Gerund or Infinitive?

In Modern English the gerund is often competes with the infinitive. Therefore one should remember in which cases either verbal is possible and in which ones only the gerund or only the infinitive occurs. The gerund is only used: 1). after the verbs to appreciate, to avoid, to delay, to deny, to dislike, to enjoy, to excuse, to fancy, to finish, to forgive, to give up, to go on, to keep, to mind, to postpone, to put off, to complain (of), to depend (on), to insist (on), to prevent (from), to thank (for), to look forward (to), can’t help, can’t stand and some others. 2). after the adjectives and participles worth, capable (of), fond (of), aware (of), proud (of), sure (of), surprised (at) and some others.

• We all appreciate your helping us. 

• I find the book worth reading. 

Either form is used after the verbs to begin, to continue, to intend, to prefer, to remember (1), to start, to stop (2), and some others, and after the adjective afraid (of)

• We began translating this article an hour ago.   or    We began to translate this article an hour ago. 

Notes:

(1) The infinitive after the verb 'to remember' usually refers to the future, and the gerund refers to the past.

E.g.: Remember to warm up well before the game.

        I remember playing a very interesting game of chess with him.

(2) The infinitive after the verb 'to stop' is used as an adverbial modifier of purpose, the gerund – as part of a compound verbal predicate.

E.g.: They stopped to discuss the game.

         He usually stops bathing in late September.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

Examples of sentences with the verbs followed only by the gerund:

1. He avoids meeting us. 

2. The doctor advised him to give up diving. 

3. He insisted on training more for the contest. 

4. They went on passing the ball. 

5. His illness prevented him from coming to root for his team. 

6. I grew very fond of swimming in our sport camp. 

7. We were very proud of opening the score. 

8. Please excuse (pardon, forgive) my disturbing you. 

9. Excuse me for disturbing you.

Examples of sentences with the verbs followed by either the gerund or the infinitive:

1. In the second half time they continued to lead (leading). 

2. We intended winning (to win) the game but we had to be content with a draw. 

3. Every sportsman prefers to enter (entering) the top ten than to be (being) among the also-runs.

Gerundial Complex

The doer of the action denoted by a gerund may be expressed by a) a noun in the possessive case or a possessive pronoun; b) a noun in the common case; c) pronoun in the objective case. These combinations are called gerundial complex. Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. Ann's coming so early surprised us. 

2. We objected to his going there. 

3. I remember our team beating yours in a game of basketball. 

4. All sports-fans were proud of the high jumper breaking the national record. 

5. We did not mind them scheduling the chess tournament for November. 

6. Everybody insisted on this experiment being made once more.

The infinitive is a verbal form (a non-finite verb form) which consists of the base form of the verb with the particle "to": to do; to go; to play; to take; to break; to find.

The Forms of the Infinitive

	Active	Passive
Indefinite	to teach	to be taught
Continuous	to be teaching	to be being taught
Perfect	to have taught	to have been taught
Perfect Continuous	to have been teaching	---

The Indefinite Infinitive expresses an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb. E.g.: I shall be glad to see him. The Continuous Infinitive denotes an action in progress simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb. E.g.: He seemed to be waiting for us. The Perfect Infinitive denotes an action prior to that expressed by the finite verb. E.g.: I am sorry to have troubled you. The Perfect Continuous Infinitive denotes an action which lasted a certain time before the action of the finite verb. E.g.: He proved to have been teaching English for ten years. The Active Infinitive denotes that the subject is the doer of the action. The Passive Infinitive denotes that the subject is acted upon. E.g.: The man came to teach us English.          The man came to be taught English.