GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

M.Martín Abeleira

Use -ing• After prepositions and phrasal verbs.

I’m tired of getting up early every day.I’ve just given up smoking.

• As the subject of a sentence

Eating out can be very expensive.

• After some verbs.

I can’t stand watching TV these days.

Common verbs + ing

Enjoy, hate, finish, like, love, mind, practise, spend,

stop, suggest and phrasal verbs.

Use to infinitiveO After and adjective.

The word “comfortable” is difficult to pronunce.

O To express a reason or purpose.I’m saving to buy a new car (NOT FOR TO!!!!)

O After some verbs.Try not to make a noise

Verbs + to infinitive

Afford, agree, decide,expect, forget, help,

hope, learn, need, offer, plan, pretend, promise,

refuse, remember, seem, try, want, would like.

There are more verbs which take infinitive + to than those which are followed by ing.

Use infinitive without to

O After modal verbs: can, must, may, might, should, etc.

O After make and let.

Mr Bean always makes me laugh.My mom doesn’t let me go out at night.

OThese verbs can be followed by –ing or to: (same meaning)

- begin- start- finish- prefer

OTHE FOLLOWING VERBS CAN BE FOLLOWED BY GERUND OR INFINITIVE. There is a difference in meaning:

O STOPO TRYO REMEMBER / FORGETO REGRET