1

GERUND or INFINITIVE

Compiled by:

Dra. Wulandari

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great

things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles

begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu

2

Gerund (Gerund is the–ING form of a verb used as a NOUN)

1. As a Subject of a sentence.

Fishing can ease your stress. Cooking gourmet meals can be very expensive. Writing a good novel is hard work

2. As a Complement My father's occupation was farming. My neighbor's pastime is training guard dogs. The secretary's duties are taking notes and typing letters.

3. As a Modifier and Compound Nouns (functions of a thing)

My grandpa uses his walking stick everywhere he goes. David paced his racing horse yesterday. Mother has just bought a washing machine. Other compound nouns: - swimming pool - swimming suit - diving board - waiting room - shopping centre

4. In Short Prohibition No smoking! No parking!

5. As a Direct Object.

Do you watch boxing or wrestling? Try doing it this way. Most women love gossiping.

6. As an Object of Preposition By adding more water, we can thin the paint. You can start this machine by simply pushing this button. I find relaxation in my gardening.

3

7. After a Noun in the Possessive form I hate his always snoring in his sleep. (Literary formal) I hate him always snoring in his sleep. (In spoken language) Mr. Harris knew John’s being dishonest.

8. After certain expression Look forward to

We look forward to seeing you. Be/get used to

She was used to getting what she wanted to. Be accustomed to

I am not accustomed to having my word questioned. Be busy

He is busy reading the paper. Couldn’t help

She couldn't help eating another apple. Don’t mind

I don't mind telling them my opinion. Feel like

We feel like having a cup of tea. How about

How about having dinner in Tomodaci? It’s (no) good

It's no good talking to this girl. It’s no use

It's no use talking to the headmaster. Spend one's time

They spend their time reading. There’s no

There's no cheating anymore. There’s no point

There's no point in complaining further. What about

What about going to the zoo? Be worth

The book is worth reading.

4

We use the Gerund after the following verbs:

admit He admitted having driven too fast.

avoid They avoid going on holiday on Saturdays.

carry on If we carry on sleeping so badly, we may need help.

consider Ralph is considering buying a new house.

delay I delayed telling Max the news.

deny She denied buying new shoes.

dislike We dislike reading poems.

can't help He couldn't help falling in love with her.

enjoy I enjoy playing chess.

finish They finished working in the garden.

give up Susan gives up playing ice-hockey.

imagine He imagined driving a new car.

include You responsibility includes taking reservations on the phone.

involve The project will involve growing plants.

justify I cannot justify paying $100 for this ticket.

keep (on) They keep on running.

feel like For a moment, I feel like giving up.

mention Did Alex ever mention playing baseball?

mind I don't mind sleeping on the couch.

miss They miss playing with their friends.

practise She practised playing hockey.

risk You risk catching a cold.

suggest She suggested flying to Cairo.

5

The following verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with no change in meaning:

attempt

begin

start

continue

deserve

hate

like

love

prefer

These verbs can be followed by either a GERUND or and INFINITIVE with a difference in meaning.

VERB GERUND INFINITIVE

remember I still remember buying my first bicycle.

Remember to switch off the lights when you go on holiday.

forget I’ll never forget meeting the President.

Don't forget to spend money on the tickets.

regret I regret giving you the money I regret to tell you that you fail you test.

try Why don't you try running after the dog?

I tried to run after the dog, but I was too slow.

stop Stop reading the text. Stop to read the text.

remember + gerund means thinking of a past experience you’ve had remember + infinitive means don’t forget to do something

forget + gerund means to no longer think of something that you did

forget + infinitive means to not think of doing something you should do or

should have done

6

regret + gerund means feeling sorry about something you said or did in

the past

regret + infinitive means feeling sorry about something you are going to

say or do next/ in the future

try + gerund means do it and see what the results are

try + infinitive means try hard to see if you can do something that is

really not easy

stop + gerund means to not continue doing a certain activity or action

stop + infinitive means make a pause in one activity in order to do a

different activity

INFINITIVE

The Infinitive of the verb is the basic form of the verb. There are 2 forms of infinitive: to-infinitive and bare infinitive. To-infinitive 1. Verb + object + to-infinitive

My dad I helped my dad to clean the car. 2. After adjectives

Happy I'm happy to be here. Better It's better not to smoke.

