INFINITIVE – GERUND – PARTICIPLES

INFINITIVE GERUND with TO & without TO - ing

The TO-INFINITIVE is used: The –ING form is used: 1. to express purpose 1. as a noun He went out to buy some bread. Eating vegetables is good for your health. 2. after certain verbs (advise, agree, appear, 2. after certain verbs (admit (to), avoid, decide, expect, hope, promise, refuse etc.) consider, continue, delay, deny, enjoy, She promised to do it. escape, excuse, fancy, finish, forgive, imagine, involve, keep (= continue),look forward to, mention, mind, miss, object to, postpone, practise, prevent, report, resist, risk, save, stand, suggest, understand etc) He admitted (to) stealing the painting. 2. after certain adjectives (angry, happy, 3. after love, like, dislike, hate, enjoy, prefer glad etc.) (to express general preference) He was glad to see me. He likes cooking (in general). * Note: like + to -inf = it's a good idea; it's useful I like to eat a healthy breakfast. (specific preference) 4. after question words (where, how, what, 4. after I'm busy, it's no use, it's (no) good, who, which, but not after “why”) it's (not) worth, what's the use of, can't help, Has he told you what to do? there's no point (in), can't stand, be/get used But: I don’t know why he did it. to, be/get accustomed to, have difficulty (in) It's no use complaining. 5. after would like/would love/would prefer 5. after "go" for physical activities (to express specific preference) They go skiing every winter. I'd love to go for a walk. 6. after nouns 6. after spend/waste time It's a pleasure to work with you. He wasted his time playing video games. 7. after too/enough constructions 7. after prepositions He's too short to reach the top shelf. He entered without knocking at the door. He isn't tall enough to reach the top shelf. 8. with it + be + adjective (+ of + object) 8. after see, hear, listen, watch to express an It was nice of him to remember my birthday. incomplete action, an action in progress or a long action I saw Kate painting the kitchen. (I saw Kate in the middle of painting. I saw part of the action in progress. I didn't wait until she had finished.) BUT: see, hear, listen, watch + infinitive without “to” to express a complete action, something that one saw or heard from beginning to end I watched Kate paint the kitchen. It took her two hours. (I saw the whole action from beginning to end.) 9. with "only" to express unsatisfactory result He called me only to say that he would be late. The INFINITIVE WITHOUT “to” is used: 1. after modal verbs (must, can, will etc) You must be back at 12 o'clock. 2. after had better/would rather I’d rather have stayed in last night. 3. after make/let/see/hear/feel + object Dad let me watch TV. I made him apologise. BUT: in the passive form: be made/be heard/be seen + to -infinitive He was made to apologise.

Note: help is followed by a to- infinitive or an infinitive without to He helped me (to) wash the dishes. Note: if two infinitives are joined by "and", the "to" of the second infinitive can be omitted. I want to eat something and have a rest.

VERBS taking TO– INFINITIVE or –ING form WITHOUT a change in meaning 1. begin, start, continue + to -inf. or She began dancing l to dance. -ing form. However, we never have two But: It's beginning to get cold. -ing forms together. Not: It's beginning getting cold. 2. advise, allow, permit, recommend, He doesn't allow us to smoke here. encourage when followed by They aren't allowed to smoke here. an object or in passive form take a to- They don't allow smoking here. infinitive. They take the -ing form when not followed by an object. 3. it needs / it requires / it wants + -ing form The house needs / requires / wants painting. "It needs" can also be followed by The car needs repairing / to be repaired. a passive infinitive.

