GERUND   The  –ing  form  of  the  verb  may  be  the  subject  of  a  verb.    

Ex.  Smoking  is  not  allowed.                Laughing  helps  you  live  longer.  

The  gerund  may  be  the  object  of  certain  verbs.  

Ex.  I  can’t  stand  cheating.                I  love  walking  in  the  rain.  

Some  verbs  with  a  preposition  -­‐  succeed  in,  think  about,  object  to,  look  forward  to,  give  up,  …-­‐  are  followed  by  a  gerund  from  only.  

Ex.  They  will  succeed  in  completing  the  project.   After  preposition  the  gerund  is  used.  Ex.  After  having  lunch,  On  breaking  the  day,  …  

Some  verbs  are  followed  by  –ing  form:    like,  enjoy,  fancy,  admit,  consider,  miss,  finish,  mind,  hate,  imagine,  deny,  involve,  postpone,  delay,  

suggest,    avoid,  practice,  risk…  Ex.  He  didn’t  mind  getting  up  early.                They  deny  cheating  in  the  exam.  

After  some  expressions  we  use  the  gerund:  Can´t  help,  can´t  stand,  can´t  resist,  can´t  bear,  to  be  use  to,  to  be  worth…  

Ex.  I  can’t  help  biting  my  nails  

 

INFINITIVE   Some  verbs  are  followed  by  a  to  infinitive:    

afford,   agree,   appear,   arrange,   ask,   beg,   care,  claim,   consent,   decide,   demand,   deserve,   expect,  

fail,   hesitate,   hope,   learn,   manage,   mean,   need,  offer,   plan,   prepare,   pretend,   promise,   refuse,    seem,   struggle,   swear,   threaten,   volunteer,  wait,  

want,  wish.  Ex.    I  can’t  afford  to  buy  a  new  laptop  for  

Christmas.  

Some  of  the  verbs  which  are  followed  by  a  to-­‐infinitive  require  a  direct  object  before  the  Inf:    advise,    allow,  command,  convince,  force,  instruct,  

invite,  order,  remind,  request,  teach,  tell.  Ex.    I  advise  you  to  prepare  for  the  exam.  

Modal  verbs  –can,  could,  may,  should,  will,  need,  

…-­‐  are  followed  by  –inf.    Ex.  Can  you  be  quiet,  please?        

You  should  be  more  confident.  

Some  verbs  (let,  make,  see,  hear,  feel,  watch,  notice,  have)  are  followed  by  –inf.    Ex.      Let  him  go  out.              She  saw  him  come  in.  

In  the  expressions  adj  +  to  inf.  Ex.  It  is  easy  to  understand.    This  exercise  is  hard  to  do.  

-­‐ing  or  infinitive?  Some  verbs  can  be  followed  by  either  a  to-­‐infinitive  or  a  gerund.  In  some  cases,  there  is  a  change  in  meaning.   With  the  verbs   remember,   forget,  stop  and  regret  the  difference   in  meaning  is  connected  with  time.  The  –ing  form  

refers  to   things   that  happen  before   the  time   (in   the  past)  while   the   to-­‐infinitive   refers  to   things   that  happen    after  

them  (in  the  future).  Ex.  Remember  to  go         I  remember  going  there  once  

I  forgot  to  send  you  a  postcard     I’ll  never  forget  seeing  snow  for  the  first  time    I  stopped  to  see  what  was  wrong     I  stopped  reading  the  moment  he  arrived  

I  regret  telling  her  my  secret     I  regret  to  tell  you  that  you  failed  your  test.  I  mean  to  finish  it  now       That  meant  getting  up  early  

   Some  verbs  have  a  change  in  meaning.  

She  tried  to  put  on  the  red  dress,  but  it  was  too  small.                  She  tried  putting  on  the  red  dress,  but  he  didn’t  notice  her.      

A. Complete the sentences by using the correct form to-infinitive or gerund of the verbs in brackets.

1. The soldier refused _____________________ (obey) and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied ___________________ (kill) the old woman for her money. 3. Would you like _______________________ (make) a lot of money? 4. I don’t mind ________________________ (live) with only a little money. 5. I’ll never forget _________________ (ski) in the Alps that winter. 6. Don’t forget ____________________ (post) the letter I gave you. 7. We regret ___________________ (inform) you that you have not passed the

test. 8. The thief tried _________________ (climb) the wall, but he couldn’t. 9. “Will you stop _________________ (talk) in class?” shouted the teacher. 10. I prefer ___________________ (go) to the cinema rather than the theatre.

B. Fill the gaps with to inf or –ing 1. The shop keeps on ____________ (send)

circulars. 2. I was only trying __________ (help) you. 3. I can’t help _____________ (laugh) at

his jokes. 3. They enjoy ____________ (spend) their

holiday in Istanbul. 4. It’s no good ___________ (use) such a

small dictionary. 5. She stopped at Smith’s ____________

(buy) a magazine. 6. My son likes ______________ (travel)

by aeroplane.

C. Choose the best answer. 1. My father began to collect /

collecting stamps years ago. 2. Jane hopes passing / to pass her

exams next month. 3. Stop to tell / telling such stories to

the men. 4. To smile / Smiling helps you

make friends. 5. There’s no point in to do / doing it

now. 6. He promised to write / writing

soon.

D. Write the correct form of the TO INF or –ING of the following verbs: travel push speak obey work kill talk drive ski

1. The soldier refused ____________ orders and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied ____________ the old woman for her money. 3. I’ll never forget ___________ in the Alps that winter. 4. “Will you stop _____________ in class?” shouted the teacher. 5. If the car won’t start, try ____________ it. 6. I prefer ___________ to Istanbul rather than Sicily. 7. I’d rather you ____________ less and ______________ more. 8. They don’t go their daughter __________ alone. 9. At ________________, we set off our honeymoon trip to New Zealand.

ANSWER KEY

A.

1. to obey 6. to post 2. killing 7. to inform 3. to make 8. to climb 4. living 9. talking 5. skiing 10. going

B.

1. sending 2. to help 3. laughing 4. spending 5. to use 6. to buy 7. travelling

C.

1. to collect / collecting 2. to pass 3. telling 4. Smiling 5. going 6. to write 7. Talking

D.

1. The soldier refused to obey orders and was put in jail. 2. The accused denied killing the old woman for her money. 3. I’ll never forget skiing in the Alps that winter. 4. “Will you stop talking in class?” shouted the teacher. 5. If the car won’t start, try pushing it. 6. I prefer travelling to Istanbul rather than Sicily. 7. I’d rather you to speak less and to work more. 8. They don’t want their daughter to go to England alone. 9. At sunrising, we set off our honeymoon trip to New Zealand.