Gerunds & Infinitives-Video

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Gerunds and Infinitives



It can be a little difficult to know when to use gerunds and infinitives.


We use gerunds (verb + ing):
•After certain verbs - I enjoy singing
•After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
•As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise


We use 'to' + infinitive:
•After certain verbs - We decided to leave
•After many adjectives - It's difficult to get up early
•To show purpose - I came to London to study English


We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):
•After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock
•After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early
•After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I watched her walk away
•After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?


Gerunds and Infinitives with Verbs Part 1


(see part two here and part three here)

Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the gerund:



enjoy

I enjoyed living in France



fancy

I fancy seeing a flim tonight



discuss

We discussed going on holiday together



dislike

I dislike waiting for buses



finish

We've finished preparing for the meeting



mind

I don't mind coming early



suggest

He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel



recommend

They recommended meeting earlier



keep

He kept working, although he felt ill



avoid

She avoided talking to her boss



And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive:



agree

She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting



ask*

I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early



decide

We decided to go out for dinner



help*

He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the kitchen



plan

She plans to buy a new flat next year



hope

I hope to pass the exam



learn

They are learning to sing



want*

I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party



would like*

I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her tonight



promise

We promised not to be late


Gerunds and Infinitives with Verbs Part 2


(see part one here and part three here)

Here are some more verbs that are usually followed by the gerund:



miss

She misses living near the beach



appreciate

I appreciated her helping me.



delay

He delayed doing his taxes.



postpone

He postponed returning to Paris



practise

She practised singing the song.



consider

She considered moving to New York.



can't stand

He can't stand her smoking in the office.



can't help

He can't help talking so loudly.



risk

He risked being caught.



admit

He admitted cheating on the test.



And here are some more verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive:



can afford

We can’t afford to go on holiday.



manage

He managed to open the door without the key.



prepare*

They prepared to take the test /
the teachers prepared the students to take the test.



demand

He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris.



choose

I chose to help.



offer

Frank offered to drive us to the supermarket.



wait

She waited to buy a movie ticket.



would hate*

I’d hate to be late / I’d hate you to be late.



would love*

I’d love to come / I’d love him to come.



seem

Nancy seemed to be disappointed.



*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

Gerunds and Infinitives with Verbs Part 3


(see part one here and part two here)

Here are some more verbs that are usually followed by the gerund:



deny

He denied committing the crime.



mention

He mentioned going to that college.



imagine

He imagines working there one day.



tolerate

I tolerated her talking.



understand

I understand his quitting.



involve

The job involves travelling to Japan once a month.



complete

He completed renovating the house.



report

He reported her stealing the money.



anticipate

I anticipated arriving late.



recall

Tom recalled using his credit card at the store.



And here are some more verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive:



expect*

They expect to arrive early / they expect Julie to arrive early



intend

We intend to visit you next spring.



pretend

The child pretended to be a monster.



refuse

The guard refused to let them enter the building.



tend

He tends to be a little shy.



would prefer*

I’d prefer to do it / I’d prefer him to do it.



deserve

He deserves to go to jail.



appear

His health appeared to be better.



arrange

Naomi arranged to stay with her cousin in Miami.



claim

She claimed to be a princess.



*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.


Source: www.perfect-english-grammar.com