Gerund or infinitive.pdf

GERUND OR INFINITIVE? This is not an exhaustive document. You should also study the section on gerund and infinitive in the grammar appendix of your textbook. GERUND admit advise anticipate appreciate avoid complete consider delay discuss

finish imagine keep mention mind postpone practise quit can’t stand

Examples: -We’re considering moving house. -Have you finished doing your homework? -I don’t recollect seeing them there. -I managed to avoid being noticed. -We delayed signing the contract. -I can’t imagine not having a car. -She can’t stand being interrupted.

-ALL PREPOSITIONS ARE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND. Examples: -They apologized for arriving late. -I’m tired of sitting here. -I gave up smoking last year. -What’s the point of waiting here?

-TO EXPRESS SHORT PROHIBITIONS (signs) Examples: -No smoking. -No parking.

recall recollect recommend resent resist risk tolerate understand

INFINITIVE arrange ask care can’t afford claim consent demand

deserve fail hesitate manage offer prepare pretend

Examples: -He promised to write every day. -I can’t afford to miss this opportunity. -If you need more, don’t hesitate to ask.

-VERB + HOW + INFINITIVE WHAT WHEN WHERE WHICH WHY Examples: -Can you tell me how to get to the station? -I don’t know what to do.

-TOO + ADJECTIVE + INFINITIVE ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH + INFINITIVE Examples: -He is too young to drive a car. -He is old enough to drive a car.

promise struggle swear threaten volunteer wait

INDIRECT OBJECT + INFINITIVE allow ask cause challenge convince dare enable

encourage expect forbid force hire instruct

need order permit remind require urge

Examples: -We must encourage them to finish their degree. -The librarian doesn’t allow us to talk here. talking here. -Their generosity enabled us to make the trip. -Don’t allow her to talk to you like that. -I didn’t dare to answer.

BARE INFINITIVE Would rather Had better

make let

Examples: -The heat made us sweat. -I won’t let you go. -Which would you rather have, an apple or an orange? -You’d better go by plane.

INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING Like Intend Continue Can’t bear

love prefer cease

Examples: -He can’t bear being criticized. -I can’t bear to think what might have happened. -It started to rain / raining at about 12:00.

hate begin start

INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH CHANGE OF MEANING

-MEAN: + GERUND --------Æ signifies -The transport strike meant (their) having to walk to work. -Having a party tonight will mean (our) having extra work tomorrow. + INFINITIVE -------Æ to intend -We meant to tell you, but we forgot. -I mean to work harder next year. -TRY: + GERUND -------Æ make an experiment -If you don’t have the key, try using a credit card to open the door. + INFINITVE----Æ make an effort -I tried to make him understand, but he wouldn’t listen.