GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

This is not an exhaustive document. You should also study the section on gerund and
infinitive in the grammar appendix of your textbook.

GERUND

admit finish recall
advise imagine recollect
anticipate keep recommend
appreciate mention resent
avoid mind resist
complete postpone risk
consider practise tolerate
delay quit understand
discuss cant stand

Examples:
-Were considering moving house.
-Have you finished doing your homework?
-I dont recollect seeing them there.
-I managed to avoid being noticed.
-We delayed signing the contract.
-I cant imagine not having a car.
-She cant stand being interrupted.


-ALL PREPOSITIONS ARE FOLLOWED BY A GERUND.

Examples:
-They apologized for arriving late.
-Im tired of sitting here.
-I gave up smoking last year.
-Whats the point of waiting here?


-TO EXPRESS SHORT PROHIBITIONS (signs)

Examples:
-No smoking.
-No parking.


INFINITIVE

arrange deserve promise
ask fail struggle
care hesitate swear
cant afford manage threaten
claim offer volunteer
consent prepare wait
demand pretend

Examples:
-He promised to write every day.
-I cant afford to miss this opportunity.
-If you need more, dont hesitate to ask.


-VERB + HOW + INFINITIVE
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
WHICH
WHY

Examples:
-Can you tell me how to get to the station?
-I dont know what to do.



-TOO + ADJECTIVE + INFINITIVE
ADJECTIVE + ENOUGH + INFINITIVE

Examples:
-He is too young to drive a car.
-He is old enough to drive a car.




INDIRECT OBJECT + INFINITIVE

allow encourage need
ask expect order
cause forbid permit
challenge force remind
convince hire require
dare instruct urge
enable

Examples:
-We must encourage them to finish their degree.
-The librarian doesnt allow us to talk here.
talking here.
-Their generosity enabled us to make the trip.
-Dont allow her to talk to you like that.
-I didnt dare to answer.



BARE INFINITIVE

Would rather make
Had better let

Examples:
-The heat made us sweat.
-I wont let you go.
-Which would you rather have, an apple or an orange?
-Youd better go by plane.




INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITHOUT CHANGE OF MEANING

Like love hate
Intend prefer begin
Continue cease start
Cant bear

Examples:
-He cant bear being criticized.
-I cant bear to think what might have happened.
-It started to rain / raining at about 12:00.
INFINITIVE OR GERUND WITH CHANGE OF MEANING


-MEAN: + GERUND -------- signifies
-The transport strike meant (their) having to walk to
work.
-Having a party tonight will mean (our) having extra work
tomorrow.

+ INFINITIVE ------- to intend
-We meant to tell you, but we forgot.
-I mean to work harder next year.

-TRY: + GERUND ------- make an experiment
-If you dont have the key, try using a credit card to open the
door.
+ INFINITVE---- make an effort
-I tried to make him understand, but he wouldnt listen.