VERB, NOUN,ADJECTIVE

I N F I N I T I V E G E R U N D

Meaning Example Meaning Example

to hate, to like,to dislike, to prefer

reference to a particular situation

I hate to get up early on Monday.

reference to a general situation I hate getting up

early.

remember, forget

posterior actionI must remember to post the letter.

I forgot to phone her last night.

anterior actionI remember posting the letter.

I will never forget hearing him sing.

regret action simultaneous with the regret

I regret to tell you that she failed.

anterior action I regret telling you that she failed.

begin, ceaseinvoluntary action

It began to rain while they were shopping.

deliberate actionHe began writing novels when he was forty.

stop the purpose of the action

He stopped to talk to her.(in order to talk)

the end of the action He stopped talking . (he became silent)

continue, dread, fear, intend, neglect

familiar languageI intend to spend the summer abroad.

literary language I intend spending the summer abroad.

deserve, need, require, want passive infinitive

The room needs to be painted .

more frequent construction

The room needs painting .

try to make an effortTry to write with your left hand . (the right one is broken)

to make an experiment

I tried writing with my left hand when I was young.

mean to intendI meant to tell you the truth but I was afraid.

to implyHis coming tomorrow means mother is cooking his favorites today.

allow, permit with object He doesn’t allow students to cheat .

without object He doesn’t allow cheating .

opportunity + BE (an occasion)

This is a good opportunity for you to meet her.

possibilityI had the opportunity of meeting her.

afraid a particular situations

I’m afraidto bother him on Sunday.

a general situationI’m afraid of bothering him.

INFINITIVE VS. GERUND