GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

BUSINESS ETHICS

ENGLISH IV
 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Fill in the blanks with gerunds or with infinitives. Then, write the rule or
generalization that can be drawn from the sentences.

Enforcing
1. ________________ a code of ethics in a company is a great idea. (Enforce)

Covering up
2. _____________ for colleagues at work is ethically questionable. (Cover up)

Bending
3. ______________ the rules to “help” the company is unethical too. (Bend)

Use the gerund as the subject of a sentence.

 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

1. I read an article about __________codes

writing of ethics for corporations. (write)

2. Some companies are interested in _______________

enforcing codes of ethics. (enforce)

improving their ethical standards at the workplace. (improve)

3. They look forward to __________

requiring ethical behavior through a contract. (require)

4. Some people are against __________

Use the gerund after prepositions.

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 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

minimizing
1. Mike justifies _______________the achievements of colleagues. (minimize)

meeting
2. He also recommends _____________targets at all costs. (meet)

acting
3. He even suggested __________in favor of a client for a bribe . (act)

4. Some people, as Mike, don’t mind ____________.

cheating (cheat)

Some verbs are always followed by the gerund.

Check list.
 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

Shareholders Stakeholders

to make
1. Shareholders always expect ___________profits. (make )

to get
2. Stakeholders seek ___________non-monetary rewards too. (get)

to invest too much in community projects. (invest)

3. Some shareholders refuse __________

4. Employees (stakeholders) want _________fair

to have pay and working conditions . (have)

to care about the environment. (care)

5. Some shareholders tend _________

Some verbs are always followed by the

infinitive. Check list.
 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

to dispose/disposing
1. LiPro started ____________________ garbage in an environmentally
friendly way. (dispose)

to go / going to the beach every summer. (go)

2. That is why I love ________________

to listen/listening
3. I can’t stand ____________________ to workplace gossip. (listen)

Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a

gerund and the meaning of the sentence does
not change. Check list.
 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?
Which one is correct?

to buy
1. I stopped ___________ coffee. (buy)
buying
I stopped ____________ coffee.

to smoke . (smoke)
2. She quit ____________
She quit ____________
smoking .

3. Did you remember ____________the

to send fax? (send)
sending the fax?
Do you remember _____________

Some verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a

gerund BUT the meaning of the sentence
changes. Check list.
 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

to work
1. I am happy ______________in a company with a written code of ethics. (work)

to follow
2. We are proud_____________ our company principles and values. (follow)

to talk
3. It’s disgusting ___________ to people like Mike! (talk)

Use the infinitive after adjectives

 GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

1. My company only hires people who are willing to sign the code of ethics
________________ethical
to foster standards (foster)

to develop
2. Sumitomo worked hard ______________a code of ethics in 2004. (develop)

3. Many people believe nowadays that businesses should not exist only
to make
____________ profit. (make)

Use the infinitive to show purpose

Always use the gerund after expressions which end with
prepositions
Be accustomed to
Be committed to
Be concerned about
Be dedicated to
Be interested in
Be involved in
Be responsible for
Choose between/among
Deal with
Succeed in
have (no) difficulty (in)
have (no) experience (in)
have (no) luck (in)
have (no) trouble (in)
insist on
look forward to
have the responsibility of
object to
plan on
LISTS OF VERBS & EXERCISES

• http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbl
ist.htm
• http://www.testyourenglish.net/english-
online/subjects/gerinflist.html
• http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/gerundinftext
.htm

And look for interactive exercises on gerunds and

infinitives in the Web!
 MEMORY GAME

• Get in groups of 5 students. Number heads.

• Eachstudent makes a sentence combining a prompt with a

phrase (watch for gerunds and infinitives!)

• Eachstudent repeats what the other students said and adds a

new sentence.
1) I am willing ... Download music Show off
Learn several Wear red cloths
2) I am looking languages
forward to… Travel to New Withdraw money
York from an ATM
3) I can’t stand… Learn new things Sleep late
Fall in love Get wet
4) I don’t want… Listen to gossip Fail a test
Break the law Sell things
5) I am good at… Send long text Quit eating
messages sweets at night

Tell lies Make up stories

Overeat Speed 1) …is what I
usually do.
Quit smoking Overcome fear
Fool around Get stressed 2) …really bothers
Smoke weed Not read me.
Go to the movies Not exercise
Post pictures in Not be able to 3)…makes me
Facebook wake up early crazy.

Do homework Wake up early

4)…is something I
Write an essay Borrow money would like to
Spread bad news Give charity do.
Listen to opera Take pills