GERUNDS

AND
INFINITIVES
By. Fider Saputra T, S.Hum., M.Hum.
Gerunds: Introduction
 Using Gerunds
as the Objects of Prepositions
Common Preposition Combinations
followed by Gerunds
Complete each sentence with a preposition and a form of go.
1. We thought about going to the beach.
2. We talked ___________ there.
3. We’re interested __________ there.
4. My family is excited ___________there.
5. The children insisted __________ there.
6. They’re looking forward _________ there.
7. The rain prevented us __________ there.
8. A storm kept us __________ there.
Complete each sentence with a preposition and a form of the verb in parentheses.
Situation 1: An airplane flight.
1. Two children are excited (take) about taking their first flight.
2. They have been looking forward (be) ________ above the clouds.
3. A first-time flyer is worried (fly) __________ in stormy weather.
4. One passenger is blaming another passenger (spill) ________his coffee.
5. A man is complaining (have) ____________ an aisle seat rather than a window seat.
6. The pilot was late, but he had an excuse (be) __________ late.
7. The co-pilot will be responsible (fly) ____________ the plane.
8. Security personnel are prohibiting a woman (get) ___________on the flight.
Situation 2: At a police station.
9. The teenager has been accused (steal) _________a purse.
10. An elderly woman said he was responsible (take) _________ it.
11. The police are blaming him (do) ___________ it.
12. The teenager said he was trying to prevent someone else (take) __________ it.
13. He is upset. The police are listening to the woman instead (listen) ___________
to his version of the story.
14. He has not yet succeeded (convince) ____________ the police of his innocence.
Complete each sentence with an appropriate preposition and
the -ing form of the given verb.

1. Look Alice isn’t interested in looking for a new job.

2. Do You are capable __________ better work.
3. Have I ’m accustomed ___________ a big breakfast.
4. Help Thank you __________ me carry my suitcases.
5. Know Mrs. Grant insisted __________ the whole truth.
6. Be I believe __________ honest at all times.
7. Live You should take advantage _________ here.
8. go, not Fatima had a good reason _________ to class yesterday.
9. Search Everyone in the neighborhood participated ________ for the
lost child.
10. Make I apologized toYoko ___________ her wait for me.
1 1 . Go In addition___________ to school full-time, Spiro has a part-
time job.
12. Run I stopped the child _________ into the street.
13. Go Where should we go for dinner tonight? Would you object
_______to an Italian restaurant?
14. Clarify The mayor made another public statement for the purpose
________ the new tax proposal.
15. Wear Larry isn’t used ________ a suit and tie every day.
Common Verbs Followed by Gerunds
 Complete the sentences with appropriate gerunds.
1. When Beth got tired, she stopped working / studying__.
2. Would you mind _______________ the door? Thanks.
3. I have a lot of homework tonight, but I ’d still like to go with you later on.
I’ll call you when I get through________________ .
4. Where are you considering _______________ for your break?
5. Sometimes I put off _______________ my apartment.
6. You have to decide where you want to go to school next year. You can’t
postpone ___________ that decision much longer.
7. I wanted to go to Mexico. Sally suggested _____________ to Hawaii.
8. Tony mentioned ______________ the bus to school instead of walking.
9. I appreciate _____________ able to study in peace and quiet.
Go + Gerund
Special Expressions Followed by -ing
 Complete The Sentences With Appropriate -Ing Verbs.
1. We had a lot of fun playing___ games at the picnic.
2. I have trouble ____________ Mrs. Maxwell when she speaks. She talks too fast.
3. I spent five hours ______________ my homework last night.
4. Olga is standing at the corner _______________ for the bus.
5. Ricardo is sitting in class _______________ notes.
6. It was a beautiful spring day. Dorothy was lying under a tree __________ to the birds sing.
7. We wasted our money ____________ to that movie. It was very boring.
8. Ted is an indecisive person. He has a hard time ___________ up his mind about anything.
9. I wondered what the children were doing while I was gone. When I got home, I found
them __________ TV.
10. When Mr. Chan walked into the kitchen, he caught the children__________ some candy
even though he’d told them not to spoil their dinners.
INFINITIVES
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Verb + Infinitive
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Verb + Object + Infinitive
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Verb + Infinitive/Verb + Object + Infinitive
Complete each sentence with a gerund or an infinitive.

