1 GERUNDS

A GERUND is a verb in its "ing" form (the present participle); for example, raining, dancing,
laughing, thinking, creating, running, and so on.
By definition, they are activities .either physical or mental.
These words function as NOUNS in a sentence:
The subject of the verb: Swimmingisa lot of fun and good exercise.
The object of the verb: I really likeswimming.
The object of a preposition: I am looking forward toswimming in the ocean.

1.1 GERUNDS AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
Any activity that can be expressed with the "ing" form of a verb can be the subject of a
sentence.
All gerunds can be the subject of a sentence.
Breathing is necessary.
Driving a car requires good vision.
Helping other people feels good.

1.2 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION
Prepositions (for, with, about, &) must be followed by an object.
The object can be a noun or a gerund (a verb acting as a noun).
I am tired of waking up too early.
I look forward tomeeting your friend.
I am interested inlearning baseball.
She is responsible forimplementing new policy.

1.2.1 Verb + Preposition
Here are some verbs plus a preposition followed by a gerund:
to complain about__________ing
to insist on__________ing
to participate in__________ing
to apologize for__________ing
to object to__________ing
to look forward to__________ing
to think of__________ing
to win by __________ing
to take part in__________ing

1.2.2 Verb + Object + Preposition
Here are some verbs plus an object plus a preposition followed by a gerund:
to have difficulty in__________ing
to take advantage of__________ing
to have a good reason for__________ing
to prevent someone from__________ing
to keep someone from__________ing
to stop someone from__________ing
to thank someone for__________ing
to blame someone for__________ing
to accuse someone of __________ing
to charge someone with__________ing
to fine someone for__________ing

1.2.3 To Be + Adjective + Preposition
Here are some combinations of the verb "to be" plus an adjective plus a preposition followed
by a gerund:
to be accustomed to __________ing
to be interested in__________ing
to be excited about__________ing
to be capable of __________ing
to be responsible for __________ing
to be used to__________ing
to be tired of__________ing
to be bored with__________ing
to be good for__________ing
to be good at__________ing
to be bad at__________ing
to be guilty of__________ing

1.2.4 To Be + Noun + Preposition
Here are some combinations of the verb "to be" plus an object plus a preposition followed by
a gerund:
to be a victim of__________ing
to be an advocate of__________ing
to be a believer in__________ing
to be a supporter of__________ing
to be a critic of __________ing

1.3 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF A VERB
When it comes to gerunds as the object of a verb, not all verbs are equal.
That is, some verbs can take a gerund as their objects, but other verbs cannot.
(Some verbs can take infinitives as their objects. Some verbs never take an object at all.)
These differences can only be learned, as individual vocabulary items.

1.3.1 Verb + Gerund:
Here are some verbs that are followed by a gerund.
(These verbs can be followed by any gerund. The gerunds used in these sentences are only
examples.)
I admit losingthe combination to the safe.
I advisefinding a good lawyer.
I don't anticipatewaiting very much longer.
I appreciatehearing a good joke.
I avoidflying as much as I can.
Would you considerselling your share of the company?
We will delaysigning an agreement.
I denysaying that.
We must discusshiring more people.
I dislikeeating alone.
I enjoytalking with new people.
I fearlosing his confidence.
When I finishtyping this, I'll help you.
I gave upexplaining my position to them.
I often godancing.
I can't helpthinking that we could have done better.
I can't imaginespending that much money.
Business trips involvewaiting in airports and staying in hotels.
They keepsaying that, but they don't do anything about it.
Did I mentionseeing him yesterday?
I don't mindworking on the weekend.
I will missseeing you around.
They postponedstarting construction until next year.
You should practiceusing set phrases.
I quitsmoking six years ago.
I recallmeeting him a long time ago.
I don't recollectbeing there.
I recommendhaving the New York steak.
I resenthaving to sign in each morning.
I couldn't resisttelling them.
We should not risklosing their trust.
I hope they stopmaking so much noise so I can get some sleep.
He suggestedstarting my own agency.
They won't toleratetrading insider information.

2 INFINITIVES
An infinitive may exist with or without the word "to".
For example, following modal verbs (can, may, must, ... ).
Infinitives with the word "to" can function as either the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of a verb.
2.1 INFINITIVES AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE
To read a good book is my favorite form of relaxation.
To win means everything to him.
To speak a foreign language well requires practice.

