3. Revision: Gerund or Infinitive?
3.1 Write what each word is followed by: F.I. (full infinitive), B.I. (bare infinitive) or -ing (gerund):
1. want + F.I. 6. will + ___ 11. expect + ___ 16. can + ___
2. dislike + ___ 7. make + ___ 12. it's no use + ___ 17. start + ___
3. would love + ___ 8. avoid + ___ 13. hope + ___ 18. deny + ___
4. it's worth + ___ 9. see + ___ 14. let + ___ 19. hate + ___
5. finish + ___ 10. promise + ___ 15. shall + ___ 20. must + ___
3.2 Put the verbs in brackets in the infinitive or the -ing form:
1. I don't like singing/to sing in public. (sing)
2. It's no use ______ her. She won't listen. (tell)
3. I'm still too upset ______ about it. (talk)
4. Don't disturb him. He's busy ______ . (work)
5. Stop ______ your nails! (bite)
6. Don't expect him ______ you any money. (lend)
7. I've decided ______ him. (leave)
8. Mum made me ______ my medicine, (take)
9. She agreed ______ him £1,000. (lend)
10. He denied ______ the stolen goods. (receive)
NOTE 1: Verbs taking “to-infinitive” or the Gerund without a change in meaning
|
begin, start, continue + to-inf. or the gerund. However, we never have two -ing forms together. |
e.g. She began dancing/to dance. But: It's beginning to get cold. Not:
|
|
advise, allow, permit, recommend, encourage when followed by an object or in passive form take a to-infinitive. They take the -ing form when not followed by an object. |
e.g. He doesn't allow us to smoke here. They aren't allowed to smoke here. They don't allow smoking here. |
|
it needs/it requires/it wants + -ing form "It needs" can also be followed by a passive infinitive. |
e.g. The house needs/requires/wants painting. The car needs repairing/to be repaired. |
3.3 Put the verb in the right form: -ing or infinitive (with or without “to”):
1. She doesn't allow ______ in the house. (smoke)
2. I've never been to Iceland but I'd like ______ there (go)
3. I'm in a difficult position. What do you advise me ______? (do)
4. She said the letter was personal and wouldn't let me ______ it. (read)
5. We were kept at the police station for two hours and then we were allowed ______. (go)
6. Where would you recommend me ______ for my holidays? (go)
7. I wouldn't recommend ______ in that restaurant. The food is awful. (eat)
8. The film was very sad. It made me ______. (cry)
9. Carol's parents always encouraged her ______ hard at school. (study)
3.4 Fill in the infinitive or -ing form:
The rules in my new school are very strict. The teachers don't allow 1. talking (talk) in class at all. We are only permitted 2. ______ (speak) if they ask us a question. On the first day, the headmaster advised us all 3. ______ (work) very hard. In fact, he recommended 4. ______ (study) for at least four hours every evening! We are not allowed 5. ______ (leave) the school at lunchtime but we are encouraged 6. ______ (join) one of the school clubs. Next week I'm starting chess.
NOTE 2: Verbs taking “to-infinitive” or the Gerund with a change in meaning
1. FORGET + to-inf = not remember: e.g. I'm sorry, I forgot to buy milk.
FORGET + ing form = forget a past event: e.g. He'll never forget flying over the Alps.
2. REMEMBER + to-inf = remember to do sth: e.g. Remember to turn off the cooker before leaving.
REMEMBER + -ing form = recall a past event: e.g. I don't remember staying in this hotel before.
3. GO ON + to-inf = finish doing sth and start doing sth else; then: e.g. After finishing the report, she went on to type some letters.
GO ON + -ing form = continue: e.g. She went on talking for hours.
4. MEAN + to-inf = intend to: e.g. He means to find a job abroad.
MEAN + -ing form = involve: e.g. Finding a job means attending many interviews.
5. REGRET + to-inf = be sorry to: e.g. I regret to tell you that there is no money left in your account.
REGRET + -ing form = have second thoughts about sth one has already done: e.g. I regret buying/having bought this dress; it doesn't look nice on me.
