Verbs followed by the Gerund

Example: I enjoy enjoy cooking.

admit
advise
allow
appreciate
avoid
can't help
can't stand
consider
delay
deny
dislike
enjoy
escape
fancy
finish
go (in go swimming)
imagine
involve
keep
mention
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practise
reject
resist
risk
stop
suggest
understand
waste time / money

Verbs with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.

accuse of
adjust to
agree with

apologize for
approve of
ask about
ask for
begin by
believe in
be used to
blame for
care for
carry on
complain about
concentrate on
congratulate on
consist of
cope with
decide against
decide for
depend on
die of
dream about / of
escape from
feel like
forgive for
give up
insist on
keep on
look forward to
object to
pay for
prevent sb. from
protect from
put off
rely on
spend money on
spend time on
succeed in
suspect of
take part in
talk about / of
thank for
think of
use for
warn against
worry about

Nouns / Nouns with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: There's no point in waiting any longer.

advantage of
alternative of
chance of
choice between
danger of
difficulty in
doubt about
experience in
fun
hope of
idea of
interest in
opportunity of
place for
pleasure in
point in
possibility of
problem
reason for
trouble
trouble in
use
way of
waste of money
waste of time

Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: Instead of studying for her exams, she went out every night.

about (in 'how/what about')

after
apart from
because of
before
by
in
in spite of
instead of
on
without

Adjectives (with Prepositions) followed by the Gerund

Example: I am interested in visiting the museum.

afraid of
angry about / at
bad at
busy
clever at
crazy about
disappointed about
excited about
famous for
fond of
glad about
good at
impressed by
interested in
keen on
like
near
proud of
sick of
sorry about
tired of
worried about
worth

Infinitive after certain Verbs (without to)

Example: We must stay at home.

can
dare (also with to)
do
help (also with to)
let
may
must
need (also with to)
shall
should
will

Infinitive after certain Verbs (with to)

Example: He refused to pay the bill.

afford
agree
aim
appear
arrange
attempt
be determined
beg
care
choose
claim
condescend
consent
dare (also without to)
decide
demand
deserve
determine
endeavour
expect
fail
guarantee
happen
have

help (also without to)

hesitate
hope
learn
long
manage
mean
need (also without to)
neglect
offer
ought
plan
prepare
pretend
proceed
promise
refuse
resolve
seem
stop
swear
tend
threaten
trouble
undertake
used
volunteer
vow
want
wish
would hate
would like
would love
would prefer

Infinitive after certain Expressions (without 'to')

Example: I would rather stay at home.

had better
would rather
would sooner
why not

why should I/you/ [not]

Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (without 'to')

Example: We heard him scream.

let
make

Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (with 'to')

Example: She got me to wash the dishes.

advise
allow
ask
beg
cause
enable
encourage
expect
forbid
force
get
help
invite
mean
order
permit
persuade
recommend
remind
teach
tell
want
warn
would hate
would like
would love
would prefer

Infinitive as the Subject of a Clause (followed by the verbs below)

Example: To follow his advice seemed logical.

be
seem
appear

Infinitive after certain Verbs with Interrogative (how, if, what, where,
whether)
Example: We didn't remember where to meet.

ask
advise + Objekt
consider
decide
explain
find out
forget
know
learn
remember
see
show
teach
tell + object
understand
wonder

Infinitive after certain Nouns

Example: There was no need to get angry.

effort
agreement
aim
appearance
arrangement
attempt
choice
claim
decision
determination

expectation
failure
guarantee
hesitation
hope
longing
need
neglect
offer
plan
preparation
procedure
promise
refusal
resolution
tendency
threat
trouble
try

Infinitive after certain Adjectives

Example: It was impossible to go back.

amazed
amazing
angry
astonished
astonishing
awkward
brave
careless
clever
cowardly
crazy
delighted
difficult
disappointed
disgusted
easy
extraordinary
funny
generous

glad
happy
hard
honest
horrified
impossible
kind
nice
odd
pointless
relieved
ridiculous
rude
sad
selfish
silly
sorry
strange
stupid
surprised
wicked
wise

Words used either with the Infinitive or Gerund

Example: I started to read. / I started reading.
attempt
begin
bother
cannot bear
cease
continue
hate
intend
love
prefer
start

Words with the same meaning but different use

Word
advise

Infinitive - with an object

I advise you to go by bus.

Gerund without an object

I advise going by bus.

allow / permit He allowed her to take the car. He allowed taking the car.

forbid

She forbids us to smoke.