2.2 INFINITIVES AS THE OBJECT OF THE VERB
Most people liketo win.
I don't want to go.
We don't need to fight like this.

2.2.1 Verb + Infinitive
Here are some verbs that are followed by an infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are
only examples.)
We can't affordto remain outside the market.
Should we agreeto buy from them?
It appearsto be a mistake.
I will arrangeto talk with them as soon as possible.
I askedto see the manager about it.
I begto differ with you, sir.
Would you careto try a California wine?
They claimto make the best potato chips in the world.
We will never consentto allow your name to be put on our product.
Finally, I decidedto do it myself.
I demandto know who is responsible for this!
He deservesto get a promotion.
She expectsto hire an apprentice.
Do not failto let us know your decision.
If you have trouble, don't hesitateto call us for help.
We hopeto begin by next week.
I intendto go home early.
He learnedto speak English as a child.
You managedto overlook something.
Did you meanto put my report in the waste basket?
I needto talk to an expert.
They offeredto buy the rest from us.
We planto expand our product range.
Are you preparedto explain this disaster?
I don. tpretendto know all the answers.
I promiseto do my best.
He refusesto answer my calls.
He seemsto be the one who is in charge.
We hadto struggle to open the window.
Do you swearto keep this a secret?
They threatenedto sue us if we didn't pay their fee.
No one volunteeredto clean up after the picnic.
I cannot waitto see the expression on his face when he hears the news.
I wantto find the right person for this job.
I do not wishto be a part of your scheme.

2.2.2 Verb + Pronoun/Noun + Infinitive
Here are some verbs plus an indirect object followed by an infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are
only examples.)
I would advise you to say nothing about this.
Will you allow meto use your telephone?
She asked meto help her with her car.
He begged meto let him come along.
The weather caused usto take a later flight.
He challenged meto find an error in his figures.
We must convince themto investigate the situation.
I dare you to tell him what you told me.
I encouraged herto continue with the task.
He expects you to finish on time.
I forbid youto use that tone of voice with me.
They forced himto reveal his source.
We should hire someone to run our photocopying operation.
I instructed themto wait for us here.
I invited Johnto take part in our discussion.
I need youto tell me what is going on here.
My boss ordered meto go to London last week.
We permitted them to talk to our client.
He persuaded her to listen to his problem.
He reminded me to bring an umbrella.
This situation requires usto be very cautious.
The experience taught me to buckle my seat belt.
He told me to take two aspirins and go to bed.
She urged me to take the job.
I want youto wash my car.
He warned me not to drive too fast around here.

3 GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES?
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.
Sometimes, there is no difference in meaning.
Sometimes there is.

3.1 VERB + INFINITIVE = VERB + GERUND
These verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, with NO DIFFERENCE IN
MEANING.
He beganto shout.
He startedto shout.
He continuedto shout.
I liketo read.
I loveto read.
I preferto read.
I hateto wait.
I can't standto wait.
I can't bearto wait.
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He beganshouting.
He started shouting.
He continuedshouting.
I likereading.
I lovereading.
I preferreading.
I hatewaiting.
I can'tstandwaiting.
I can'tbearwaiting.

3.2 VERB + INFINITIVE VERB + GERUND
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but THEIR MEANINGS ARE
NOT THE SAME:
I will rememberto call her.
(I will be sure to call her in the
future.)
I remembercalling her.
(I have the memory of calling her in the past.)
I will not forgetto meet him.
(I will be sure to meet him in the
future.)
I will never forgetmeeting them.
(I will not lose the memory of meeting them.)
I regretto say he is not here.
(I am sorry I must tell you he is not
here.)
I regretsaying it.
(I am sorry I said it.)
I will tryto ring the bell.
(I will see if it is possible to ring the
bell.)
I will tryringing the bell.
(I will ring the bell to see if it will help the
situation.)
I stopped to smoke at ten o.
clock.
(I interrupted an activity and had a
cigarette.)
I stoppedsmoking a year ago.
(I ended my cigarette habit.)

