LANGUAGE REFERENCE : Gerund and infinitive

- A -The gerund is used after:

1. certain verbs : ( e.g. avoid - admit - cleny - like - dislike - enjoy - finish - hate - mind -
recommend - keep - risk - suggest - stop - start - spend - dread - miss -
etc.).

2. adjectives+ prepositions: ( e.g. worried about - good at - sorry for - bored with -
_ tired of - capable of - interested in - responsible for - bad at - keen on -
fed up with - fond of - nervous about - clever at - afraid of - skilled at -
terrified of - frightei:ted of.: accustomèd to - etc.).

3. verb + pi-eposition : ( e.g. apologize for - complain about - insist on - succeed in -

look forward to - prevent from - reproach for - thank. for - etc. ) .

4. certain idiomatic phrases: ( e.g. it's no use - can't stand - there's no point in - can't
help - be used to - etc.).

5. The gerund is ~so used as a subj,ect or object of à sentence: ( e.g. Jogging is my favourite sport-1 find
looking after disabled people an enriching experience - etc.).

- B - The infinitive with "to" is used after :

1. certain verbs: ( e.g. afford - fail - prepare - appear - forget - promise - manage -
mean - refuse - choose - hope - offer - seem - decide - intend - plan -
threaten - etc. ) .
2. certain adjectives : ( e.g. I find it too difficult to cope witb this hectic life ) .

. C - Note, however, that certain verbs can either take the 'ing' form or infinitive with 'to' with a difference
in meaning . ( e.g. stop - remember - try - go on - forget - etc.).

Consider the following two examples:

a) Jack stopped to talk to bis friend b) He stoppecl talking to his friend
In example a) Jack stopped in order to talle to his friend. In example b) he used to talle to him but now he
· doesn't any more. Perhaps they do not get on well with each other any longer.
c) I don't remember locking the door: ( I have no recollection of the action).
d) I didn't remember to Iock the door: ( I intended to lock it but I forgot ).
 CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GERUND AND THE INFINITIVE

- A - Put the following verbs in brackets in the infinitive or gerund :

v 1. (Exclude) _ _ _ _ _ _ women from the political scene is a hindrance to women empowerment.

✓ 2. I'm looking forward to (see) _ _ _ _ _ _ you in Paris soon. , -
·v 3. Thank you for (devote) _ _ _ _ _ _ some of your time to our association.
4. I like (keep) all my credit card receiptsjust in case the bank makes a mistake.
5. Wbat would you like-(do) _ _ _ _ _ _ next weekend? .
6. On my way to work, I usually stop (pickup) _ _ _ _ _ hitcbhikers, whatevet they look like. ,,
7. "Have a cigarette l" "Sorry, I don't smoke anymore. I stopped (smoke) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ about two months ago ·
8. After working continuously for four heurs , we stopped (have) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a meal.
9. When I need to remember (do) _ _ _ _ _ _ something important, I tie a knot in my handkerchief so that I
won 't forget..
10. Wou.Id you prefer (stay) _ _ _ _ _ _ at home tonight or (go) _ _ _ _ _ _ out?
11 . Which city in your country would you recommend (visit) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ?
12. Do you remember (live) _ _ _ _ _ _ in this village when you were a child?
13. Please, don't forget (book) _ _ _ _ _ a table for six people in the restaurant for tomo.rrow!
14. l'll never gét this report finished if you keep (interrupt) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ me.
15 . l'm bored with (do) _ _ _ _ _ _ the same thing all the time. I need a change badly.
16. I'll never forget (tell) _ _ _ _ _ _ my first lie. It was about 20 years ago.
17. "If you don't take your job seriously, you risk (get) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ sacked." The boss said.
18. "Would you mind (repeat) _ _ _ _ _ _ that? I didn 't really catch what you said."
19. (Work) _ _ _ _ _ _ for the benefit of my community is sornething I lik:e.
20. lt's no use (talk) _ _ _ _ _ _ to her. You will just waste your tirne . She never listens .

- B - Rewrite the following sentences as indicated using the gerund or the infinitive :

1. "No, I won't help you with your homework!" Jack's father said.
Jack's father flatly refused .... ........ .... ...... .. ...... .
. 't know what to do, 1 went to look for sornebody
2. As. I didn ··· ·· ······ ········
to help me. ······ ············ ·· ·.. ··· ..... · · · ·· · · · · · · · · · ·· ·· ·· · · · ··
Not knowing ... . ........ .......... .. ........... . ............ .. ..... .. ... .. .... .
3 · Six people were killed in an accident · A teenage driver was respons1'bl.e· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ... · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·· · · ·
A teenage driver was responsible for .. .. . ........ ... .. . ..... ·
4. I'm sorry I treated you that way in front of your friends
·
i;w·:
·a·s· ···a·· .. .f.. · ·· · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·· · · · · · ··· · ·· · · · · · · · ·· ·· ."... ·
ru e o me
r,regret .. ...... .. .. . .. . .. ... .... ..... ... .. ; ... ... ..... .. ' ... ' ...... ................. .. .·...... .
5. I m awfully sorry I called you so late. · · · · ••. .. . ........ ... . .. . ... . . .. ... ... .
Forgive me for. .. .... . ........... . ...... .. . . ..... .... . ... . . ·
6. I find it difficult to drive in the rain . · .. · .... · · .. · .. · .. · . .. . ...... ; .. .. .. ...... .................. . .... .. .. .. .
l'm not good at ....... .. ... . .... ...... .. ......... . ... ... . ... .
7. "Don 't forget to buy some tea when you go shoppm· · g ,,".M.·· ·t·h· · · · · · ·.· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · •• . • . . . •· ·
· o er sa.id - · · · · · · · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · ·· · ·
"Please, remember... ... . . . ... . . .. . . .. . .. . .. . . . . .. . . · .
8. We never talk about poli tics at home . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · • •.. ...... . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . ..... . ..... .
My family always avoids .... .............. . .......... .
9. I don 't like people who smoke in public places . · · · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ••. ... .. ... . .. . ...... . ... . .. . ....... . ... .. ... .

28
 I don 't approve of people .................................. .................................. .............................. ••••• • •
10. This play is boring. It's not worth seeing at all.
I don 't want you .................................. ......................./. .................................. ...................... .
11. The Prime Minister submitted his resignation to the king because he was accused of dishonesty.
.Accused .of dishonesty, the Prime Minister decided .................................. ........ • •• '. ••· · · · · · ·· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
12. "l'll help you do the washing up, mum. I promise."
She promised her mother .............................. ; .................................. ...................... •• •• ••• • ••· · · · · · · ·
13. I really liked the bunch of flowers you'd sent me for my bfrthday.
It was kind of you .................................. .................................. ................................ •. • . •• •••• •• •

- C - Choose the correct answer:

1. He spent his time in Las Vegas _ _ _ _ _ __

( to sightsee - sightseeing - sightsee - going to sightsee )
2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a celebrity has both advantages and disadvantages.
( be - to be - been - being )
3. I couldn't concentrate on my work because my brother kept _ _ _ _ _ _ _ me with his silly questions.
( to bother - bother - bothering - bothered )
4 . Although he didn'thave much money left, he insisted _ _ _ _ _ _ _ everybody a drink.
( buying - to buy - about buying - on buying )
5. It was wrong ofyou _ _ _ _ _ _ _ her the way-you did. You caused her a lot of embarrassment. ( to insult
- insult - insulting - insulted )