Gerund or Infinitive?

We select the –ing from....To create a NOUN from a verb to express a general idea(Subject of the sentence in most cases):

“Paying attention is essential in class”

After any preposition:“I am looking forward to hearing from you”

After certain verbal expressions (can’t stand, can’t help, be/get used to, don’t mind/would mind, it’s no use, it’s not worth):

“I can’t help getting angry when pupils speak in class”

• As Direct Object of a list of verbs (continue, enjoy, like, love, prefer, suggest, recommend, etc...):– “I prefer going to the beach”

To form gerunds, usethe base form + ing

(don’t’ forget the rules for spelling of ing form of verbs)

I enjoy learning English

To form negative gerunds, use not + gerund

Not speaking English well is my biggest problem in this country.

List of verbs followed by –ing form

Verbs Followed by a Gerund“They enjoyed working on the boat”.

admitadviseappreciateavoidcan't helpcompleteconsider

delaydenydetestdislikeenjoyescapeexcuse

finishforbidget throughhaveimaginemindmiss

permitpostponepracticequitrecallreportresent

resistresumeriskspend (time)suggesttoleratewaste (time)

We select Infinitive....

To form the subject of a verb that refers to something specific:

“To answer this question is essential”

After some adjectives and/or adverbs:

“I am happy to announce my daughter’s wedding”

“The wall was too high to jump for young children”

After the Indirect Object of certain verbs (advise, invite, warn, teach, ...):

“The Headmaster warned the student not to do that again”

Verbs of perception(hear, feel,...) ; LET; MAKE INF without TO:– “I heard him enter the house”; “Let me explain”;

“She made me do it”.

To form infinitives useto + base form of the verb

I want to dance

To form negative infinitives useNot + infinitive

He decided not to go to the party.

List of verbs followed by InfinitiveVerbs Followed by an Infinitive“She agreed to speak before the game.”

agreeaimappeararrangeask attemptbe ablebegbegincare choosecondescend

consentcontinuedaredecidedeservedetestdislikeexpectfailforgetgethappen

havehesitatehopehurryintendleapleavelikelonglovemeanneglect

offeroughtplanpreferprepareproceedpromiseproposerefuseremembersay

shootstartstopstriveswearthreatentryusewaitwantwish

Verbs followed by Object and an Infinitive:

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive“Everyone expected her to win.”

adviseallowaskbegbringbuildbuychallenge

choosecommanddaredirectencourageexpectforbidforce

havehireinstructinviteleadleaveletlike

lovemotivateorderpaypermitpersuadepreparepromise

remindrequiresendteachtellurgewantwarn

Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list aboveand may be used without an object.

Verbs that can be followed by both “INFINITIVE” or “-ING”

No change in meaning: begin, propose, forbid, intend, start..With a difference meaning: REMEMBER, FORGET, REGRET, STOP, TRY...

REMEMBER/FORGET/REGRET:+ INFINITIVE Future+ -ing Past

• Examples:– “I remember attending to dance classes when

I was a child”– “Remember to revise the questions before

handing out the exam”– “My grandmother forgot to lock the door when

she left the house”– “I repeated the activity because I forgot doing

it last week”

Verbs that can be followed by both “INFINITIVE” or “-ING”

STOP:+ ING don’t do this any longer+ INFINITIVE stop doing something to start a new action

Examples:“You have to stop writing at 10 o’clock.”“After five hours of hard work we stopped to have a rest”

• TRY:– +ING “experiment”– + INFINITIVE “make the effort”

• Examples:– “I was trying to open the door but I couldn’t.”– “Why don’t you try using this key?”

Verbs that are followed by a noun phrase + infinitive

can also be followed by a gerund.The gerund makes it general and the

infinitive make specific the person indicated.

They allow smoking in this building.They allowed me to smoke in the

house.

These verbs are:

adviseallow

encouragepermitrequire

urge

Both gerunds and infinitives can occur in the perfect form

having doneto have done

It is used to indicate that the activity is in the past

We appreciate having heard her sing.

We’re fortunate to have heard her sing

Havemake

letare causative verbs. They cause

someone to do something.They are always followed by a noun

phrase + base form of verb.Do not use an infinitive after these

verbs.She made me fall.