VERBS taking TO– INFINITIVE or –ING form WITH a change in meaning 1. forget + to -inf = not remember 6. try + to -inf = do one's best, attempt I'm sorry, I forgot to buy milk. The firemen are trying to put out the fire. forget + ing form = forget a past event try +-ing form = do sth as an experiment He'll never forget flying over the Alps. Why don't you try adding some sugar to the sauce? It might taste better. 2. remember + to -inf = remember to do sth 7. want + to -inf = wish Remember to turn off the cooker before I want to spend my holidays in Spain. leaving. want + -ing form = need sth done remember + -ing form = recall a past event This room wants painting again. I don't remember staying in this hotel before. 3. go on + to -inf = finish doing sth and start 8. stop + to -inf = pause temporarily doing sth else; then She stopped to get some petrol before After finishing the report, she went on to type continuing on her journey to Leeds. some letters. stop + -ing form = finish; end go on + -ing form = continue Stop talking, please! She went on talking for hours. 4. mean + to -inf = intend to 9. be sorry + to -inf = regret He means to find a job abroad. I'm sorry to hear they fired him. mean + -ing form = involve be sorry for + -ing form = apologise Finding a job means attending many I'm sorry for being / having been unfair to you. interviews. 5. regret + to -inf = be sorry to 10. be afraid + to -inf (the subject is too I regret to tell you that there is no money left in frightened to do sth) your account. I'm afraid to climb up that tree. regret + -ing form = have second thoughts (I don't want to do it.) about sth one has already done be afraid of + -ing form (the subject is afraid I regret buying / having bought this dress; it that what is described by the -ing form may doesn't look nice on me. happen) She won't climb up the tree; she is afraid of falling. (She is afraid because she might fall.) EXERCISES...... GERUND or INFINITIVE? I. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES BELOW BY USING THE INFINITIVE OR GERUND. 1. I dislike...... DRIVE. 2. I expect you...... HELP her. 3. Pam wants Jeff ...... WASH the dishes. 4. It was stupid of you ...... LOSE the money. 5. Peter would like us ...... TAKE the dog for a walk. 6. I'm fond of ...... TRAVEL. 7. The bank clerk told her where ...... CHANGE money. 8. They haven't decided yet whether ...... GO by plane or train. 9. Do you ever get tired of...... STAND in front of cameras? 10. Are you afraid of...... LOSE your friends? 11. The book tells you about walks ...... TAKE. 12. I had to give up ...... SMOKE. 13. There are a lot of museums ...... VISIT. 14. I'm looking forward to...... GO to New York next month. 15. I'm interested in ...... MEET people. 16. I have an exercise ...... DO. 17. My job gives me the opportunity of...... DO both. 18. I must apologize for ...... BE late. 19. I didn't know how many stamps ...... BUY. 20. She wants to fly to LA ...... ENJOY the sunshine. 21. I'm used to ...... WORK late. 22. I had no experience in ...... MODEL. 23. I can't risk ...... CATCH a cold. 24. Do you know how...... MELT butter without ...... BURN it? 25. Is Jim going there...... VISIT friends? 26. He isn't fond of ...... TAKE examinations. 27. Are you good at...... WORK with numbers? 28. Have you ever risked...... LOSE your job? 29. She went to Preston's ...... BUY some bread rolls. 30. Do you prefer ...... GO to parties or ...... WATCH TV at home? 31. John suggested...... ENTER a photo competition. 32. It will be easy for us ...... HELP you. 33. He is likely...... WIN. 34. Michael is willing ...... LEND you the money. 35. He denied...... TAKE drugs. 36. We held a party ...... CELEBRATE Vera's birthday. 37. I don't mind ...... TELL you. 38. Avoid...... GIVE any unnecessary information! 39. The picture was very old and dirty but it proved ...... BE very valuable. 40. Have you got a pen ...... SIGN these papers with? 41. He seemed ...... LIKE me. 42. The idea was ...... SPEND more money on training. 43. He carried on ...... READ. 44. Is it thought ...... BE a good thing? 45. They decided ...... NOT GO out for the evening. 46. I wanted to prevent him from ...... SEE that. 47. He kept on...... WALK for a while. 48. I can't help ...... WORRY. 49. He promised ...... HELP if he possibly could. 50. He advised George ...... RING the police. 51. I pretended ...... NOT SEE him when he waved. 52. John persuaded me ...... NOT WRITE to her. 53. England failed ...... WIN a place in the finals. 54. Does the door need ...... PAINT? 55. I must remember ...... SEND a gift for her child. 56. The pencil needs ...... SHARPEN. 57. She didn't regret ...... ACCEPT his offer. 58. I'll never forget...... VISIT Paris for the first time. 59. Don't forget ...... SEND in your entries. 60. I remember ...... CLOSE the door, but I'm not sure that I locked it. II. FINISH THE SENTENCES BY USING THE INFINITIVE OR GERUND. 1. She's interested in………………….… 2. They made him…………………….. 3. Is he good at………………………………….? 4. She doesn't enjoy………………………… 5. I am not used to…………………………… 6. It’s time………………… 7. Did he offer you………………………………? 8. I used to……………………………….when I was younger. 9. It's no use…………………………….. 10. He didn't let me……………………….. 11. He was happy………………………. 12. I've come here………………………. 13. They allowed me……………………………. 14. Has he offered……………………………….? 15. What does she enjoy……………………………? 16. I think it isn’t a good idea ………………………. 17. I'm looking forward to……………………………….. 18. She needs some paint………………………… 19. Do you mind my………………………………….? 20. I can't help……………………………. 21. They didn't dare…………………………… 22. I can't stop………………………… 23. Can you tell me where…………….. 24. They were made…………………………… 25. There’s no need ……………………….. 26. She agreed ………………………………… 27. Was it difficult…………………………….? 28. She grew used to……………………….. 29. Is this film worth………………………………? 30. He gave up………………………last year. 31. Is he old enough……………………..? 32. Does your job give you an opportunity………………………….? 33. Students are not allowed…………………….. 34. He denied……………………. 35. You should avoid……………………. 36. He’d like……………….. 37. He admitted……………………. 38. I forgot……………… 39. I don’t know what………………… 40. It has just begun…………… 41. I can't stand………………………………. 42. She will never get used to…………………….. 43. She stopped…………………… 44. It's good…………………………… 45. They didn’t know where……………………… 46. There were too many students……………………….. 47. He continued……………….. 48. He likes……………… 49. I’d rather…………… 50. He tried………………….. 51. I regret……………… 52. He’s busy…………….. 53. I remembered……………………. 54. His sister must………… 55. Let’s…………….

III. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS INTO THE GERUND OR THE INFINITIVE. The best way 1………………………..(explore) China is by land. Anyone who has been there, will tell you what a great experience it is. 2……………………… (travel) round China involves 3……………………….(cover) great distances as the country is enormous. As a result, some tourists would rather 4……………………….(fly), as it is quicker and they consider 5…………………….(sit) on a bus or train a waste of time. For those who don't mind 6……………………….(take) a bit longer, there is so much 7……………………..(see) which is not visible from a plane. From a bus you can 8 …………………….. (see) women 9…………………….. (work) in the rice fields. You can even spend some time 10……………………… (learn) a few Chinese phrases. Few can resist 11……………………(taste) the local delicacy – bird's nest soup, though you may 12……………………….(have) difficulty in 13…………………….. (acquire) a taste for one-hundred-year-old eggs!