1. We’re going out for dinner. Would you like to join us?
2. Jack avoided looking at me.
3. I was broke, so Jenny offered ___________ me a little money.
4. Would you mind ___________ the door for me?
5. Even though I asked the people in front of me at the movie
quiet, they kept .
6. Lucy pretended the answer to my question.
7. The teacher seems in a good mood today,
don’t you think?
8. I don’t mind alone.
9. Mrs. Jackson warned her young son not the hot stove.
10.Residents are not allowed pets in my apartment
building.
11. All applicants are required an entrance examination.
12. My boss expects me the work ASAP.*
13. Joan and David were considering married in June,
but they finally decided until August.
14. Jack advised me a new apartment.
15. I was advised a new apartment.
16. Jack advised a new apartment.
17. Jack suggested a new apartment.
18. When we were in New York, we had a really good time in
Central Park on sunny days.
19. This is my first term at this school. I haven’t really had any
problems, but sometimes I have trouble the lectures.
Some professors speak too fast.
20. Ms. Gray is a commuter. Every workday, she spends almost
two hours to and from work.
 Common Verbs Followed by Either Infinitives or Gerunds
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, sometimes with no
difference in meaning, as in Group A below, and sometimes with a difference in meaning,
as in Group B below.
Group A : Verb + Infinitive or Gerund , with No Difference in Meaning
begin like hate The verbs in Group A may be followed by either an
start love can't stand infinitive or a gerund with little or no difference in
continue prefer* can’t bear meaning.

In (a): There is no difference between began to rain and

(a) It began to rain. / It began raining. began raining.
(b) I started to work. /I started working. If the main verb is progressive, an infinitive (not a gerund)
(c) It was beginning to rain. is usually used, as in (c).
 Group B: Verb + Infinitive or Gerund, with a Difference in Meaning
Remember regret stop The verbs in Group B may be followed by either an
forget try infinitive or a gerund, but the meaning is different.
(d) Judy always remembers to lock the door. Remember + infinitive = remember to perform
(e) Sam often forgets to lock the door. responsibility, duty, or task, as in (d).
(f ) I remember seeing the Alps for the first time. Forget + infinitive = forget to perform a responsibility,
The sight was impressive. duty, or task, as in (e).
(g) I’ll never forget seeing the Alps for the first time. Remember + gerund = remember (recall) something
that happened in the past, as in (f).
(h) I regret to tell you that you failed the test. Forget + gerund = forget something that happened in
(i) I regret lending him some money. He never the past, as in (g).**
paid me back. Regret + infinitive = regret to say, to tell someone, to inform
(j ) I ’m try in g to learn English. someone of some bad news, as in (h).
(k) The room was hot. I tried opening the window, Regret + gerund = regret something that happened in the
but that didn’t help. So I tried turning on the past, as in (i).
fan, but I was still hot. Finally, I turned on the Try + infinitive = make an effort, as in (j).
air conditioner. Try + gerund = experiment with a new or different approach
to see if it works, as in (k).
(l) The students stopped talking when the professor Stop + gerund = stop an activity.
entered the room. The room became quiet. Stop can also be followed immediately by an infinitive of
(m) When Ann saw her professor in the hallway, purpose, as in (m): Ann stopped walking in order to talk
she stopped (in order) to talk to him. to her professor.
*Notice the patterns with prefer:
prefer + gerund: I prefer staying home to going to the concert.
prefer + infinitive: I’d prefer to stay home (rather) than (to) go to the concert.
**Forget followed by a gerund usually occurs in a negative sentence or in a question: e.g., I ’ll never forget, I can’t forget, Have you ever forgotten, and Can you
ever forget are often followed by a gerund phrase.
 Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. I always remember (turn) to turn__ off all the lights before I leave my house.
2. I remember (play) _______ with dolls when I was a child.
3. What do you remember (do) _______ when you were a child?
4. What do you remember (do) _______before you leave for class every day?
5. What did you forget (do) ________ before you left for class this morning?
6. I won’t ever forget (watch) _______ our team score the winning goal in the last seconds
of the championship game.
7. Don’t forget (do) ______ your homework tonight.
8. Please stop (bite) _______ your fingernails.
9. I stopped (get) _______ gas yesterday and was shocked at the high price.
10. I stopped (drive) ________so much because of the high price of gas.
 It + Infinitive; Gerunds and Infinitives as Subjects
Often an infinitive phrase is used with it as the subject of a
sentence. The word it refers to and has the same meaning as
(a) It is difficult to learn a second language. the infinitive phrase at the end of the sentence.
In (a): It means “to learn a second language.”

A gerund phrase is frequently used as the subject of a

(b) Learning a second language is difficult. sentence, as in (b).

An infinitive can also be used as the subject of a sentence, as in

(c) To learn a second language is difficult. (c), but far more commonly an infinitive phrase is used with it,
as in (a).

(d) It is easy for young children to learn a second language. The phrase for (someone) may be used to specify
Learning a second language is easy for young children. exactly who the speaker is talking about, as in (d).
To learn a second language is easy for young children.
Make sentences beginning with it. Use a form of the given word
followed by an infinitive phrase for each sentence.

1. be dangerous
—> I t ’s dangerous to ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
2. be important
3. not be easy
4. be silly
5. must be interesting
6. be always a pleasure
7. be smart
8. not cost much money
9. be necessary
10. take time
 Reference List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds
Verbs with a bullet (•) can also be followed by infinitives.

1. admit He admitted stealing the money.

