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Ajbilou

Gerund or Infinitive

Gerund:
Gerunds are formed with ING: walking, talking, thinking, listening
Infinitives are formed with TO : to walk, to talk, to think, to listen
Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs:
Both gerunds and infinitives can be the subject of a sentence.
Writing in English is difficult.
To write in English is difficult.
Both gerunds and infinitives can be the object of a verb.
I like writing in English.
I like to write in English.
But... only gerunds can be the object of a preposition.
We are talking about writing in English.
Verbs that can be followed by a gerund (ex: doing)
1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :
Like love enjoy dislike hate - don't mind - can't stand - can't bear
Example: " I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."
2- After certain other verbs, such as :
Admit appreciate allow avoid advise consider deny delay understand finish fancy - go (in go
swimming) involve keep mention mind stop - waste time/money imagine involve - keep (on)
mention miss postpone permit practice suggest resist reject risk - can't help -can't stand
Example: " I suggest going to the theater."
3- After prepositions :
interested in ... before ...
instead of ... after ...
good at ...
Example: "I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".
4- After certain expressions :
it's no use ... I can't help...
it's no good ... I don't mind...
there's no point in ... I can't stand/bear...
Example: " It's no use convincing him to revise his lessons. He's so stubborn."

Infinitive:
1- After verbs that refer to a future event:
want decide threaten
hope demand swear
aim deserve volunteer
intend determine want
arrange endeavor would like
attempt expect would hate
promise offer would love
be determined proceed
plan promise
Example: " I want to finish my work early.

1
2- After certain other verbs, such as:
afford happen learn
agree refuse choose
help manage pretend
choose need
fail seem
Example: "She refused to forgive him."
3- After adjectives :
glad
pleased
disappointed
Example: "I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."
4- After "too" & "enough":
too difficult
easy enough

Example: "It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."

" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."

Both an infinitive and a gerund:

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:
start stop
begin remember...
Example: "I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."

Exercise: Complete the sentences with the -ing form or the infinitive of the verb in
brackets.

1. When you are a portfolio worker, your employers sometimes expect you (be) on call at all
times.
2. People who work for a variety of employers sometimes find it hard (say) 'no' when they
are asked to take on more work.
3. A lot of parents can't afford . (give up) . (work) full time to look after their
children.
4. If you wish .. (find) a job in Human Resources, you should consider .. (do) a
course in communication skills to begin with.
5. Jeff seemed (be) suffering from depression and was contemplating .. (hand
in) his resignation.
6. If we fail . (meet) our performance targets, we risk (lose) the bonus.
7. I don't mind (do) bits and pieces for a while but I intend . (go back) to
full-time work as soon as I can.
8. Emoticons may seem silly to some but sometimes they really help (express) the tone
that you want.