Gerunds and Infinitives (Danh động từ và động từ nguyên mẫu)

b After some verbs, such as: like, hate, enjoy, quit, suggest, dislike, deny I like cooking.. A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by a gerund or not.. 2

Gerunds and Infinitives

Use:

1) A gerund is a verb in its –ing form, used as a noun

For example: eating, going, seeing

Gerunds are used:

a) As the subject of a sentence

Smoking is bad for you.

b) After some verbs, such as: like, hate, enjoy, quit, suggest, dislike, deny

I like cooking I enjoy fishing.

A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by a gerund or not

c) After prepositions

I’m interested in buying a computer I’m scared of walking alone in the dark.

2) The infinitive form of the verb is the original verb It can be with or without ‘to’

For example: (to) eat, (to) go, (to) see.

The infinitive form is used:

a) After some verbs, such as; agree, arrange, ask, promise, decide, afford

I agreed to do the work I arranged to see the doctor, They decided to get married.

A good learner’s dictionary will tell you whether a verb is followed by an infinitive or not

b) To show the reason why you did something

Tony went to the post office to pay a bill

c) After adjectives

I was surprised to see Erica I’m pleased to meet you.

3 a) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or infinitive with NO CHANGE in meaning:

For example: start, begin, hate, like, prefer, continue

She started to cry = She started crying.

I hate watching horror films = I hate to watch horror films.

b) Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or a infinitive, but there is a change in meaning

For example: try, remember, stop

I tried to get into the house (Getting into the house is your goal or objective).

I tried climbing through the window (Climbing through the window is one thing you tried

in order to obtain your final objective.)

I stopped cleaning the windows (I was cleaning the windows and then I stopped).

I stopped to clean the windows (I was driving, and I stopped driving in order to clean

the windows)

I remembered to lock the door (I remembered, and after that I locked the door).

I remember locking the door (I remember (now) that I locked the door (in the past)).