Oxford_Guide_to_English_Grammar

124 Noun phrase + to-infinitive

1 The pattern the need to write

a We can use a to-infinitive clause after some verbs and adjectives.

bSome other nouns with similar meanings can take a to-infinitive, e.g. chance, effort, opportunity, scheme, time.

There will be an opportunity to inspect the plans.

c But some nouns take a preposition + ing-form, not an infinitive. • 132(7)

There's no hope of getting there in time.

2 The pattern letters to write

In this pattern the to-infinitive expresses necessity or possibility. I've got some letters to write. (= letters that I have to write)

Take something to read on the train. (= something that you can read)

The doctor had a number ofpatients to see.

The to-infinitive clause here is shorter and neater than the finite clause with have to or can.

NOTE

aFor letters to be written, • 113(2).

bCompare these sentences.

I have some work to do. (= I have/There is some work that I need to do.)

I have to do some work. (= I must do/I need to do some work.)

Other patterns with a noun phrase + to-infinitive

For the pattern with it, e.g. It's a good idea to wear safety glasses, • 1 1 8 .

For patterns with for and of, e.g. It's bestfor people to make their own arrangements, • 126. For the first person to leave, • 277.

14 THE INFINITIVE PAGE 158

127 Patterns with the bare infinitive

1 After a modal verb

2After had better, would rather/would sooner and rather than

We'd better not be late.

I didn't enjoy it. I'd rather have stayed at home.

They decided to accept the offer rather than go/going to court.

3 Verb + object + bare infinitive

a Make, let and have can take an object + bare infinitive.

The official made me fill in a form.

The headmaster let the pupils go home early.

I'll have the porter bring up your luggage. • 111(1)

NOTE

Force, allow and get take a to-infinitive.

The officialforced me to fill in a form.

The headmaster allowed the pupils to go home early.

I'll get the porter to bring up your luggage.

bA verb of perception can take an object + bare infinitive.

Someone saw the men leave the building.

I thought I heard someone knock on the door.

For more details, • 140(1b).

cWhen the pattern with the bare infinitive is made passive, we always use a to-infinitive. • 110(1b)

The men were seen to leave the building at half past six.

4 Other patterns

aAfter except and but (= except) we normally use a bare infinitive.

Asfor the housework, I do everything except cook. You've done nothing but grumble all day.

bWe sometimes put an infinitive after be when we are explaining what kind of action we mean.

The only thing I can do is (to) apologize.

What the police did was (to) charge into the crowd.

cFor Why worry?, • 26(5).

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15

The gerund

128 Summary

Gerund forms • 129

A gerund is an ing-form, e.g. walking.

Walking is good for you.

Gerund clauses • 130

We can put an object or adverbial after the gerund.

I like having friends roundfor coffee.

The gerund can also have a subject.

I don't mind you/your having friends round.

Some patterns with the gerund •131

Finding the money wasn't easy.

It wasn't easy finding the money.

The difficult part was finding the money.

We practised catching the ball.

I don't like people bossing me around.

Preposition + gerund • 132

I apologizedfor being late.

Are you interested in buying this car?

I ran all the way home without stopping.

Determiner + gerund • 133

The dancing went on late into the night.

129 Gerund forms

For examples of the passive, • 112.

2A simple gerund is the ing-form of a verb, e.g. meeting, dancing, jogging. It was nice meetingyou.

Dancing is not allowed.

NOTE

a There are some spelling rules for the ing-form.

bAn ing-form can be a gerund or an active participle, depending on how we use it in a sentence.

Gerund: Jogging is good for you.

Participle: We watched the students jogging round the campus.

But in some contexts it may be difficult to say whether an ing-form is a gerund or participle, and it is not always important to know the difference. Remember that using the form correctly is more important than naming it.

3 We use a perfect gerund for something before the time of the main clause.

Sarah remembered having visited the place before.

(The visit was before the memory.)

But we do not need to use the perfect if it is clear from the context that the time was earlier.

Sarah remembered visiting the place before.

4 In the negative, not comes before the gerund.

It's difficult not smoking for a whole day.

I can't help not being amused by these sillyjokes.

130 Gerund clauses

1A gerund clause can be just a gerund on its own, or there can be an object or adverbial after it.

No one likes washing the car.

Going on holiday always makes mefeel uneasy.

NOTE

aFor letter-writing, sky-diving, • 283(3).

bAn adverb can sometimes come before the gerund rather than after it.

We didn't want to risk completely spoiling the evening.

2 A subject can come before the gerund.

We rely on our neighbours watering the plants while we're away. I dislike people asking me personal questions.

The subject can be possessive, especially when it is a personal pronoun or a name.

It's a bit inconvenientyou/your coming in late. Do you mind me/my sitting here?

I'm fed up with Sarah/Sarah's laughing at my accent.

The possessive is more formal, and it is less usual in everyday speech.

But we are more likely to use a possessive at the beginning of a sentence.

Your coming in late is a bit inconvenient.

Sarah's laughing at my accent is getting on my nerves.

131 Some patterns with the gerund

1 Gerund clause as subject

Digging is hard work. But choosing the colour won't be easy.

Keeping a copy of your letters is a good idea.

I think walking in the country is a lovely way to spend a day.

In subject position, the gerund is much more usual than the to-infinitive. To choose the colour... is possible but rather formal.

We can also use the empty subject Preferring forward to the gerund clause. • 50(5)

It won't be easy choosing the right colour.

But the to-infinitive is more usual after it.

It won't be easy to choose the right colour. It's a good idea to keep a copy of your letters.

The gerund is more usual as subject, but the to-infinitive is more usual after it.

Heating a big house is expensive. It's expensive to heat a big house.

2 Patterns with it, there and have

a Here are some patterns with it and a gerund.

It's no good arguing. I've made up my mind. It might be worth taking the guided tour.

It wouldn't be much use trying to stick the pieces together again. It was quite an experience going camping.

It's a nuisance being without electricity. It's greatfun skiing down a mountain.

b We can use there with problem/difficulty and a gerund.

There won't be any problem parking.

c There is also a pattern with have (= experience) and a gerund.

You won't have any problem parking.

We had great fun skiing down the mountain.

3 Gerund clause as complement after he

Jeremy's hobby is inventing computer games.

What I sufferfrom is not being able to sleep.

4 Verb + gerund

a We can use a gerund after some verbs.

Someone suggested going for a walk. Do you mind waiting a moment?

I can't helpfeeling depressed sometimes. Imagine never having been abroad.

For a list of verbs taking the gerund or to-infinitive, •121.

b Sometimes we can use a finite clause. • 262(1)

Someone suggested (that) we might go out for a walk.

But with some verbs this is not possible. NOT I've finished that I tidy my room.

5 Verb + object + gerund

I hate people laughing at me.

The arrangements involve you/your giving everyone a lift. • 130(2)

How can theyjustify lives being put at risk?

We can use an object + gerund after these verbs:

132 Preposition + gerund

1 Introduction

aA gerund often comes after a verb + preposition, an adjective + preposition or a noun + preposition. We do not use a to-infinitive in these patterns.

We believe in giving people thefreedom to choose. My husband isn't very good at cooking.

It's just a matter of filling in a form.

bWe can also use a gerund after than, as and like expressing comparison.

A holiday is nicer than sitting at a desk. Walking isn't as good for you as swimming.

We can also use a gerund after as well as, instead of without etc. • (8)

2 The pattern I succeeded in finding out

Jake is thinking ofselling his motor-bike.

Sue insists on reading the letter.

Let's get on with addressing the envelopes.

We can use a gerund after these prepositional verbs: