To-infinitive

GERUND

To-infinitive + Gerund
The to-infinitive after a verb often
describes a future event.
Eg: after hope, expect, promise, want,
the event in the to-infintive comes after
the activity or thought in the main verb:
I hope to see you next week.

Gerund describes an activity.

We enjoyed seeing you last weekend.

 G1- afford / agree

G2 learn / need
G3 ask / decide
G4 promise / refuse
G5 expect / fail
G6 tell / want
G7 hope / wish
G8 want / decide

afford / agree
I agree to go to the Beijing trip this
summer holiday.
I can afford to buy this picture.
learn / need
We should learn to do housework.
Human need to drink water.

Hope / wish
I hope to meet Beckham in
England.
I wish to fly up high in the sky.
Want / decide
I want to do the homework today.
I decide to buy this book.

Expect / fail
We expect to pass the English exam.
We failed to do the homework.
Tell / want
He wanted to tell her about his
feelings.

Ask / decide
I asked my mum to go shopping with
me.
I decided to go hiking this Sunday.
Promise / refuse
I promised my mother to finish my
homework by 6pm.
I refuse to invite Yumiko to my party.

No major difference in meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either
the to-infinitive or the gerund without
any major difference in meaning:
Begi Continu Start intend
n
e
Mother Teresa started to live/living in
the slums of Calcutta from 1948.
Though she faced many problems,
Mother Teresa continued to
work/working for the poor.

Gerund (general),
to-infinitive (particular situation)
Some verbs are generally followed by
the gerund when used in a general sense
The to-infinitive is often used for a
particular situation.

Love

Like

Hate

Prefer

(I like swimming) but I dont like to swim

(on cold days).

The Gerund is formed by adding

ing to the base form of a verb.
swim swimming
eat
eating
run running

The Gerund can be used

As a noun
E.g
Running is my favourite sport. (subject)
He tried running faster.
(object)
She was afraid of losing. (object of
preposition)

Exercise
1. (swim) _________is a very good
form of exercise.
2. I have some (shop) ______to do
this afternoon.
3. (learn) _________English takes a
long time.

After adjectives + preposition

accustomed to
capable of
fond of
afraid of
successful in
good at
tired of interested in
E.g
She is accustomed to training for many
hours.
He is good at running the 200 meters race

Exercise
1. Mary is fond of _______ (sing).
2. The boy soon became accustomed
to _______ (work) hard.
3. Are you afraid of _______ (play) the
exciting electronic games.
4. She is never tired of _______ (talk)
about her clever son.

 G1 admit
G2- avoid
G3 delay
G4-deny
G5-enjoy
G6-finish
G7 keep
G8-mind

 Admit
My brother admitted breaking the
vase.
Avoid
I avoid walking on busy streets.
Delay
The school delayed opening this
morning.

finish
I finish doing my homework.
Keep
After 4 hours, he keeps standing
there.
Mind
Would you mind lending your pen
to me.

deny
I
I
I
I

deny
deny
deny
deny

that I am not good at singing.

doing a wrong thing
being late to school every day.
talking during the lesson.

Enjoy
I enjoy playing computer games.

After verbs
admit cant help dislike
keep
try
finish
advise keep enjoy
appreciate mindavoid
understand suggest forgive
E.g
John has finished repairing his bicycle.
They enjoy walking in the evening.
Mary dislikes swimming in winter.

Exercise
1. He kept ________(run) till the end.
2. She enjoys _______ (run) for
competition.
3. They dislike _______(drive) small
cars.
4. He avoided ________(answer) my
question.
5. Would you mind me ________
(smoke) in this room.

Bare infinitive
Infinitive form without to
1. After modal verbs (should, could,
must..etc), had better and
would rather

We should respect people who are

selfless and kind.
Youd better prepare for the interview
as youll be asked lots of questions.
Id rather go for a walk.

Bare infinitive p111

2. After let and make

Mother Teresa let the poor die in dignity.

The teacher made him stay behind after
school.

3. After

Feel See Watc Notic Hear Listen

h
e
to
She saw a man enter the room.
I heard the boys quarrel with each other.

Bare infinitive
Infinitive form without to
1. After modal verbs (should, could,
must..etc), had better and
would rather

We should respect people who are

selfless and kind.
Youd better prepare for the interview
as youll be asked lots of questions.
Id rather go for a walk.

1
2

right

I enjoy to swim.
I enjoy swimming.
Which is correct ?

right

want
I

want

to study .
studying.

Which is correct ?

1
2

right

finish
I

finish

to eat .
eating.

Which is correct ?

right

need
I

need

to study .
studying.

Which is correct ?

right

hope to study .
I

hope

studying.

Which is correct ?

1
right

stopped
smoke.

to

I stopped
smoking.

Which is correct ?

Summary table for

to-infinitive and gerund
To infinitive
1. Use as subject
Eg: To smoke is bad for you

2. To say why we do
things

Gerund (-ing forms)

1. Use as subject (more
common)

Eg: smoking is bad for you.

2. After prepositions

(on,
in, before, for, without, afteretc.)

Eg: I got up early to

catch the 7am train.

Eg: you cant live without

eating
Eg: Thank you for listening.

3. After some verbs

3. After some verbs

(eg: expect, afford, want, need, prepare,

refuse, choose, fail, learn, promise,
hesitate...etc)

dislike, enjoy, practise, mind, avoid,

consider, discuss, finish, keep, miss, suggest,
keep, cant helpetc)

Eg: I expect to pass the

Eg: Ill finish studying in

(purpose)

(eg:

Summary table for

to-infinitive and gerund
To infinitive
4. After some adjectives
and nouns.(adj=easy, happy,
glad, nice, excited, ready, difficult,
dangerous ...etc; noun = work,
money to spend, something to drink,
different ways to protect her.etc)

Eg: She is ready to leave.

(adj)
Eg: I am glad to see you.
(adj)
Eg: Ive got work to do.
(n)

5. Some verbs can be

followed by either

Gerund (-ing forms)

4. After phrasal verbs
Eg: I am not good at dancing.
Eg: I am not interested in
singing.
Eg: John will give up smoking.

5. eg: begin, continue,

hate, love, startetc.

Summary table for

to-infinitive and gerund
To infinitive
6. used in general sense
(eg: love, like, hate,
prefer..etc)
Eg: I like swimming.

Gerund (-ing forms)

6. Used in particular
situations
Eg: I dont like swimming on
cold days.

7. No + gerund
Eg: No money, no talking.
* Some words can use both 8. Stop + gerund.
to-infinitive and gerund with Eg: stop talking, stop
the same meaning. (eg: love,
like, begin, start, intend, continue..etc)

* Some words can use both toinfinitive and gerund with

writing, stop walking

etc.