3. After Passive Voice Be – V3 I was asked to do the first number

4. After question words What I don't know what to say. How Can you tell me how to get to the bus stop?

5. After want/would like (PURPOSE) Want I want you to help me.

7

Bare Infinitive 1. After auxiliaries/modals Can He can run very fast. Could As a boy he could run very fast. Needn’t You needn't go. 2. After to do: Do I don't know. Does Does he like math? Did She didn’t work. 3. After the following expressions: Had better You had better clean up your room.

Would rather Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow.

Would sooner I would sooner read a book than watch this film.

Why not Why not ask your neighbour for help? Why should we not Why should we not go by car? 4. After verbs of perception + object (action has finished) Feel She feels the rain fall on her face. Hear I heard Peter sing a song. Notice Mandy noticed the boy climb the tree. See They saw him climb up the roof. Watch He watched the thieves steal a car. 5. After let + object: Let Sandy let her child go out alone. Let’s Let's go for a walk through the park. 6. After have /make + object: (causative) Make She made Peggy and Samantha clean

the room. Have She had Peggy and Samantha clean the

room.

8

7. After that clause = Recommendation Advise, recommend, guide, instruct, warn, direct, counsel She advised that he stay at home. She recommended that they leave before

dark

EXERCISES

A. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms.

1. I am looking forward to __________ (see) you.

2. I arranged __________ (meet) them here.

3. He urged us __________ (work) faster.

4. I wish __________ (see) the manager.

5. It's no use __________ (wait).

6. He warned her __________ (not touch) the wire.

7. Don't forget _______ (lock) the door before ________ (go) to bed.

8. My mother told me __________ (not speak) to anyone about it.

9. I can't understand her __________ (behave) like that.

10. He tried __________ (explain) but she refused __________ (listen).

11. At dinner she annoyed me by __________ (smoke) between the courses.

12. You are expected __________ (know) the safety regulations of the college.

13. He decided __________ (disguise) himself by __________ (dress) as a

woman.

14. I am prepared __________ (wait) here all night if necessary.

15. Would you mind __________ (show) me how __________ (work) the lift?

16. After __________ (walk) for three hours we stopped to let the others

__________ (catch up) with us.

17. I begin __________ (understand) what you mean.

18. He was fined for __________ (exceed) the speed limit.

19. The boys like __________ (play) games but hate __________ (do) lessons.

20. I regret __________ (inform) you that your application has been refused.

21. I couldn't help __________ (overhear) what you said.

22. He surprised us all by __________ (go) away without __________ (say)

9

"Goodbye".

23. Please go on __________ (write); I don't mind __________ (wait).

24. He wore dark glasses __________ (avoid) __________ (be) recognized.

25. Before __________ (give) evidence you must swear _________ (speak) the

truth.

26. I tried __________ (persuade) him __________ (agree) with your proposal.

27. Your windows need __________ (clean); would you like me __________

(do) them for you?

28. Would you mind __________ (shut) the window? I hate __________ (sit) in

a draught.

29. I can't help __________ (sneeze): I caught a cold yesterday from

__________ (sit) in a draught.

30. Do stop __________ (talk); I am trying __________ (finish) a letter.

31. He hates __________ (answer) the phone, and very often just lets it

__________ (ring)

32. If you go on __________ (let) your dog __________ (chase) cars he'll end by

__________ (be) run over

33. I prefer __________ (drive) to __________ (be driven).

34. I advise you __________ (start) __________ (look) for a flat at once.

35. Would you mind __________ (lend) me £5? I forgot __________ (cash) a

cheque.

36. __________ (Lie) on this beach is much more pleasant than __________ (sit)

in the office.

37. She likes her children __________ (go) to the dentist every six months.

38. By __________ (neglect) __________ (take) ordinary precautions he

endangered the life of his crew.

39. An instructor is coming __________ (show) us how __________ (use) the

aqualung.