She forbids smoking.

Words with a different meaning

Word

Infinitive meaning

Gerund meaning

forget /

with regard to the future

with regard to the past

remember

Remember to switch off the

Do you remember switching off

lights.

the lights?

start something new

continue with the same action

Go on to read.

Go on reading.

with regard to the future

with regard to the past

go on

regret

stop

try

I regret to say that.

I regret saying that.

interrupt another action

terminate

I stopped to smoke.

I stopped smoking.

do something complicated

do it and see what happens

Try to solve this riddle.

Try talking to him.

Infinitive or Present Participle

Gerund and present participle are not exactly the same. As this chapter
is about when to use the infinitive and when to use the ing-form,
however, we have also listed words here that can be used either with the
infinitive or the present participle
Words

Infinitive meaning

Gerund meaning

feel

Emphasises that the action is Action can be completed, but

hear

completed.

not necessarily.

see

Example: I saw him go up the

Example: I saw him going up

stairs.

the stairs.

go

expresses a purpose

in connection with activities

come

Example: She is coming to

Example: Lets go shopping /

show us the pictures.

dancing.

EX.1
Exercise on Infinitive and Gerund
Infinitive with / without to

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to).

1.

I can

English.

(speak)

2.

We have

our homework.

3.

You must

4.

I will

5.

He cannot

6.

My little sister learns

7.

They want

8.

You should

9.

I'd like

10.

May we

at home.
you.

(do)

(stay)

us.

(help)
(see)
.

to the cinema.
your parents.
a dog.
in?

(speak)

(go)
(ask)

(have)
(come)

EX. 2
Infinitive Constructions
Imagine you work in a tourist information. Tell your colleague what the
tourists asked you. Transform the direct speech into infinitive
constructions.
1.

Two women asked, "How do we get to the castle?" Two women asked
how to g

2.

A man asked, "Where can I catch the bus?" One man did not know

3.

An old lady asked, "Why should I go to the zoo by bus?" An old

lady did not understand

4.
Some teenagers asked, "Shall we buy a map?" Some teenagers wanted
to know
5.
Two teenage girls asked, "Where can we go shopping?" Two teenage
girls asked
6.
A family asked, "Which film could we watch?" A family wanted to
go to the cinema but they did not know
7.
A couple asked, "Where can we buy tickets for the opera?" A
couple wanted to know
8.
A young woman asked, "When can I go on a sight-seeing tour?" A
young woman asked

9.

A businessman asked, "What bar can I go to?" A businessman did

not know
10.
A drunk asked, "How do I get home?" A drunk could not remember

EX. 3

Exercise on Gerund

Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.
dancing

1.

She is good at (dance)

2.

He is crazy about (sing)

3.

I don't like (play)

4.

They are afraid of (swim)

5.

You should give up (smoke)

6.

Sam dreams of (be)

7.

He is interested in (make)

friends.

8.

My uncle is afraid of (go)

by plane.

9.

We insist on (cook)

EX. 4

.
.

cards.
in the sea.
.

a popstar.

the dinner ourselves.

Gerund used as a subject

Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.
1.

(cook)

2.

(cycle)

3.

(Get)

4.

(Find)

5.

(drive)

6.

No (smoke)

7.

(work)

8.

(eat)

9.

(make)

10.

(learn)

is one of her hobbies.

is fun.
a good job is not easy.
a parking space is quite difficult in this area.
becomes more and more expensive.
in this area.
overtime is quite common in this company.
fruits and vegetables is good for your health.
fun of other people is not nice.
about other cultures makes people more tolerant.

EX. 5

Infinitive or Gerund

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1.

We go

2.

Let it

3.

He dreams of

4.

They enjoy

5.

It is not easy

6.

My friend is afraid of

7.

Jane is good at

8.

He wanted

9.

I am crazy about

10.

You must

EX. 6

every week.
.

swim
be

an actor.

become

cycle
good friends.

find
fly

read

a new computer game.

.

buy

kiss

to my party.

come

Exercise Infinitive or Gerund (Mix)

Infinitive or Gerund? - Which is correct?

1.

When you come to the crossroads - stop there.

Remember to stop at the crossroads.
Remember stopping at the crossroads.

2.

Both possibilities are correct.

Yesterday she read the first pages of her new book.
She began to read her new book.
She began reading her new book.

3.

Both possibilities are correct.

I was talking to Marc. But when my boyfriend came in, I could not
talk to Marc anymore.
I stopped to talk to him.
I stopped talking to him.

