Unit 5

Infinitives and Gerunds

There are two types of infinitives

full: to + verb

bare: verb

Full infinitives: to express purpose:

I want to be a great teacher.I bought the bike to do exercise.I want to go to Paris to see the Eiffel Towel

After verbs like: hope, decide, promise, offer, forget.

I hope to receive a lot of money.I promise to love you forever.

After question words: Who, what, where.

I don’t know where to go.He is an expert on who to go for a good

haircut.

Bare infinitives

After modal verbs: can, could, must, may, etc.

I can play the pianoI couldn’t swim very well when I was a child.

After the verbs: Make and let

Don’t make me hate you.Let me be your friend.

GerundsAfter verbs like:

Enjoy, dislike, don’t mind, avoid, finish, give up, can’t help, imagine, keep, miss and suggest.

I enjoy swimming in the ocean.I like reading novels.

After prepositions: interested in, look forward to, be used to, be accustomed to, keep on, be afraid of, be sorry about and feel sure of.

I am interested in learning how to play the guitar.

I am looking forward to seeing the show.He keeps on trying to enter Medicine

School.

Either a gerund or a full infinitive

After verbs: Like, love, hate, can’t stand, start and try.

I like to read novels. I like reading novels.

I tried to help him. I tried helping him.

The End