To-infinitiveGERUND

To-infinitive + GerundThe to-infinitive after a verb often

describes a future event.Eg: after hope, expect, promise, want,

the event in the to-infintive comes after the activity or thought in the main verb:I hope to see you next week.

Gerund describes an activity. We enjoyed seeing you last weekend.

afford / agree

I agree to go to the Beijing trip this summer holiday.

I can afford to buy this picture.

learn / needWe should learn to do housework.Human need to drink water.

Hope / wishI hope to meet Beckham in England.I wish to fly up high in the sky.

Want / decideI want to do the homework today.I decide to buy this book.

Expect / failWe expect to pass the English exam.We failed to do the homework.

Tell / want

He wanted to tell her about his feelings.

Ask / decideI asked my mum to go shopping with me.I decided to go hiking this Sunday.

Promise / refuseI promised my mother to finish my

homework by 6pm.I refuse to invite Yumiko to my party.

No major difference in meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either the to-infinitive or the gerund without any major difference in meaning:

Begin

Continue

Start intend

• Mother Teresa started to live/living in the slums of Calcutta from 1948.

• Though she faced many problems, Mother Teresa continued to work/working for the poor.

Gerund (general), to-infinitive (particular situation)

Some verbs are generally followed by the gerund when used in a general sense

The to-infinitive is often used for a particular situation.

Love Like Hate Prefer

• (I like swimming) but I don’t like to swim (on cold days).

The Gerund is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the base form of a verb.

swim swimmingeat eatingrun running

The Gerund can be used –

As a noun

E.g Running is my favourite sport. (subject) He tried running faster. (object) She was afraid of losing. (object of

preposition)

Exercise

1. (swim) _________is a very good form of exercise.

2. I have some (shop) ______to do this afternoon.

3. (learn) _________English takes a long time.

After adjectives + preposition

accustomed to capable of fond of afraid of successful in good at tired of interested in

E.gShe is accustomed to training for many

hours.He is good at running the 200 meters race

Exercise 1. Mary is fond of _______ (sing).2. The boy soon became accustomed to

_______ (work) hard.3. Are you afraid of _______ (play) the

exciting electronic games. 4. She is never tired of _______ (talk) about

her clever son.

G1 – admitG2- avoidG3 – delay

G4-denyG5-enjoyG6-finishG7 – keepG8-mind

AdmitMy brother admitted breaking the vase.AvoidI avoid walking on busy streets.DelayThe school delayed opening this morning.

finishI finish doing my homework.KeepAfter 4 hours, he keeps standing there.MindWould you mind lending your pen to me.

denyI deny that I am not good at singing.I deny doing a wrong thingI deny being late to school every day.I deny talking during the lesson.

EnjoyI enjoy playing computer games.

After verbs

admit can’t help dislike keep try finish advise keep enjoy appreciatemind avoid understand suggest forgive

E.gJohn has finished repairing his bicycle.They enjoy walking in the evening. Mary dislikes swimming in winter.

Exercise

1. He kept ________(run) till the end. 2. She enjoys _______ (run) for competition. 3. They dislike _______(drive) small cars. 4. He avoided ________(answer) my

question. 5. Would you mind me ________ (smoke) in

this room.

Bare infinitive

Infinitive form without “to”1. After modal verbs (should, could,

must..etc), “had better” and “would rather” We should respect people who are selfless

and kind. You’d better prepare for the interview as

you’ll be asked lots of questions. I’d rather go for a walk.

Bare infinitive – p111

2. After “let” and “make” Mother Teresa let the poor die in dignity. The teacher made him stay behind after

school.

3. After Feel See Watch

Notice

Hear Listen to

She saw a man enter the room.I heard the boys quarrel with each other.

Bare infinitive

Infinitive form without “to”1. After modal verbs (should, could,

must..etc), “had better” and “would rather” We should respect people who are selfless

and kind. You’d better prepare for the interview as

you’ll be asked lots of questions. I’d rather go for a walk.

Which is correct ?

1 I enjoy to swim.

2 I enjoy swimming.right

Which is correct ?

1 I want to study .

2 　 I want studying.

right

Which is correct ?

1 I finish to eat .

2 　 I finish eating.right

Which is correct ?

1 I need to study .

2 　 I need studying.

right

Which is correct ?

1 I hope to study .

2 　 I hope studying.

right

Which is correct ?

1 I stopped to smoke.

2 　 I stopped smoking.

right

Summary table for to-infinitive and gerund

To infinitive Gerund (-ing forms)

1. Use as subjectEg: To smoke is bad for you

1. Use as subject (more common)

Eg: smoking is bad for you.

2. To say why we do things

(purpose)

Eg: I got up early to catch the 7am train.

2. After prepositions (on, in, before, for, without, after…etc.)

Eg: you can’t live without eating

Eg: Thank you for listening.

3. After some verbs (eg: expect, afford, want, need, prepare, refuse, choose, fail, learn, promise, hesitate...etc)

Eg: I expect to pass the exams.

3. After some verbs (eg: dislike, enjoy, practise, mind, avoid, consider, discuss, finish, keep, miss, suggest, keep, can’t help…etc)

Eg: I’ll finish studying in June.

Summary table for to-infinitive and gerund

To infinitive Gerund (-ing forms)4. After some adjectives

and nouns.(adj=easy, happy, glad, nice, excited, ready, difficult, dangerous ...etc; noun = work, money to spend, something to drink, different ways to protect her.…etc)

Eg: She is ready to leave. (adj)

Eg: I am glad to see you. (adj)

Eg: I’ve got work to do. (n)

4. After phrasal verbsEg: I am not good at dancing.Eg: I am not interested in

singing.Eg: John will give up smoking.

5. Some verbs can be followed by either gerund or to-infinitive

Eg: I love going to school/

I love to go to school

5. eg: begin, continue, hate, love, start…etc.

Summary table for to-infinitive and gerund

To infinitive Gerund (-ing forms)6. used in general sense

(eg: love, like, hate, prefer..etc)

Eg: I like swimming.

6. Used in particular situations

Eg: I don’t like swimming on cold days.

7. No + gerundEg: No money, no talking.

* Some words can use both to-infinitive and gerund with the same meaning. (eg: love, like, begin, start, intend, continue..etc)

8. Stop + gerund.Eg: stop talking, stop

writing, stop walking…etc.

* Some words can use both to-infinitive and gerund with different meaning. (Eg: remember, try..etc)