4.

Both possibilities are correct.

We might go to England next year.
We intend to spend our holiday in England.

We intend spending our holiday in England.

5.

Both possibilities are correct.

I wanted to write a letter, but I didn't know what to write. (So in
the end, I didn't write one.)
I tried to write a letter.
I tried writing a letter.
Both possibilities are correct.
I am sorry now for something I said earlier on.

6.

I regret to say this.

I regret saying this.
7.

Both possibilities are correct.

She read the text. Then she stopped. Now I want her to continue
with the text.
Go on to read.
Go on reading.

Both possibilities are correct.

8.
You think your computer does not work, but you just haven't
switched on the monitor yet.
Your computer does not work? Try to switch on the monitor.
Your computer does not work? Try switching on the monitor.
Both possibilities are correct.
The joke was so funny, that he bursted out in laughter.

9.

He started to laugh.
He started laughing.
10.

Both possibilities are correct.

Yesterday I remembered that last year I got sick on your carpet.
I remembered to get sick on your carpet.
I remembered getting sick on your carpet.
Both possibilities are correct.

Test

Write down the ing-form (Gerund) of the following verbs.

work -

leave -

run -

look -

call Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions.

She didn't tell me (do / what)

We asked a man (get / to the station / how)

We didn't know (go / this way or that way / whether)

She found out (queue / for the tickets / where)

I learnt (juggle / with three balls / how)

Fill in the gerund as the subject of the sentence.

(smoke)

causes cancer.

(play)

football is not allowed here.

(walk)

in New York's Central Park at night can be dangerous.

(spend)

your summer holidays watching TV is a waste of time.

(sleep)

in is what we usually do on a Sunday.

Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund.

Jenny is afraid of

Bob wants

I cannot

Carla enjoys

Garth is good at

Test

.
to Japan.

fly
travel

you the bike.

.

give
shop

jokes.

tell

Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund.

What can we do

a healthy life?

In our society, people spend more and more time

So we often don't bother

In order

At fast food restaurants, we can

healthy meals.

time, we tend

a fortune.

Save/buy

quite a lot without

That's a problem because eating habits are hard

shake
The high amount of carbonhydrates in fast food and sugary drinks is
the body's regulation of appetite. destabilize

So we keep on

Bad eating habits result in people

Obese people risk

prepare

chips and burgers and

fast food.

. work

Eat/have/pay

And children enjoy

lemonade and cola.
Eat/drink

blamed for

live

We can
healthy food.

more.

Want/eat
obese.

from heart diseases.

become
suffer

such diseases by
Avoid/risk/choose/eat

Be careful though. Some people are convinced

something for

their health by
on energy bars or cornflakes.
Do/live
And this is what the advertising for these products wants

us
.
Make/think
In reality, however, these foods are often heavily sugared

them flavour.
give
But sugar is not mentioned as clearly as the low fat - that's why
experts warn against

on the ads.

To live a healthy life, we ought

choose
We should
more.

regular meals and

Eat/try/find/exercise

ANSWERS:
EX. 1 Infinitive with / without to

rely
our food wisely.
ways of

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

EX. 2

I can speak English.

We have to do our homework.
You must stay at home.
I will help you.
He cannot see us.
My little sister learns to speak.
They want to go to the cinema.
You should ask your parents.
I'd like to have a dog.
May we come in?

Infinitive Constructions

Imagine you work in a tourist information. Tell your colleague what the
tourists asked you. Transform the direct speech into infinitive
constructions.
1.

Two women asked, "How do we get to the castle?" Two women asked
how to get to the castle.
2.
A man asked, "Where can I catch the bus?" One man did not know
where to catch the bus.
3.
An old lady asked, "Why should I go to the zoo by bus?" An old
lady did not understand why to go to the zoo by bus.
4.
Some teenagers asked, "Shall we buy a map?" Some teenagers wanted
to know whether to buy a map.
5.
Two teenage girls asked, "Where can we go shopping?" Two teenage
girls asked where to go shopping.
6.
A family asked, "Which film could we watch?" A family wanted to
go to the cinema but they did not know which film to watch.
7.
A couple asked, "Where can we buy tickets for the opera?" A
couple wanted to know where to buy tickets for the opera.
8.
A young woman asked, "When can I go on a sight-seeing tour?" A
young woman asked when to go on a sight-seeing tour.
9.
A businessman asked, "What bar can I go to?" A businessman did
not know what bar to go to.
10.
A drunk asked, "How do I get home?" A drunk could not remember
how to get home.

