THE GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE

THE GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE AFTER VERBS I.Here are some common verbs that are followed by the Gerund avoid practise imagine enjoy appreciate* escape keep fancy detest understand* den

THE GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE AFTER VERBS

I.Here are some common verbs that are followed by the Gerund

avoid practise imagine enjoy appreciate*

escape keep fancy detest understand*

deny finish mind resent excuse*

mention delay miss recall forgive*

suggest postpone risk recollect pardon*

can’t help ( stand , resist , face )

E.g :We must avoid hurting other people’s feelings

James suggested going to the movies

I can’t stand seeing you bite your nails

+NOTE :The berbs marked (*) are nearly always followed by a possessive Adj /

noun in the

Possessive case + Gerund

E.g :Please excuse ( forgive , pardon ) my disturbing you

II.Here are some common verbs that are followed by the Infinitive :

afford choose help offer swear

agree decide hesistate prepare threaten

appear expect hope pretend undertake arrange fail learn promise want

ask happen manage refuse wish

E.g :He agreed to come with us

She chose to stay at home that evening

They promised not to be late

III.Here are some common verbs that are followed either by the Gerund or the Infinitive

*Group 1 : Either the gerund or the Infinitive may be used after these verbs ,

but there is often a difference of meaning

begin like remember intend

start love forget propose

stop hate regret can’t bear E.g : He began to see the truth

I must remember to post the letter

I remember seeing her when I was a little girl

*Group 2 :The Gerund or a Personal object + Infinitive follows these verbs in

the active voice ; in the passive voice only the Infinitive is used

advise allow forbid require

admit consider permit

E.g :He doesn’t allow talking in this room

He doesn’t allow us to talk in this room

We aren’t allowed to talk in this room

*Group 3 :The Gerund used after these verbs in equivalent to the Passive

Infinitive ( The gerund is the only form used after TO BEAR )

need want require deserve bear E.g :My shirt needs mending ( needs to be mended )

 OTHER USES OF THE GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE

I The Gerund is used after Prepositions and after nearly all two – word verbs :

E.g :I’m tired of meeting the same people every day

People can’t live without eating and drinking

*NOTE :The Infinitive , general without TO , is used after the Prepositions BUT ,

EXCEPT ,THAN and TO

( in BE ABOUT TO , OUGHT TO , USED TO )

E.g : He did nothing else than laugh

I used to live alone , but I don’t now

II.The Gerund is used after these expressions :IT’S NO GOOD , IT’S NO USE , IT ISN’T WORTHWHILE , BE WORTH , BE NEAR , BE BUSY , FEEL LIKE , THERE IS ( NO , LITTLE , MUCH , NOTHING LIKE )

E.g :It’s no good talking to him

She was very near dying

III.The Gerund may follow Possessive Adjectives ( MY , YOUR , HIS ….)and nouns

in the Possessive case.These Adjectives and nouns are the subject of the

Gerund

E.g :His having won the prize made him very happy

Would you mind my opening the window ?

IV.The Infinitive with TO is used after most Intransitive verbs to express a

purpose , an intention or a result

E.g :We stopped to have a rest

You will live to regret it

V.The Infinitive is used after most Transitive verbs in the pattern S + V + O + infinitive

E.g : I forbid you to go there again

* NOTE :The Infinitive without TO is used after verbs of Perception ( SEE , HEAR ,

WATCH , FEEL , SMELL , NOTICE , OBSERVE …) and such verbs as LET , MAKE , HAVE

E.g :Did you see him go out

VI.the Infinitive with TO is used after HOW , WHEN , WHERE , WHAT , WHICH ,… As the equivalent of noun clauses

E.g :Would you please show me how to do this ?

VII.The Infinitive with TO is used after Nouns , Indefinite , Pronouns , Adjectives and Adverbs as their Modifier

E.g :You are very kind to say so

One is never too old to learn

EXERCISE

 Put the verbs between brackets in their correct Infinitive or Gerund form :

1.The children are busy ( collect ) shellss on the beach

2.She had to ask the boys ( stop) ( make ) noise

3.Our teacher has promised ( help ) us ( prepare ) for the exam

4.I’d love ( have ) an opportunity of (meet ) you again

5.Ther is no ( deny )that he enjoys ( listen ) to his own voice

6.Is ( boil ) or ( fry ) the best way of ( cook ) this fish

9.He advised me ( consider ) all the facts before ( decide ) ( accept ) the job 10.My uncle used to ( show ) me where ( go ) and what ( buy )

11.There is nothing like ( walk ) as a means of ( keep )

12.I couldn’t resist ( ask ) him why he was trying ( avoid )(meet ) me

THE END