INFINITIVE AND GERUND

After verbs, we can use a noun, a noun clause beginning with that, an infinitive (with or without to), or an ing form of another verb: I fancy an ice-cream. I admit that I did it. I want to know the truth. I must go now. I feel like dancing.

1.

The Infinitive without to

This is a small group of verbs. The infinitive without to is used: after modal verbs (except ought to) She can play the piano. I must go now. after let + object It is not allowed to let anyone enter this room. I let him go. after make + object She made them work very hard. He always makes me laugh. N.B. The to-infinitive is used after make in the passive (I was made to laugh.) after the following expressions had better would rather (not) would sooner (not) (You had better go now. Du solltest jetzt besser gehen.) (I would rather not go to Italy.) (I would sooner die than tell him the secret.)

after verbs of perception if we perceive the entire action (from start to finish) see I saw him cross the road. hear I heard her sing a song. feel I felt something run down my back. watch I watched the artist draw a portrait. N.B. If we observe only a part of the action, we use the ing form!! I saw him crossing the street. (=He was already in the middle of the street when I saw him.)

See 6.)

2.

The Infinitive with to

Most English verbs are followed by the infinitive with to. Some can be with or without an object depending on meaning: Here are only a few examples of verbs that use this pattern: agree, appear, afford, choose, decide, expect, fail, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, mean, offer, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, tend, want, wish... Some verbs are followed by an object and the to-infinitive: allow, ask, encourage, expect, invite, order, persuade, remind, teach, tell, want The teacher allowed him to go. I want her to work harder N.B. We do never use want with a that-clause We cannot say *I want that you come.

3.

The Gerund (-ing)

Some verbs MUST be followed by the gerund: admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, cant help, cant resist, complete, consider, delay, deny*, discuss, dislike, enjoy, escape, fancy, finish, imagine, include, involve, justify, keep, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, quit, reject, resist, risk, suggest*, stop, tolerate, understand I avoid going to noisy bars. They discussed opening a new store. N.B. allow advise forbid permit are followed by the gerund in general statements (They dont allow smoking in the library.) If the person is mentioned, the infinitive must be used!! (They dont allow people to smoke in the library.) * or that-clause (He denied that he had stolen the car.)

a preposition MUST always be followed by the gerund: o o o (adjective) + (preposition) + (-ing) He is good at swimming. She was proud of having won the match. (noun) + (preposition) + (-ing) John has no excuse for being late. He had no hope of getting a job. (verb) + (preposition) + (-ing) We are looking forward to seeing you. I apologize for coming late.

after certain expressions: to be busy to be like to be near to to be no good to be no use to be worth He is busy repairing his car. It was like flying. She was near to crying. It is no good spending all your money. Its no use talking to him. He wont listen. This town is really worth visiting.

4.

Infinitive or Gerund with NO difference in meaning

The following verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund with no difference in meaning: begin, cant bear, cant stand, continue, hate*, like*, love*, prefer, start It began to rain. / It began raining. I cant bear smoking. / I cant bear to hear that music. * would + hate/like/love is usually followed by the infinitive (Id like to go now.)

5.

Infinitive or Gerund WITH a difference in meaning

We can use some verbs with both the to-infinitive and the gerund but with a change of meaning. The most common of these are: forget, go on, regret, remember, stop, try

Shell never forget making her first phone call abroad.

Sie wird nie vergessen, wie sie zum ersten Mal im Ausland telefoniert hat.

She forgot to post the letter to John.

Sie verga, den Brief an John aufzugeben.

forget doing something forget to do something

= =

vergessen, dass man etwas getan hat. vergessen, etwas zu tun

If you go on complaining about the dinner, I will take it away.

Wenn du dich weiter ber das Abendessen beschwerst, nehme ich es weg.

After Nick had called the ambulance, he went on to phone the police.
Nachdem Nick einen Krankenwagen gerufen hatte, rief er als nchstes die Polizei an.

go on doing something go on to do something

= =

etwas (dasselbe) weitermachen etwas anderes als nchstes tun

I regret telling her the secret.

Ich bedaure, ihr das Geheimnis anvertraut zu haben.

I regret to tell you that you have failed the test.

Ich bedaure, ihnen mitteilen zu mssen, dass sie den Test nicht bestanden haben.

regret doing something regret to do something

= =

bedauern, etwas getan zu haben bedauern, etwas tun zu mssen

I remember seeing John for the first time.

Ich erinnere mich noch, wie ich John zum ersten Mal sah.

I must remember to see John as soon as possible.

Ich muss daran denken, John sobald wie mglich zu besuchen.

remember doing sth. remember to do sth.

= =

sich daran erinnern, etwas getan zu haben daran denken, etwas zu tun

I think students should stop smoking in the cafeteria.

Meiner Meinung nach sollten die Studenten aufhren, in der Cafeteria zu rauchen.

When I drove to Hamburg, I stopped to eat something every hour.

Als ich nach Hamburg fuhr, hielt ich jede Stunde an, um etwas zu essen.

stop doing something stop to do something

= =

aufhren, etwas zu tun anhalten, um etwas zu tun

If you cant sleep, try counting sheep.

Wenn du nicht schlafen kannst, versuche es doch mal mit Schafe zhlen.

I once tried to learn Chinese but it was too difficult.

Ich habe einmal versucht, Chinesisch zu lernen, aber es war zu schwierig.

try doing something try to do something

= =

etwas ausprobieren sich bemhen, etwas zu tun

6.

Verbs of perception (Verben der Sinneswahrnehmung)

As mentioned above, verbs of perception (feel see watch hear notice) can be followed by the to-infinitive or the gerund with a difference in meaning. The ing form is used when we are talking of observing part of a complete action in other words, when we start looking, listening etc., the action is already going on and/or will not be completed. When I looked out of the window, I saw Henry crossing the road.
(= Henry was already in the middle of the road when I looked.)

I saw the man crossing the river.

(= I saw how he was fighting against the current.)

The infinitive is used if we observe the whole action from start to finish I watched the man open a can of beer, pour it into a glass, and drink it in one go. I saw the man cross the river.
(= I saw him leave the one bank and reach the other.)