Gerunds

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

Gerunds as objects
I miss seeing you everyday.
She denied taking the money.
 Possessives before gerunds
She objected to my buying a new TV.
I appreciate your being my friend.

Preposition + gerund
Im worried about having to sell my house.
Shes afraid of going out at night.
 Connector + gerund
After 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 subject
To be or not to be seems to be the existential
question.
To say and to do things are two different things.

As an object
I need to find a new job.
She plans to travel abroad this year.
I try to be polite.
 Noun + infinitive
Theres a lot of work to do.
Theres 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- + infinitive
I dont know what to say.
I dont know how to say this.
I dont 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 cant tell you who to talk to.
 Its adj + (for person) +Inf
Its important for me to speak English correctly.
Its necessary to be there on time.

Adv + infintive
This 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 purpose
She 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 couldnt.
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.
 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 Marias place last night.
I regret keeping you waiting for so long.
 Remember + infinitive (Recommendation)
Please remember to lock all windows and doors.
Dont forget to pick up the milk at the
supermarket.

Remember + gerund (Recall)

I remember seeing you at the party last week.
Ill 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 couldnt. 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 wont talk to me any more.
B. Have you tried sending her roses? Women
love roses, you know.
A. No, I havent done that.
B. You could also try giving her a serenade.
Shell 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 dont like getting up early in the morning.
I dont 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. Im 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.