2. advise ● She advised waiting until tomorrow.
3. anticipate I anticipate having a good time on vacation.
4. appreciate I appreciated hearing from them.
5. avoid He avoided answering my question.
6. can’t bear ● I can't bear waiting in long lines.
7. begin ● It began raining.
8. complete I finally completed writing my term paper.
9. consider I will consider going with you.
10. continue ● He continued speaking.
11. delay He delayed leaving for school.
12. deny She denied committing the crime.
13. discuss They discussed opening a new business.
14. dislike I dislike driving long distances.
15. enjoy We enjoyed visiting them.
16. finish She finished studying about ten.
17. forget ● I'II never forget visiting Napoleon’s tomb.
18. hate ● I hate making silly mistakes.
19. can’t help I can’t help worrying about it.
20. keep I keep hoping he will come.
21. like ● I like going to movies.
22. love ● I love going to operas.
23. mention She mentioned going to a movie.
24. mind Would you mind helping me with this?
25. miss I miss being with my family.
26. postpone Let's postpone leaving until tomorrow.
27. practice The athlete practiced throwing the ball.
28. prefer ● Ann prefers walking to driving to work.
29. quit He quit trying to solve the problem.
30. recall I don't recall meeting him before.
31. recollect I don't recollect meeting him before.
32. recommend She recommended seeing the show.
33. regret ● I regret telling him my secret.
34. remember ● I can remember meeting him when I was a child.
35. resent I resent her interfering in my business.
36. resist I couldn’t resist eating the dessert.
37. risk She risks losing all of her money.
38. can’t stand ● I can't stand waiting in long lines.
39. start ● It started raining.
40. stop She stopped going to classes when she got sick.
41. suggest She suggested going to a movie.
42. tolerate She won’t tolerate cheating during an examination.
43. try ● I tried changing the light bulb, but the lamp still didn't work.
44. understand I don’t understand his leaving school.
 Reference List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives
Verbs with a bullet (•) can also be followed by gerunds.
Verbs Followed Immediately by an Infinitive

1. afford I can't afford to buy it.

2. agree They agreed to help us.
3. appear She appears to be tired.
4. arrange I'II arrange to meet you at the airport.
5. ask He asked to come with us.
6. can’t bear ● I can't bear to wait in long lines.
7. beg He begged to come with us.
8. begin ● It began to rain.
9. care I don't care to see that show.
10. claim She claims to know a famous movie star.
11. consent She finally consented to marry him.
12. continue ● He continued to speak.
13. decide I have decided to leave on Monday.
14. demand I demand to know who is responsible.
15. deserve She deserves to win the prize.
16. expect I expect to enter graduate school in the fall.
17. fail She failed to return the book to the library on time.
18. forget ● I forgot to mail the letter.
19. hate ● I hate to make silly mistakes.
20. hesitate Don’t hesitate to ask for my help.
21. hope Jack hopes to arrive next week.
22. intend He intends to be a firefighter.
23. Learn He learned to play the piano.
24. like ● I like to go to the movies.
25. love ● I love to go to operas.
26. manage She managed to finish her work early.
27. mean I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
28. need I need to have your opinion.
29. offer They offered to help us.
30. plan I'm planning to have a party.
31. prefer ● Ann prefers to walk to work.
32. prepare We prepared to welcome them.
33. pretend He pretends not to understand.
34. promise I promise not to be late.
35. refuse I refuse to believe his story.
36. regret ● I regret to tell you that you failed.
37. remember ● I remembered to lock the door.
38. seem That cat seems to be friendly.
39. can’t stand ● I can’t stand to wait in long lines.
40. start ● It started to rain.
41. struggle I struggled to stay awake
42. swear She swore to tell the truth.
43. talk He tends to talk too much.
44. threaten She threatened to tell my parents.
45. try ● I’m trying to learn English
46. volunteer He volunteered to help us.
47. wait I’II wait to hear from you.
48. want I want to tell you something.
49. wish She wishes to come with us.
Verbs Followed by a (Pro)noun + an Infinitive
1. advise ● She advised me to wait until tomorrow.
2. allow She allowed me to use her car.
3. ask I asked John to help us.
4. beg They begged us to come.
5. cause Her laziness caused her to fail.
6. challenge She challenged me to race her to the corner.
7. convince I couldn’t convince him to accept our help.
8. dare He dared me to do better than he had done.
9. encourage He encouraged me to try again.
10. expect I expect you to be on time.
11. forbid I forbid you to tell him.
12. force They forced him to tell the truth.
13. hire She hired a boy to mow the lawn.
14. instruct He instructed them to be careful.
15. invite Harry invited the Johnsons to come to his party.
16. need We needed Chris to help us figure out the solution.
17. order The judge ordered me to pay a fine.
18. permit He permitted the children to stay up late.
19. persuade I persuaded him to come for a visit.
20. remind She reminded me to lock the door.
21. require Our teacher requires us to be on time.
22. teach My brother taught me to swim.
23. tell The doctor told me to take these pills.
24. urge I urged her to apply for the job.
25. want I want you to be happy.
26. warn I warned you not to drive too fast.
THANKS