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
She agreed to speak before the game.
agree
aim
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
be able
beg
consent
continue
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
have
hesitate
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
shoot
start
stop
strive
swear
threaten
try
use
begin
care
choose
condescend
fail
forget
get
happen
long
love
mean
neglect
refuse
remember
say
wait
want
wish
Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive
Everyone expected her to win.
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge
choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force
have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like
love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
prepare
promise
remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above
and may be used without an object.
Verbs Followed by a Gerund
They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider
delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
forbid
get through
have
imagine
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
resent
resist
resume
risk
spend (time)
suggest
tolerate
waste (time)
Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund
We concentrated on doing well.
admit to
approve of
argue about
believe in
care about
complain about
concentrate on
confess to
depend on
disapprove of
discourage from
dream about
feel like
forget about
insist on
object to
plan on
prevent (someone) from
refrain from
succeed in
talk about
think about
worry about

GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

Gerund-Infinitive Patterns:
Verb + Gerund
Verb +Preposition
+Gerund
Be
+Adjective
+Preposition
Verb +
Infinitive
Verb
+Inifinitive or
+Gerund Gerund
acknowledge adapt to be accustomed to agree attempt
admit adjust to be afraid of aim begin
advise agree (with) on be angry about afford can/can't bear
anticipate apologize for be ashamed of appear can/can't stand
appreciate approve of be capable of arrange cease
avoid argue about be certain about ask continue
consider ask about be concerned with care forget
defend believe in be critical of choose go on
defer blame for be discouraged from claim hate
delay care about be enthusiastic about consent like
deny complain about be familiar with dare love
detest consist of be famous for decide neglect
discuss decided on be fond of decline prefer
dislike depend on be glad about demand regret
endure disapprove of be good at deserve propose
enjoy discourage from be happy about desire remember
escape engage in be interested in expect see
excuse forgive for be known for fail start
feel like give up be nervous about guarantee stop
finish help with be perfect for happen try
go inquire about be proud of hope

imagine insist on be responsible for intend

involve interfere with be sad about know

keep keep on be successful in learn

mention look forward to be suitable for manage

mind (object
object to be tired of need

to)
miss participate in be tolerant of offer

need (passive) persist in be upset about plan

omit plan on be used to pledge

postpone prepare for be useful for prepare

practice profit from be worried about pretend

prevent prohibit from

promise

quit put off

refuse

recall result from

resolve

recollect succeed in

seem

recommend suffer from

tend

regret talk about

struggle

resent take part in

swear

resist there's no point in

volunteer

resume think about

wait

risk warn about

want

suggest work on

wish

tolerate worry about

would like

understand

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Verbs that are normally followed by the gerund form:-
acknowledge | admit | adore | anticipate | appreciate | avoid | celebrate | confess | contemplate
delay | deny | describe | detest | discuss | dislike | dread | endure | enjoy
fancy | finish | imagine | involve | keep | justify | mention | mind | miss | omit | postpone |
practise
quit | recall | recommend | regret | report | resent | resume | risk | suggest | tolerate |
understand
For example:
I adore reading your books.
They anticipated winning the election.
I detest going to discos.
We postponed making any decision in the meeting.
I quit smoking.
Do you recall seeing someone like that?
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Verbs which are normally followed by the infinitive form:-
afford | agree | appear | arrange | ask | attempt | care | choose | claim | come | consent
dare | decide | demand | deserve | determine | elect | endeavour | expect | fail | get | guarentee
hate | help | hesitate | hope | hurry | incline | intend | learn | long | manage | mean | need
offer | plan | prepare | pretend | promise | refuse | resolve | say | seem | tend | threaten | want |
wish
For example:
I can't afford to go to the pub.
He agreed to practise more.
You should learn to express yourself.
They managed to fix the problem.
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Verbs which can be followed by the gerund or infinitive form:-
Some verbs can be followed by the gerund or infintive.
With no change in meaning
begin | continue | hate | like | love | neglect | prefer | start | try
For example:-
He began to learn English when he was eight.
He began learning English when he was eight.
I hate to leave.
I hate leaving.
!Note - We often use the gerund when we speak about things in general, and the infinitive
for particular situations.
With a change in meaning
forget | remember | stop
For example:-
I forgot to feed the cat. (The cat is hungry - he has not been fed)
I forgot feeding the cat. (The cat is ok - I fed him and then forgot about it)
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