Gerund is used… • After prepositions: He was interested in buying

Grammar: Gerunds and infinitives
©Ángela Ruiz 2012-13
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Gerund is used…
After prepositions: He was interested in buying new books.
As a noun, especially when it is the subject of a sentence: Smoking is bad for your health.
After certain verbs: He was looking forward to having holidays.
ADMIT
CAN’T HELP
DENY
ADVISE
CAN’T IMAGINE
DETEST
AVOID
CAN’T STAND
DISCUSS
CONSIDER
DON’T MIND
MENTION
PRACTISE
COMPLETE
CONTINUE
KEEP
MIND
DISLIKE
PREFER
MISS
ENJOY
GIVE UP
IMAGINE
FINISH
FEEL LIKE
RECOMMEND
REGRET
SUGGEST
LOOK FORWARD TO
BE USED TO
REPORT
GET USED TO
RESIST
CONTRIBUTE TO
RISK
OBJECT TO
PREFER “X” TO
SOME OTHER EXPRESSIONS: IT’S NO USE, SPEND (TIME)
ATTENTION! In negative sentences, we write NOT in front of the gerund.
Imagine NOT going to school!
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Infinitive is used…
After nouns: This is a new way to do it.
After adjectives: It’s good to help other people.
After certain verbs: Would you like to help me?
Be careful! MAKE, LET, HEAR, FEEL, SEE (PERCEPTION VERBS) are followed by a
bare infinitive.
o The police didn’t let me approach the stage.
After the indirect complement pf certain verbs: ADVISE, HELP, INVITE, PERSUADE,
TEACH, TELL, WARN.
o She persuaded me to join the cast.
AFFORD
BEG
APPEAR
CAN’T AFFORD
CHOOSE
AGREE
ARRANGE
DARE
DECIDE
EXPECT
FAIL
HESITATE
OFFER
PREPARE
REFUSE
DEMAND
HOPE
DESERVE
ASK
ATTEMPT
INTEND
LEARN
MANAGE
MEAN
NEED
PRETEND
PROMISE
SEEM
THREATEN
WAIT
WANT
WISH
Verbs + gerund / infinitive
Like, love, prefer, hate, begin, start
You can use either infinitive (general) or gerund (specific). The meaning is more or less the same. In
British English gerund is used to talk about hobbies and infinitive to talk about habits and routines.
Example: I like climbing mountains. (hobby)
I hate to get up early in the morning. (habit, routine)
After WOULD LIKE, WOULD PREFER, WOULD
HATE, WOULD LOVE infinitive is used.
Ex. Do you like dancing? / Would you like to dance?
Remember, Forget, Regret
REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + infinitive = olvidar hacer algo en el futuro
REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET + gerund = olvidar hacer algo que ha pasado
Examples: I remember telling you the train to Oxford left at 6.30. - Recuerdo haberte dicho que el
tren a Oxford salía a las 6.30.
I remember to put off the gas every time I leave home. - Recuerdo apagar el gas cada
vez que salgo de casa.
Stop
STOP + infinitive = parar para hacer algo
STOP + gerund = parar una acción
Examples: She only stopped to have a cup of tea. – Sólo paró para tomar una taza de té.
She stopped working at the age of 72. – Dejó de trabajar a los 72.
Try
TRY + infinitive = intentar hacer algo (y normalmente no conseguirlo)
TRY + gerund = probar algo
Examples: He tried to open the door with the wrong key. – Intentó abrir la puerta con la llave
equivocada.
Try going to bed early. – Intenta ir a la cama más temprano.
Propose
Examples: He proposes to live in London forever.
PROPOSE + infinitive = to intend
He proposed going to the cinema.
PROPOSE + gerund = suggest
MEAN + infinitive: intend
MEAN + gerund: involve
Mean
Examples: I didn’t mean to kill him.
To lead a healthy life means avoiding stress.
Go on
GO ON + infinitive: continue introducing a new action.
GO ON + gerund: keep on doing the same thing.
Examples: First I dusted the house. Then I went on to sweep.
She went on sleeping all day long.
Need, Deserve
El uso del infinitivo tiene un valor pasivo:
Ex. These shoes need repairing→These shoes need to be repaired