Gerunds vs. Infinitives

Gerunds

• Gerunds as subjects.Smoking is bad for our health.Swimming is good for our body.

• Gerunds as objectsI miss seeing you everyday.She denied taking the money.

• Possessives before gerundsShe objected to my buying a new TV.I appreciate your being my friend.

• Preposition + gerundI’m worried about having to sell my house.She’s afraid of going out at night.

• Connector + gerundAfter going to bed, try to relax.Because of my crashing the car, no one can go to the beach now.Before using your new computer, please read its manual carefully.While waiting for the bus, I was mugged.When traveling, you must be careful with your luggage.

The Infinitives

• As a subjectTo be or not to be seems to be the existential question.To say and to do things are two different things.

• As an objectI need to find a new job.She plans to travel abroad this year.I try to be polite.

• Noun + infinitiveThere’s a lot of work to do.There’s a program to follow.I have a cake to bake.I have a business to run.I have a life to live.I have a family to support.I have standards to meet.There are things to improve.

• Wh- + infinitiveI don’t know what to say.I don’t know how to say this.I don’t know when to use this.Can you suggest me where to stay?I will tell you how to get there.I will show you what to do.I can’t tell you who to talk to.

• It’s adj + (for person) +InfIt’s important for me to speak English correctly.It’s necessary to be there on time.

• Adv + infintiveThis pizza is too hot for me to eat.This book is too boring for me to read.She is pretty enough to be a model.

• Infinitives of purposeShe went to the store to buy bread.This tight suit was designed to cut down wind resistance.She came to see me.He went to the States to visit relatives.She bought the car to drive it to work.She got married to have someone to hug at night.

• Mean + infinitive (to intend)I meant to call you, but I couldn’t.I meant to give you a hand with your car, but something came up.

• Mean + gerund (to involve / to signify)Learning English means investigating new vocabulary, practicing a lot and using it as often as you can.Getting married means acquiring new responsibilities.Traveling abroad now means having to ask for permission at work.

Special forms

• Regret + infinitive (feel sorry about what you will do next)

I regret to inform you that your credit was denied.I regret to tell you this, but your father has passed away.I regret to say that only five people qualified to the Olympics.

• Regret + gerund (feel sorry about something you did)

I regret shouting those ugly things at you yesterday.I regret letting those opportunities slip away.I regret quitting the job I had before.I regret landing on this job.I regret going to Maria’s place last night.I regret keeping you waiting for so long.

• Remember + infinitive (Recommendation)Please remember to lock all windows and doors.Don’t forget to pick up the milk at the supermarket.

• Remember + gerund (Recall)I remember seeing you at the party last week.I’ll never forget thinking: “This is the woman I will marry.”

• Stop + infinitive (Why)I stopped talking to listen to you better.Mary stopped at the gas station to fill up the tank.

• Stop + gerund (What)I stopped eating junk food last month.The little girl stopped crying when she saw me.

• Try + infinitive (To intend, to attempt)I tried to open the door, but I couldn’t. It seemed to be locked.She tried to bash the flying roach, but she missed, and it landed in her soup.He tried to get Susan to go to the party with him, but she said she had other plans for that day.

• Try + gerund (make an effort to improve something by testing different solutions)

A. My girl won’t talk to me any more. B. Have you tried sending her roses? Women

love roses, you know.A. No, I haven’t done that.B. You could also try giving her a serenade. She’ll love it.

• Like + infinitive (a good idea)I like to go to the market early in the morning because fruit and vegetables are fresh.I like to do my homework in advance, so as to relax later.

• Like + gerund (enjoy)I really like reading science fiction books.I don’t like getting up early in the morning.I don’t like sitting in traffic.

• Go on + infinitive (continue with something different or with the next thing on the list)

I finished cooking and went on to serve the table.I finished unit 1, so I went on to teach unit 2.

• Go on + gerund (continue after an interruption)Please go on talking. I’m listening.When the supervisor left, the teacher went on telling the joke.

• Come + gerund (simultaneity)Mary came from school crying. Someone had called her names.The man came home dragging his feet. He had been walking for hours on end.• Come + infinitive (Purpose)She came to tell me there was a sale at the market.She came to ask me how her son was doing in class.