40. I have no intention of __________ (go) to that film; I couldn't bear-

__________ (see) my favourite actress in such a dreadful part.

10

41. I suggest __________ (telephone) the hospital before __________ (ask) the

police __________ (look) for him.

42. After __________ (hear) the conditions I decided __________ (not enter)

for the competition.

43. Some people seem __________ (have) a passion for __________ (write) to

the newspapers.

44. He expects me __________ (answer) by return but I have no intention of

__________ (reply) at all.

45. I tried __________ (explain) to him but he refused __________ (listen) and

went on __________ (grumble).

46. By __________ (offer) enormous wages he is persuading men __________

(leave) their present jobs and __________ (work) for him.

47. He postponed __________ (make) a decision till it was too late __________

(do) anything.

48. Imagine __________ (have) __________ (get up) at five a.m. every day!

49. Try __________ (forget) it; it isn't worth __________ (worry) about.

50. There is no point in __________ (remain) in a dangerous place if YOU can't

do anything __________ (help) the people who have __________

(stay) there.

51. The horse won't be well enough __________ (run) in tomorrow's race. He

doesn't seem __________ (have recovered) from his long journey. 10.

Sometimes teenagers get into trouble with their parents

52. At first I enjoyed __________ (listen) to him but after a while I got tired of

__________ (hear) the same story again and again.

53. It is usually easier __________ (learn) a subject by __________ (read) books

than by __________ (listen) to lectures.

54. It wouldn't be safe __________ (start) down now; we'll have __________

(wait) till the mist clears.

55. The police accused him of __________ (set) fire to the building but he

denied __________ (have been) in the area on the night of the fire.

56. I left my door open. Why didn't you walk in? ~ I didn't like __________ (go)

in when you weren't there.

11

57. It's much better __________ (go) to a hairdresser than __________ (try)

__________ (save) time by __________ (cut) your own hair.

58. I'd rather __________ (earn) my living by __________ (scrub) floors than

__________ (make) money by __________ (blackmail) people.

59. After __________ (discuss) the matter for an hour the committee adjourned

without __________ (have reached) any decision.

60. It's not much use __________ (have) a bicycle if you don't know how

__________ (ride) it.

61. 31. He didn't dare __________ (leave) the house because he was afraid of

__________ (meet) someone who might __________ (recognize) him.

62. I distinctly remember __________ (pay) him. I gave him £2.

63. Did you remember __________ (give) him the key of the safe? ~ No, I didn't.

I'll go and do it now.

64. Please forgive me for __________ (interrupt) you but would you mind

__________ (repeat) that last sentence?

65. I know my hair wants __________ (cut) but I never have time __________

(go) to the hairdresser's.

66. He made a lot of money by __________ (buy) tickets in advance and

__________ (sell) them for twice the price on the day of the match.

67. She rushed out the room without __________ (give) me a chance

__________ (explain).

68. He keeps __________ (ask) me the time and I keep __________ (tell) him

__________ (buy) himself a watch.

69. He has a theory that it is possible __________ (tell) the time in day light by

__________ (look) into a cat's eyes.

70. I'd hate __________ (be) beside a volcano when it started _______ (erupt).

12

B. Complete the following dialogue with the verbs in brackets in the

correct form.

Harris : Did you remember 1) ___________ (book) the tickets for two

of us?

Valen : Yes, I did. But the problem is how 2) __________ (get) there.

My dad says I’m not allowed to borrow his car this Sunday. He

suggested using your motorbike.

Harris : You know what. The tire of my motorbike was leaked when I

went home yesterday. Now I’m afraid it continues 24)

______________ (leak). But I could try 25) _______________

(ask) my sister if we can have hers. She might agree.

Valen : I’m not sure. Moreover, the tickets were pricey. I regret 26)

_____________ (buy) them. I think we’ve just wasted the money.

Harry : I don’t think so. I remember 27) ______________ (walk) there

once. It took about one hour. Please stop 28) _____________

(worry) and start 29) _______________ (think) the good times

we’re going to have.

Valen : All right. So we can just walk if there’s no other choice. But

don’t forget 30) ____________ (ask) your sister about the car.