Grammar: Gerund and Infinitive

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Grammar: Gerund and Infinitive

by English Within Reach

In English, a verb may take three forms as shown below:

Speak (bare infinitive) to speak (full infinitive)

speaking (gerund).

So what are those forms and when to be used?

Let's first with Gerund.

▪A gerund is a noun formed by adding ing to a verb. It is verb + ing= running, working, playing, speaking.

Usage:

it can be used as:

The subject of a sentence: Dancing bored him.

As a complement of a verb: His hobby is painting.

After prepositions: He was accused of smoking.

Verbs followed by a gerund:

Keep, admit, mind, suggest, remember, acknowledge, admit, anticipate, appreciate, avoid, attempt, begin, carry on, can’t help, look forward to, cease, celebrate, complete, confess, consider, delay, deny, detest, discuss, dislike, endure, enjoy, imagine, mind, miss, quit, resent, risk, spend, start, stop, tolerate, understand, waste time.

Expressions with a gerund:

▪It’s no use trying again.

▪It’s no good…..

▪There’s no point in …..

▪What’s the use of….?

▪To be busy….

▪Don’t mind…..

▪It’s worth……

▪Have difficulty in …..

▪The Infinitive:

It has two forms:

▪Full infinitive: To+ verb= to go, to play, to work, to study, to dream

▪Bare infinitive: verb (without “to” = play, work, study, dream

Usage:

it can be used as the subject or the object in a sentence. For example:

▪The glasses will enable you to see in the dark.

▪She encouraged me to try again.

▪They are training the dogs to sniff out drugs.

▪They can play with each other.

▪To err is humane.

Verbs followed by an infinitive:

▪Advise to, forbid to, make, show how to, force to, oblige to, teach how to, order to, tell him to, permit to, induce, invite, request, warn, persuade, instruct, remind, urge, encourage, believe, assume, consider, feel, know, suppose, understand,

▪Bare infinitive: had better, do, dare, make, help, would rather,

Expressions with the infinitive:

▪Had better hurry up.

▪I do speak English

▪I would like to meet you.

▪You are allowed to go out.

▪Don’t feel annoyed to stay alone.

▪I feel ashamed not to greet him.

▪I can/could/must/would stay home.

▪I would prefer to go to the cinema.

▪Let’s play football.

▪Gerund= infinitive

Some verbs can be used with gerund and infinitive without changing the meaning:

▪I hate waiting= I hate to wait.

▪I prefer to play tennis= I prefer playing tennis.

▪Gerund # infinitive

▪In some other cases, using the same verb in gerund or infinitive form may have different meanings. Please consider the two sentences below:

He stopped to smoke.

(he stopped to light the cigarette and start smoking)

He stopped smoking.

(he is no longer smoking).

ExamplesRulesExplanationsVerb + gerund1. I enjoy playing
2. I denied stealingOften we use the gerund for an action that happens before or at the same time as the action of the main verb.1. I enjoy myself at the time of playing.
2. I deny having stolen anything before.Verb + infinitive1. I decided to visit my uncle
2. I want to go outOften we use the infinitive for actions that follow the action of the main verb.1. Visiting my uncle was an action of my decision. It comes after.
2. What I want (now) is to go out (after/later)

Gerund or infinitive:

Verbs	Examples
admit	He admitted stealing the wallet.
advise	I wouldn't advise buying a used car.
allow	They don't allow smoking here. (Note that when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they allowed us to leave early.)
anticipate	He anticipated passing the exam.
avoid	She avoided meeting him.
appreciate	I appreciate working with you.
complete	They completed building their house.
consider	She considered starting a new business.
delay	She delayed doing her homework.
deny	He denied stealing the money.
fancy	Fancy meeting you here!
finish	She finished writing the letter.
go	go swimming.
imagine	He imagines meeting her.
involve	the job involves working in teams.
keep	He keeps complaining about his girlfriend.
mention	He mentioned working in that company.
mind	Would you mind helping me?
miss	He misses talking to her.
permit	The don't permit smoking here. (Note that, like allow, when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they permitted us to leave early.)
postpone	They postponed traveling to Japan.
practice	She practiced painting.
reject	He rejected working with them.
resist	He couldn't resist eating the cake.
risk	She risks losing her job.
suggest	I suggest leaving early.
waste time/money	Don't waste my time complaining.

Verbs	Examples
afford	We can't afford to buy a new car.
agree	She agreed to help him.
aim	The government aims to reduce illiteracy rates
arrange	He arranged to stay at a hotel.
attempt	He attempted to join them.
choose	He chose to stay at home.
consent	She consented to marry him.
decide	They decided to go to the movies.
deserve	He deserves to be punished.
demand	He demanded to speak to Mrs. Lynch
endeavor	They endeavor to provide the best possible service
expect	They expected to arrive early.
fail	He failed to convince him.
happen	They happened to be at the theatre when we met them.
help	She helped me to do the exercise. (Note, help is also followed by a bare infinitive: She helped me do the exercise.)
hope	I hope to join you as soon as possible.
intend	She intends to write an autobiography.
learn	He learned to play the guitar when he was young.
manage	He managed to do his homework without his mother's help.
need	I need to find a job.
offer	He offers to help us.
plan	He plans to follow a career as an engineer.
pretend	The child pretended to be asleep.
proceed	He proceeded to show us how to use the machine.
promise	She promised to come on time.
refuse	She refused to forgive him.
seem	He seemed to be unhappy.
swear	I swear to tell the truth.
threaten	He threatened to reveal her secret.
volunteer	He always volunteers to help the needy.
want	I want to finish my work early.
would hate	He would hate to lose.
would like	He would like to drink a cup of tea.
would love	I would love to meet you.