |
Examples :
- Tom stopped to smoke/smoking 15 years ago
- she hates watching/to watch horror films
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