Gerunds (verbal nouns) are used in the following cases:

1. As the subject at the beginning of the sentences.

Smoking is bad for your health.
Speaking to him was an exciting experience.

2. After prepositions in the following expressions

I’m tired of doing homework everyday.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Proud of Responsible for Give up

Tired of Good at Object to
Afraid of Fond of Succeed in
Ashamed of Be used to Accuse of
Bored with Get used to Depend on
Interested in Excited about Insist on
Put off Look forward to

3. After certain verbs and expressions

I enjoy swimming in the summer.
Would you mind closing the window?

Admit Consider It’s worth

Enjoy Feel like It’s no use
Postpone Finish Can’t help
Suggest Avoid Can’t stand
deny Resent Would you mind

4. The following verbs can be followed by either a gerund or infinitive

I started working early / I started to work early

begin start continue like love hate prefer intend

5.. Verbs of sensation – both gerund and infinitive!

See Hear Feel Smell

I hear him singing / sing
I felt the house shaking / shake

6. Nouns and possessives

I’m looking forward to your visiting me.
I dislike my parents telling me what do.

7. GERUND or INFINITIVE – different meanings

I stopped to talk to him I stopped talking to him

I remembered to post the letter I remembered posting the letter
I forgot to mail the letter I forgot mailing the letter
I used to work hard I’m used to working hard
I regret to say that the lecture was boring I regret saying that the lecture was boring
We use the INFINITIVE (to + V1) in the following cases:

1. VERB + to + V1
Example: He plans to be a doctor.

Agree Appear Arrange Ask

Beg Consent Decide Expect
Fail Hesitate Hope Know how
Learn Mean Need Plan
Prepare Promise Refuse Seem
Want Would like

2. VERB + OBJECT + to + V1
Example: I want Sally to tell me the truth.
He told me to leave.

Allow Advise Ask Beg

Cause Convince Encourage Expect
Urge Forbid Force Order
Permit Persuade Remind Want
Would like

3. VERB + (OBJECT) + V1
Example: He let me use the car last night.
My mother makes me clean my room.

Let Make Help Had better

Would rather

4. After the following expressions

 He was the first person to leave.

 He was the only boy to sign up for the course.
 She is too young to drive / she is old enough to drive.
 I went to the store to buy food.
 I need a chair to sit on.

Note: We don’t allow students to smoke in the school.

We don’t allow smoking in the school.
A. Complete the following sentences by filling in appropriate GERUNDS
1. _________ isn’t healthy for you.
2. He’s talking about ________ his job and _________ in the desert instead.
3. You keep _________ the same mistake. Let me show you where you go
wrong.
4. Why doesn’t he stop ________ ? Nobody else can say anything.
5. Thank you for __________ how to get here.
6. Would you mind ___________ outside for a few minutes?
7. My doctor told me to avoid _________ milk products.
8. ________ a bike is easy.
9. I love _________ to jazz.
10. He admitted ___________ the car but denied _________ dangerously.
11. My daughter is one of those people who can’t stand _________
told what to do.
12. I can’t bear ___________ that music. Please turn it off.

B. Complete the following sentences by filling in suitable INFINITIVES.

1. I’d be very happy ____________ you a favor.
2. The suspect refused _____________ where he had been on the night of the
murder.
3. We arranged __________ at 9:00 the following day.
4. It seemed ___________ Dina a long time to answer the phone.
5. Even though I left late, I managed ____________ on time.
6. They expect (us / be ) ______________ on time.
7. The coach would like (the team / train) _______________ three times a week.
8. I want (everybody / be) _______________ here on time tomorrow.
9. I meant (us / be ) ______________ friends. What went wrong?
10. She didn’t want (anyone else / know) ______________ what she had
told me.
C. Circle the correct word or words in brackets.
1. They stopped (to shout / shouting) as soon as their teacher walked in.
2. The nurse went on (to become / becoming) a famous scientist.
3. She regrets (to speak / speaking) to you so impolitely.
4. The secretary went on (to talk / talking) on the phone even though
 people were waiting for her.
5. Did you remember (to get / getting) some milk? We have guests this evening.
6. The boy went out (to whistle / whistling) a tune.
7. After an hour’s walk, we stopped (to drink / drinking) at a kiosk.
8. He remembered (to be / being) in the store when the earthquake occurred.
9. I regret (to inform / informing) you that the flight will be delayed.

D. Gerund or Infinitive? Don't forget to put in a preposition if necessary!

1. I look forward (go)_____________ to London.
2. I don't mind (go)_____________ by boat.
3. At one stage I thought (become)__________ a sailor, but I missed the
opportunity (join)___________ the Navy and am now accustomed
(live)________ a quiet life.
4. Actually, it was my father who prevented me (work)_________ on a ship
and who sent me back to school.
5. John succeeded (solve)___________ the puzzle.
6. Bill insisted (be)__________ present.
7. I am used (get)____________ up early.
8. Harry is interested (talk)____________ to Julia.
9. I am tired (listen)_____________.
10. Jane is keen (dance)_______________.

11. I want you (apologize)_____________ for your bad behavior.

12. I look forward (see)_____________ you.
13. You had better (go)____________ home.
14. The general ordered his soldiers (attack)_____________ the town.
15. Excuse me for making you (write)____________ these silly sentences.
16. I disapprove (you, watch)_________________ TV every night.
17. Woody Allen used (live)______________ in this house.
18. I'm used (work)________________ hard.
19. I dream (go)_____________ to San Francisco and (spend)_____________
some time in Fisherman's Wharf.
20. It's no use (apologize)______________ now.

E. GERUND or INFINITIVE with STOP, REMEMBER, FORGET, ...

 1. I had to ask the boys to stop (make)__________ a noise.
2. Yesterday I met your brother and I remember (hear, he,
say)______________ that the grass needed (cut)______________.
3. Julia: 'I gave you an urgent letter yesterday. Did you remember
(post)___________ it on your way home?'
Bill: 'I remember (go)____________ into the post-office for some stamps,
but even then, I'm afraid, I forgot (post)_______________ it.'
4. Julia: 'What was the lecture like?'
Bill: 'I regret (say)_______________ that it was very boring. However, I
don't regret (go)_______________ there as I met a lot of friends.'
5. We had been walking for a long time; as we were very tired, we
stopped (have)____________ a picnic.
6. They don't allow (shout)_____________ in the corridors of this hospital,
and remember that they don't allow people (smoke)_______________
either.
7. Did you really mean (punish) your pupils for (be)_____________ five
minutes late?
8. You'll never regret (give)_____________ them a hand.
9. Did you remember (book)___________ seats for the theatre tomorrow? -
Sorry, I forgot (do)_____________ it.
10. I wish the car would stop (make)___________ that noise.

F. Rewrite these sentences by using gerunds or infinitives

1. Mark said he didn’t lie to us. (deny)

________________________________________________________________
2. She didn’t buy new shoes. She bought a dress.
Instead of _______________________________________________________
3. He took care of the baby. Then he went shopping.
After ___________________________________________________________
4. I am interested in getting some information about this deal.
I’d like __________________________________________________________
5. I’m fond of watching old movies. (like)
________________________________________________________________
6. Please open the window. (mind)
________________________________________________________________
7. “Yes, I broke the vase.” Shiri said. (admitted)
________________________________________________________________
8. We want very much to tell her the news. (look forward to)
________________________________________________________________

Good
!!Work