VERB + INFINITIVE vs VERB + GERUND

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-gerund-infinitive.php

One of the difficulties of the English language is that some verbs are followed by the gerund  (ex : doing) and others are followed by theinfinitive (ex : to do). Other verbs, however, can be followed by both.

Generally speaking we can use the following rules:

Examples		Rules	Explanations
Verb + gerund	1. I enjoy playing 2. I denied stealing	Often 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 + infinitive	1. I decided to visit my uncle 2. I want to go out	Often 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)

These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.

Verbs that can be followed by a gerund (ex: doing)
 

1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :

• like
• love
• enjoy
• dislike
• hate
• don't mind
• can't stand
• can't bear

Example:

" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."

2- After certain other verbs,  such as : 

• admit
• appreciate
• allow
• avoid
• advise
• consider
• deny
• delay
• understand
• finish
• fancy
• go (in go swimming)
• involve
• keep
• mention
• mind
• stop
• waste time/money
• imagine
• involve
• keep (on)
• mention
• miss
• postpone
• permit
• practice
• suggest
• resist
• reject
• risk
• can't help
• can't stand

Example:

" I suggest going to the theater."

3- After prepositions :  

interested in ...
instead of ...
good at ...
before ...
after ...

Example:

"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".

4- After certain expressions :

it's no use ...
it's no good ...
there's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...

Example:

" It's no use convincing him to revise his lessons. He's so stubborn."

Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive ( ex : to do)

1- After verbs that  refer to a future event:

• want
• hope
• aim
• intend
• arrange
• attempt
• promise
• be determined
• plan
• consent
• decide
• demand
• deserve
• determine
• endeavor
• expect
• offer
• proceed
• promise
• threaten
• swear
• volunteer
• want
• would like
• would hate
• would love

Example:

" I want to finish my work early.

2- After certain other verbs, such as:

• afford
• agree
• help
• choose
• fail
• happen
• refuse
• manage
• need
• seem
• learn
• choose
• pretend

Example:

"She refused to forgive him."

3- After adjectives :  

• glad
• pleased 
• disappointed 

Example:

"I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."

4- After "too" & "enough":

too difficult
easy enough

Example:

"It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."

Verbs that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund:

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:

• start
• begin
• stop
• remember...

Example:

"I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."

Exercises: 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Exercise on gerund or infinitive.

Lesson on infinitives.

Gerund

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm

Verbs Followed by an Infinitive She agreed to speak before the game.
agree aim appear arrange ask attempt be able beg begin care choose condescend	consent continue dare decide deserve detest dislike expect fail forget get happen	have hesitate hope hurry intend leap leave like long love mean neglect	offer ought plan prefer prepare proceed promise propose refuse remember say	shoot start stop strive swear threaten try use wait want wish

Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive Everyone expected her to win.
advise allow ask beg bring build buy challenge	choose command dare direct encourage expect forbid force	have hire instruct invite lead leave let like	love motivate order pay permit persuade prepare promise	remind require send teach tell urge want warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above and may be used without an object.

Verbs Followed by a Gerund They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit advise appreciate avoid can't help complete consider	delay deny detest dislike enjoy escape excuse	finish forbid get through have imagine mind miss	permit postpone practice quit recall report resent	resist resume risk spend (time) suggest tolerate waste (time)

Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund We concentrated on doing well.
admit to approve of argue about believe in care about complain about concentrate on confess to	depend on disapprove of discourage from dream about feel like forget about insist on object to	plan on prevent (someone) from refrain from succeed in talk about think about worry about

EXERCISES

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/

Basic Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 1 - 10 are based on Part 1 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Gerunds and Infinitives 1 Gerunds and Infinitives 2 Gerunds and Infinitives 3 Gerunds and Infinitives 4 Gerunds and Infinitives 5

Gerunds and Infinitives 6 Gerunds and Infinitives 7 Gerunds and Infinitives 8 Gerunds and Infinitives 9 Gerunds and Infinitives 10

Intermediate Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 11 - 20 are based on Part 2 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Gerunds and Infinitives 11 Gerunds and Infinitives 12 Gerunds and Infinitives 13 Gerunds and Infinitives 14 Gerunds and Infinitives 15

Gerunds and Infinitives 16 Gerunds and Infinitives 17 Gerunds and Infinitives 18 Gerunds and Infinitives 19 Gerunds and Infinitives 20

Advanced Gerunds and Infinitives

Exercises 21-30 are based on Part 3 of the Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial.

Gerunds and Infinitives 21 Gerunds and Infinitives 22 Gerunds and Infinitives 23 Gerunds and Infinitives 24 Gerunds and Infinitives 25

Gerunds and Infinitives 26 Gerunds and Infinitives 27 Gerunds and Infinitives 28 Gerunds and Infinitives 29 Gerunds and Infinitives Final Test

Advice versus obligation: SHOULD vs MUST

1. Before watching the explanation on MUST and SHOULD, complete the sentences below. Use the words in brackets (recommend - important - strict - ought to):

• We use MUST when something is very .................................. . 
• We use SHOULD to .............................. something or when somebody ............................... do something. Then, it is not a ....................................... requirement.

2. SAMPLE CONVERSATIONS.

Again, before watching the video, try to complete the sentences with must or should. Then check your answers.

2.1 APARTMENT FORMALITIES

Glossary: 

lease: a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent.

• What documents ....................................................... (I / bring) to sign the lease for the apartment?
• You ........................................... (bring) some identity proof for the records and you .................................................. (bring / also) the cash advance.
• What time ..................................................... (I / come)?

2.2 COMPLAINING ABOUT LATE BUS SERVICE

• The bus ................ have been here 30 minutes ago.
• It ....................... be coming soon.
• It ..................., because I'm already late for work.

2.3 SOLUTIONS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

• We ............................................. (stop) polluting the Earth!
• I agree. We .............................................. something about it.
• I think we ................................................. (use) cycles instead of cars to get places.
• We ..................................................... (not build) any more nuclear reactors.