Grammar: Gerunds and infinitives

©Ángela Ruiz 2009-10

Gerund is used…

• After prepositions: He was interested in buying new books.

• As a noun, especially when it is the subject of a sentence: Smoking is bad for your health.
• After certain verbs: He was looking forward to having holidays.

ADMIT CAN’T HELP ENJOY FINISH GIVE UP IMAGINE

ADVISE CAN’T IMAGINE
AVOID CAN’T STAND
COMPLETE
CONSIDER
DISCUSS
DISLIKE
DON’T MIND
KEEP MENTION PRACTISE RECOMMEND SUGGEST LOOK FORWARD TO
MIND REGRET BE USED TO
MISS REPORT CONTRIBUTE TO
RESIST OBJECT TO
RISK PREFER “X” TO

ATTENTION! In negative sentences, we write NOT in front of the gerund.

Imagine NOT going to school!

Infinitive is used…

• After nouns: This is a new way to do it.

• After adjectives: It’s good to help other people.
• After certain verbs: Would you like to help me?

AFFORD BEG CHOOSE DARE EXPECT FAIL HESITATE

APPEAR DECIDE HOPE
AGREE DEMAND
ARRANGE DESERVE
ASK
ATTEMPT
INTEND LEARN MANAGE NEED OFFER PREPARE REFUSE
MEAN PRETEND
PROMISE
SEEM THREATEN WAIT
WANT
WISH
 Verbs + gerund / infinitive

Like, love, prefer, hate, begin, start

You can use either infinitive or gerund. The meaning is more or less the same. In British English
gerund is used to talk about hobbies and infinitive to talk about habits and routines.
Example: I like climbing mountains. (hobby)
I hate to get up early in the morning. (habit, routine)

After WOULD LIKE, WOULD PREFER, WOULD

HATE, WOULD LOVE infinitive is used.
Ex. Do you like dancing? / Would you like to dance?

Remember, Forget, Regret

REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + infinitive = olvidar hacer algo en el futuro
REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + gerund = olvidar hacer algo que ha pasado
Examples: I remember telling you the train to Oxford left at 6.30. - Recuerdo haberte dicho que el
tren a Oxford salía a las 6.30.
I remember to put off the gas every time I leave home. - Recuerdo apagar el gas cada
vez que salgo de casa.
Stop
STOP + infinitive = parar para hacer algo
STOP + gerund = parar una acción
Examples: She only stopped to have a cup of tea. – Sólo paró para tomar una taza de té.
She stopped working at the age of 72. – Dejó de trabajar a los 72.
Try
TRY + infinitive = intentar hacer algo (y normalmente no conseguirlo)
TRY + gerund = probar algo
Examples: He tried to open the door with the wrong key. – Intentó abrir la puerta con la llave
equivocada.
Try going to bed early. – Intenta ir a la cama más temprano.
Propose
PROPOSE + infinitive = to intend Examples: He proposes to live in London forever.
PROPOSE + gerund = suggest He proposed going to the cinema.

Mean
MEAN + infinitive: intend Examples: I didn’t mean to kill him.
MEAN + gerund: involve To lead a healthy life means avoiding stress.

Go on
GO ON + infinitive: continue introducing a new action.
GO ON + gerund: keep on doing the same thing.
Examples: First I dusted the house. Then I went on to sweep.
She went on sleeping all day long.

Need, Deserve
El uso del infinitivo tiene un valor pasivo:
Ex. These shoes need repairing→These shoes need to be repaired