6. TRY + to-inf = do one's best, attempt: e.g. The firemen are trying to put out the fire.
TRY + -ing form = do sth as an experiment: e.g. Why don't you try adding some sugar to the sauce? It might taste better.
7. WANT + to-inf = wish: e.g. I want to spend my holidays in Spain.
WANT + -ing form = need sth done: e.g. This room wants painting again.
8. STOP + to-inf = pause temporarily: e.g. She stopped to get some petrol before continuing on her journey to Leeds.
STOP + -ing form = finish; end: e.g. Stop talking, please!
9. BE SORRY + to-inf = regret: e.g. I'm sorry to hear they fired him.
BE SORRY + -ing form = apologise: e.g. I'm sorry for being/having been unfair to you.
10. BE AFRAID + to-inf (the subject is too frightened to do sth): e.g. I'm afraid to climb up that tree. (I don't want to do it.)
BE AFRAID OF + -ing form (the subject is afraid that what is described by the -ing form may happen): e.g. She won't climb up the tree; she is afraid of falling. (She is afraid because she might fall.)
11. LIKE / DISLIKE / LOVE / HATE + to-inf. = Describes a regular activity: e.g. I like to go for a run before work. (I like it because I think it's a good idea. I may or may not enjoy the activity while I am actually doing it.)
LIKE / DISLIKE / LOVE / HATE + -ing form = e.g. I like going for a run before work. (I enjoy the activity of going for a run before work. I may or may not do it regularly.)
12. HATE + to-inf. = hate what one is about to do: e.g. I hate to interrupt, but I must talk to you.
HATE + -ing form = feel sorry for what one is doing: e.g. I hate making you feel uncomfortable.
13. PREFER
e.g. I don't go out much. I prefer to stay at home in the evenings.
e.g. I don't go out much. I prefer staying at home in the evenings.
(The meaning of these two sentences is very similar.)
e.g. I prefer staying in to going out.
(We cannot say: I prefer to stay in to go out.)
e.g. I'd prefer to stay in tonight (rather) than go to the party.
(Would prefer is followed by the infinitive and refers to a specific occasion. NOT: I'd prefer staying in tonight.)
3.5 Fill in the gaps with the verbs in brackets in the infinitive or the -ing form:
e.g. Remember to go (go) to the bank. You've got to pay the bills.
1. I don't remember ______ (see) this film before.
2. When he had written his first book he went on ______ (write) seven more.
3. She went on ______ (talk) even after her friend had fallen asleep.
4. I regret ______ (leave) school at the age of 16.
5. I regret ______ (tell) you that you have failed the test.
6. He means ______ (build) a boat and travel round the world.
7. Doing well on this course means ______ (study) very hard.
8. I've been trying ______ (start) this car for hours.
9. Why don't you try ______ (put) some petrol in the tank?
10. I don't want to drive a car; I'm afraid of ______ (have) an accident.
3.6 Put the verb into the correct form, -ing or to-infinitive:
1. a) I was very tired. I tried ______ (keep) my eyes open but I couldn't. b) I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. Then I tried ______ (knock) on the door, but there was still no answer.
c) We tried ______ (put) the fire out but we were unsuccessful. We had to call the fire brigade.
d) Sue needed to borrow some money. She tried ______ (ask) Gerry but he was short of money too.
e) I tried ______ (reach) the shelf but I wasn't tall enough.
f) Please leave me alone. I'm trying ______ (concentrate).
2. a) I need a change. I need ______ (go) away for a while.
b) She isn't able to look after herself. She needs ______ (look) after.
c) The windows are dirty. They need ______ (clean).
d) Why are you leaving now? You don't need ______ (go) yet, do you?
e) You don't need ______ (iron) that shirt. It doesn't need ______ (iron).
3. a) They were talking very loudly. I couldn't help _____ (overhear) them.
b) Can you help me ______ (get) the dinner ready?
c) He looks so funny. Whenever I see him, I can't help ______ (smile).
d) The fine weather helped ______ (make) it a very enjoyable holiday.