GERUND AND INFINITIVE FORMS

Part 1. Using GERUNDS

1.1. A gerund is an -ing form of a verb that is used as a noun rather than as a verb.
Because it is used as a noun, it can appear in any sentence position that any noun can
occupy.

Examples:
GERUND = swimming
Swimming is good exercise.
She likes swimming every day.
She is crazy about swimming in the
ocean.
SENTENCE POSITION
SUBJECT of the sentence
DIRECT OBJECT of the VERB like
OBJECT of the PREPOSITION
about

1.2. Many common verbs are followed by gerunds. These verbs may be one-word verbs
or two-word verbs.

Examples:
GERUND = swimming VERB TYPE
She investigated swimming with the team. One-word investigated
She looked into swimming with the team. Two-word looked into
List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds
admit enjoy regret
advise finish remember
anticipate forget resent
appreciate keep resist
avoid mention risk
complete mind stop
consider miss suggest
delay postpone tolerate
deny practice understand
discuss quit
dislike recommend

1.3. Many common adjectives (and prepositions) are followed by gerunds. Make note
of the preposition that follows each adjective.
 Examples:
GERUND = joining PREPOSITION
She is interested in joining the team. in
She is excited about joining with the team. about
List of Common Adjectives Followed By Gerunds
accustomed to done with limited to
afraid of envious of patient with
angry at excited about prepared for
annoyed with exposed to proud of
aware of familiar with related to
bored with filled with relevant to
capable of finished with remembered for
committed to fond of responsible for
concerned about grateful for satisfied with
connected to guilty of scared of
content with innocent of terrified of
convinced of interested in tired of
crowded with involved in upset with
dedicated to jealous of used to
disappointed in known for worried about

1.4. In the negative form, the word not comes before the gerund.

Examples:
GERUND = cycling VERB TYPE
She considered cycling up the mountain. affirmative
She considered not cycling up the mountain. negative

Part 2. Using INFINITIVES

2.1. An infinitive is the word to and the SIMPLE/BASE/DICTIONARY form of a

verb.

Examples:
INFINITIVE = to swim
It is good to swim every day.
She likes to swim in the morning.

2.2. Many common verbs are followed by infinitives.

List of Common Verbs Followed By Infinitives

agree fail prepare
appear forget pretend
ask hesitate promise
beg hope refuse
care learn regret
claim manage remember
consent mean seem
decide need threaten
demand offer wait
deserve plan wish
expect prepare want

2.3. Many verbs that are followed by an infinitive may take a noun or pronoun
between them.

Examples:
INFINITIVE = to join NOUN OR PRONOUN
She convinced him to join the team. PRONOUN him
She convinced Bob to join the team. NOUN Bob
List of Common Verbs Followed By Noun/Pronoun and Infinitive
advise expect permit
allow forbid persuade
ask force remind
beg hire require
cause instruct teach
challenge invite tell
convince need urge
dare order want
encourage warn

2.4. In the negative form, the word not comes before the infinitive.

Examples:
INFINITIVE = to cycle VERB TYPE
She promised to cycle up the mountain. affirmative
She promised not to cycle up the mountain. negative
She promised us not to cycle up the mountain. pronoun + negative

Part 3. Using GERUNDS or INFINITIVES - no change in meaning

3.1.Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, with little or no

change in meaning.

List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds or Infinitives - Same

Meaning
afford (can't) bear
begin cease
commence continue
dread hate
like loathe
love neglect
prefer propose
(can't) stand start

Part 4. Using GERUNDS or INFINITIVES - big change in meaning

4.1. Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, with A BIG
change in meaning.

Examples:
VERB
SENTENCE MEANING
FOLLOWED BY:
I forgot to eat
INFINITIVE I DID NOT eat lunch today.
lunch.
I forgot eating I DID eat lunch today. I just did not
GERUND
lunch. remember at the time you asked me.
 List of Common Verbs Followed By Gerunds or Infinitives - Different
Meaning
attempt
forget
mean
regret
remember
try