12. The Infinitive and the Gerund

The Infinitive and the Gerund mostly have similar functions in the sentence, as shown in the table below, but the patterns of their uses do not always coincide.

THE INFINITIVE THE GERUND

Subject

Inf. + is + A (N) was necessary impossible a mistake	Ger. + V
It is + A(N) + Inf. nice easy interesting	It is + A + Ger. useless no use no good worth while

Predicative

My wish + is + Inf./Ger.

His duty

The main thing

…

to feel like + Ger.

to be for/against

Part of a predicative

smb. is + nice + Inf.

smth. hard

pleasant

Part of a Compound Verbal Predicate

to begin, start + Inf. to continue to cease	to begin, start + Ger. to continue to cease to keep to stop to go on to burst out
to intend + Inf. can’t help but + bare Inf.	to intend + Ger. can’t help

Direct Object

to be glad + Inf. angry pleased	to be worth + Ger.
to hate + Inf. like remember want	to hate + Ger. like remember want, need
Infinitive only: to offer + Inf. promise decide pretend	Gerund only: to suggest + Ger. avoid stand mind

Prepositional Object

to think of + Ger.

to object to

to be clever at + Ger.

to be grateful for

Attribute

the first / last + Inf. somebody, no one, man, place, time	intention of + Ger. Plan, idea, habit mistake
thing: book, etc. + Inf.	There is no (little) + sense in + Ger. Smb. sees no harm point

Adverbial Modifier

Result	(too) + A + (enough) + Inf.
Comparison	as if + Inf.
Purpose	in order + Inf. so as	for + Ger.
Att. Circ.	Do + Inf.	without + Ger.
Time		at, on, after, before, in + Ger.
Manner		by, in + Ger.
Condition		without + Ger.
Cause	Inf. + …	for, for fear of + Ger.
Concession		in spite of, despite + Ger.

Subject

In pre-position, the gerund is much more usual than the infinitive.

Choosing the colour won’t be easy.

To choose the colour … is possible but rather formal.

The infinitive is more usual in sentences with the introductory it.

It won’t be easy to choose the right colour.

The gerund can also be used in this pattern (mostly after no good, no use, useless, worth).

It won’t be easy choosing the right colour.

It wasn’t worth talking to him about it.

Only the gerund is used after there is no.

There was no guessing his intentions.

Predicative

In this function, the infinitive is more common than the gerund and is used mostly after the link verb to be, while the gerund may be used after other link verbs, such as mean.

The job of a reporter is to expose and to record.

All one could do was try to make the future less hard.

The important part is helping people live normal lives.

That would mean telling him everything.

Only the gerund is used after the prepositions like, for, against.

I didn’t feel like explaining anything.

Part of a predicative

This function is performed only by the Infinitive.

His thoughts were not easy to read.

The apples were good to eat.

Part of a Compound Verbal Predicate

The use of the infinitive and the gerund is lexically dependent in this function – they are used after quite definite verbs.

As part of a compound verbal modal predicate only the infinitive is used:

a) after the verbs seem, appear, turn out, prove (see 6.2.)

The letter seems to have been mislaid.

b) after the modal verbs can, must, may, should, ought, dare, will, shall.

You really should have asked for his advice.

They must be having a party next door.

After need an infinitive is usually used.

We need to leave at eight.

A gerund after need has a passive meaning.

The typewriter needs cleaning.

The verb to intend is followed by an infinitive or a gerund with no difference in meaning.

We intend to take/taking an immediate action.

To be going to is followed only by the infinitive.

Can’t help may be followed by a gerund or but + a bare infinitive.

John couldn’t help but laugh/ help laughing.

Can’t stand is followed by a gerund.

I can’t stand sitting around doing nothing.

A part of a compound aspect predicate

Begin, start, continue, cease can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund; there is no important difference.

She began playing/ to play the guitar when she was six.

After continuous forms, an infinitive is preferred.

I’m beginning to learn karate.

An infinitive is also preferred with stative verbs like understand, know, realize.