EX. 3
Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in
parentheses.
1.

She is good at dancing

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

EX. 4

He is crazy about singing.

I don't like playing cards.
They are afraid of swimming in the sea.
You should give up smoking .
Sam dreams of being a popstar.
He is interested in making friends.
My uncle is afraid of going by plane.
We insist on cooking the dinner ourselves.

Gerund used as a subject

Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

EX. 5

Cooking is one of her hobbies.

Cycling is fun.
Getting a good job is not easy.
Finding a parking space is quite difficult in this area.
Driving becomes more and more expensive.
No smoking in this area.
Working overtime is quite common in this company.
Eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health.
Making fun of other people is not nice.
Learning about other cultures makes people more tolerant.

Infinitive or Gerund

Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

We go swimming every week.

Let it be .
He dreams of becoming an actor.
They enjoy cycling .
It is not easy to find good friends.
My friend is afraid of flying
Jane is good at reading .
He wanted to buy a new computer game.
I am crazy about kissing .
You must come to my party.

EX.

Exercise Infinitive or Gerund (Mix)

Infinitive or Gerund? - Which is correct?

1.

When you come to the crossroads - stop there.

Remember to stop at the crossroads.
Remember stopping at the crossroads.

2.

Both possibilities are correct.

Yesterday she read the first pages of her new book.
She began to read her new book.
She began reading her new book.

Both possibilities are correct.

3.
I was talking to Marc. But when my boyfriend came in, I could not
talk to Marc anymore.
I stopped to talk to him.
I stopped talking to him.
4.

Both possibilities are correct.

We might go to England next year.
We intend to spend our holiday in England.
We intend spending our holiday in England.

Both possibilities are correct.

5.
I wanted to write a letter, but I didn't know what to write. (So in
the end, I didn't write one.)
I tried to write a letter.
I tried writing a letter.
6.

Both possibilities are correct.

I am sorry now for something I said earlier on.
I regret to say this.
I regret saying this.

Both possibilities are correct.

7.
She read the text. Then she stopped. Now I want her to continue
with the text.
Go on to read.
Go on reading.
Both possibilities are correct.
8.
You think your computer does not work, but you just haven't
switched on the monitor yet.
Your computer does not work? Try to switch on the monitor.

Your computer does not work? Try switching on the monitor.

Both possibilities are correct.
The joke was so funny, that he bursted out in laughter.

9.

He started to laugh.
He started laughing.
10.

Both possibilities are correct.

Yesterday I remembered that last year I got sick on your carpet.
I remembered to get sick on your carpet.
I remembered getting sick on your carpet.
Both possibilities are correct.

Test

Write down the ing-form (Gerund) of the following verbs.

work - working
leave - leaving
run - running
look - looking
call - calling
Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions.

She didn't tell me what to do.

We asked a man how to get to the station.
We didn't know whether to go this way or that way.
She found out where to queue for the tickets.
I learnt how to juggle with three balls.
Fill in the gerund as the subject of the sentence.

Smoking causes cancer.

Playing football is not allowed here.
Walking in New York's Central Park at night can be dangerous.
Spending your summer holidays watching TV is a waste of time.
Sleeping in is what we usually do on a Sunday.
Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund.

Jenny is afraid of flying.

Bob wants to travel to Japan.
I cannot give you the bike.
Carla enjoys shopping.
Garth is good at telling jokes.

Test

Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund.

What can we do to live a healthy life?

In our society, people spend more and more time working.
So we often don't bother to prepare healthy meals.
In order to save time, we tend to buy fast food.
At fast food restaurants, we can eat quite a lot without having to
pay a fortune.
And children enjoy eating chips and burgers and drinking lemonade
and cola.
That's a problem because eating habits are hard to shake
The high amount of carbonhydrates in fast food and sugary drinks is
blamed for destabilising the body's regulation of appetite.
So we keep on wanting to eat more.
Bad eating habits result in people becoming obese.
Obese people risk suffering from heart diseases.
We can avoid risking such diseases by choosing to eat healthy food.
Be careful though. Some people are convinced to do something for
their health by living on energy bars or cornflakes.
And this is what the advertising for these products wants to make
us think.
In reality, however, these foods are often heavily sugared to give
them flavour.
But sugar is not mentioned as clearly as the low fat - that's why
experts warn against relying on the ads.
To live a healthy life, we ought to choose our food wisely.
We should eat regular meals and try to find ways of exercising
more.