I slowly began to understand how she left.

After the verbs keep, burst out, give up, quit, finish only a gerund can be used.

She’s given up smoking.

He’s finished mending the car.

Stop is followed by a gerund if it is a compound aspect predicate. An infinitive after stop is an adverbial modifier of purpose.

I stopped running.

I stopped to rest. (= in order to rest)

Go on + Gerund means “continue”.

She went on talking about her illness until we all fell asleep.

Go on + Infinitive refers to a change of activity.

She stopped talking about her illness and went on to tell us about her divorce.

Direct Object

Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund with no change in meaning, e.g. bother, propose.

Advise, allow, encourage, permit, forbid, recommend, require when followed by an object or in passive forms take an infinitive.

In active forms,if there is no object,these verbs take a gerund.

I wouldn’t advise taking the car – there’s nowhere to park.

I wouldn’t advise you to take the car.

People are not allowed / permitted to smoke in the lecture room.

They don’t allow / permit smoking …

Some verbs are followed by either an infinitive or a gerund with a change in meaning.

1) remember/forget + gerund refers to the past – to things one did.

I still remember buying my first bicycle.

remember/forget + infinitive refers forward in time to thing that one still has or still had to do at the moment.

You must remember to fetch Mr. Lewis from the station.

Sorry, I forgot to buy the soap.

2) regret+gerund refers back to the past – to something one is sorry one did.

I regret leaving school at 14 – it was a big mistake.

regret + infinitive is used mostly in announcements of bad news.

We regret to say that we are unable to help you.

3) try + gerund is used to talk about making an experiment – doing something to see what will happen .

I tried writing her letters, sending her flowers, but she still wouldn’t speak to me.

Try + infinitive/gerund is used to talk about making an effort to do something difficult.

I tried to change/changing the wheel, but my hands were too cold.

4) mean in the sense of “involve, have as a result” is followed by a gerund.

If you want to pass the exam it’ll mean studying hard.

Mean in the sense of “intend” is followed by an infinitive.

I don’t think she means to get married.

5) learn, teach (and other verbs with similar meanings) are followed by a gerund when we refer to lessons or subjects of study.

She goes to college to learn typing.

An infinitive is used when we talk about the result of the study-about successfully learning a skill.

I taught myself to type.

6) like, love, hate, prefer + infinitive/gerund with little difference in meaning.

In BrE, like+gerund is used mostly to talk about enjoyment, and like+infinitive mostly to talk about choices and habits. In AmE, like+infinitive is common in both senses.

I like climbing mountains (more typical in BrE).

I like to climb mountains (more typical in AmE).

When I’m pouring tea I like to put the milk in first. (BrE/AmE)

After would like/love/hate/prefer infinitives are most often used.

I’d like to tell you something.

Compare: Do you like dancing? (Do you enjoy it?)

Would you like to dance (Do you want to do it now?)

Hate + infinitive means “to hate what one is about to do “.

I hate to interrupt, but I must talk to you.

Hate + gerund means “feel sorry for what one is doing”.

I hate making you feel uncomfortable.

7) want + infinitive means “wish”; want + gerund means “need”.

Jack wants to borrow your typewriter, but it wants cleaning.

Prepositional Object

This function is performed only by the gerund after certain verbs and adjectives (See 9).

1. After some verbs and adjectives we can use either a preposition+gerund or an infinitive, with no difference in meaning.

I’m proud of having won / to have won.

The people voted for joining/to join the European Community.

Some of these verbs and adjectives are:

aim at doing / to do ready for

amazed at satisfied with

angry at thankful for

annoyed at surprised at

content with vote for

grateful for plan on

pay for long for

hesitate about

2. But sometimes the infinitive has a different meaning from the preposition + gerund.

1. Agree with + gerund means to think that something is right, agree + infinitive means to make a decision.

We all agreed to meet the next day.

I don’t agree with cutting down trees.

2. We use tell about and remind of to report statements and thoughts.

I told you about losing my credit card, didn’t I?

But tell/remind smb to do smth reports an order/reminder.

I told you to keep that card safe.

Why didn’t you remind me to bring a compass?

3. Keen on/interested in usually means a general interest, but keen / interested + infinitive means a wish to do a particular thing.

Simon is keen on/interested in cycling.

Simon is keen to go on this trip.

Simon is interested to hear about your cycle tour.

4. afraid + infinitive can only express unwillingness caused by fear. Afraid of + gerund can express fear about what might happen.

Many old people are afraid to cross the road in case they have an accident.

Many old people are afraid of having an accident when they cross the road.

5. anxious+infifnitive means “wanting to do”; anxious about + gerund means “worried about”.

I’m anxious to get this business settled quickly.

Rodney was anxious about making a mistake.

6. ashamed of + gerund expresses shame about smth.; ashamed + infinitive expresses unwillingness caused by shame.

I feel rather ashamed of having told Lucy a lie.

Roy is ashamed to admit his fault.

7. sorry about/for + gerund or sorry to have done expresses an apology for an earlier action. Sorry to do expresses an apology for a present action.

I’m sorry for causing / to have caused all that trouble yesterday.

Sorry to disturb you, but can I have a word?

Sorry to do also expresses regret about what we say or hear.

I’ sorry to have to say this, but your work is far from satisfactory.

8. Certain/sure of is used to refer to the feeling of the person one is talking about.

You seem very sure of passing the exam.

Certain/sure +infinitive refers to the speaker’s/writer’s own feelings.

The repairs are sure to cost more than you think.

3. To can be a particle or a preposition.

I hope to see you soon. (to-infinitive)

I look forward to seeing you soon. (prep. +gerund)

We use a gerund, but not an infinitive, with the verbs admit to, confess to, face up to, look forward to, object to, resort to, take to,; the adjectives opposed to, resined to, etc.; the preposition in addition to.

Used to + infinitive expresses a past habit or state.

I used to come here when I was a child. (at one period I came here regularly but then I stopped).

I used to have a bicycle, but I sold it.

Be used to + gerund means “accustomed to”.

We are used to living in the country now.

Attribute

The infinitive is used to modify indefinite and negative pronouns, ordinal numerals, class nouns, the adjectives last and next. The infinitive expresses necessity or possibility.

In this function, the infinitive is also used after abstract nouns:

ability demand plan

agreement desire preparation

ambition determination promise

anxiety eagerness proposal

arrangement effort refusal

choice failure reluctance

decision need request

offer scheme willingness

wish

There will be an opportunity to inspect the plans.

Our decision to oppose his scheme was the right one.

But some abstract nouns are modified by a preposition + gerund, not an infinitive. (see 9)

There’s no hope of getting there in time.

I hate the idea of getting old.

After some nouns we can use either a gerund or an infinitive with no or little difference in meaning: chance, opportunity, way, attempt, intention.

We have a chance of making/to make a profit.

After indefinite pronouns for+gerund can be used to explain the purpose of an object or material.

I need something for killing flies.

This pattern is used mostly to talk in general about types of objects and material. The infinitive is normally used after the noun or pronoun to talk about an individual’s purpose in using a particular object.

I must find something to kill that fly.

Adverbial modifier

In this function the gerund is always preceded by a preposition.

1. Both the infinitive and the gerund can be used as an adverbial modifier of purpose, but the gerund implies a general purpose, a general use of something; we use an infinitive to talk about a specific need or action.

I need glasses for reading. (in general)

I need my glasses to read this small print.

After use there can be either an infinitive or for + gerund.

We use a ruler for measuring / to measure things.

2. Both the infinitive and without + gerund are used as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

The use of the infinitive in this function is rather formal. It also implies a result.

Laura came home to find her house on fire.(=…came and found)

3. The other types of adverbial modifiers expressed by the Gerund and the Infinitive do not overlap.

Parenthesis

Only the infinitive is used in this function.

I’m tired of sightseeing, to tell the truth.