Infinitive and Gerund.

Revision

• Can't bear, hate, like, love, prefer

Like to usually refers to habitual preferences.
We like to go out to lunch on Sunday.
Not like to means think it wrong to.
I don't like to disturb colleagues at home.
• Attempt, begin, continue, intend, plan, propose, start
There is no difference in meaning whether we use -ing or infinitive with to.
Intend, plan, and propose can be followed by that + clause. This may include
should. See Grammar 16 Reporting verbs.
• Forget, remember
With to both verbs refer to an obligation.
/ had to phone the office but I forgot to do it.
With -ing both verbs refer to past events.
/ don't remember learning to walk.
Both can be followed by that + clause.
/ remembered that I had to pay the phone bill.
• Try
With to this refers to something attempted, which might fail or succeed.
/ tried to warn him, but it was too late.
With -ing this refers to making an experiment, or to a new experience.
Try taking an aspirin. You'll feel better.
Have you tried -windsurfing? It's great!
• Go on
With -ing this refers to the continuing of an action.
She went on working even though it was late.
With to this refers to the continuation of a speech.
The Prime Minister went on to praise the Chancellor.
(This means the Prime Minister continued his speech by praising the
Chancellor.)
• Mean
With the meaning intend, this is followed by to.
Sony, I meant to tell you about the party.
With -ing, and an impersonal subject, this refers to what is involved.
If we catch the early train, it will mean getting up at 6.00.
That + clause is possible when meaning is being explained.
This means that you have to report to the police station
Regret
With to this refers to the speaker's regrets about what is going to be said. It
often occurs in formal statements of this kind.
We regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.
With -ing this refers to a regret about the past.
/ regret saying that to him.
That + clause is also possible.
We regret that we didn't tell her earlier.
• Stop
With to this refers to an intention.
Jane stopped to check the oil level in the engine.
With -ing this refers to the ending of an activity.
The baby has stopped waking up during the night now.
• Hear, see, watch
When followed by infinitive without to, the action is complete.
We watched all the cars cross the finishing line.
With -ing, the action is still in progress.
/ heard someone coming up the stairs.
• Admit
This can be used with or without to followed by -ing.
They admitted (to) being members of the gang.
That + clause is also possible.
He admitted that he was wrong.
• Allow, forbid, permit
With an object and to:
The school forbids students to smoke in the classrooms.
With an object -ing form:
The school does not allow smoking.
• Consider
With an object and to this refers to an opinion.
She is considered to be the finest pianist of her generation.
With -ing this means think about.
At one point I considered emigrating to Canada.
With that + clause it refers to an opinion.
We consider that she has behaved badly.
• Imagine
With an object and to:
/ imagined the castle to be haunted.
With -ing, an object is also possible.
/ couldn't imagine (her) living in a place like that.
With that + clause it means suppose.
I imagine that you'd like a cup of tea after your long journey!
• Require
With an object and to:
They required him to fill out a form.
With -ing:
These letters require typing.
Verbs usually followed by infinitive with to
• Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.

*agree *demand hurry *pledge *swear

*appear deserve *learn *pretend *threaten
*arrange *expect long *promise *vow
attempt fail manage refuse want
ask grow neglect *resolve *wish
choose hasten offer seek
dare *happen pay *seem
*decide *hope *plan struggle

• Appear, (so) happen and seem are only used impersonally with that + clause.
It appears that I've made a mistake.
It so happens that he is my brother!
It seems that Mary is going to win.
• Want can be used colloquially with -ing, and has a similar meaning to need.
The car wants cleaning.
Verbs normally followed by -ing

• Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.

*appreciate face *suggest

avoid *fancy it's no good/use
contemplate finish feel like
delay involve give up
*deny *mention keep on
detest mind leave off
dislike miss look forward to
endure postpone put off
enjoy practise can't stand
escape *resent spend/waste tim
excuse risk

• Appreciate is often followed by possessive + -ing.

I appreciate your trying to help.
Involve has an impersonal subject.
Being an athlete involves regular training.
Verbs followed by infinitive without to

• Help can be used with or without to.

/ helped George (to) carry the bags.
• Make, and expressions with make
They made me leave.
We shall have to make do.
In the passive, to is used.
/ was made to leave.
• Let and expressions with let
They didn't let me leave.
Let me go!
Verbs followed by an object and to

Verbs marked * can also be followed by that + clause.

*advise, assist, beg, bribe, command, dare, employ, enable, encourage, instruct,
invite, lead, *order, *persuade, select, send, *teach, *tell, train, urge, *wam
• Dare can be used without to when there is no object. Compare:
They dared him to jump.
I didn't dare (to) say anything.
How dare you speak like that to me!
• Verbs followed by subjunctive or should
Most of these verbs can also be used in the other ways given.
As these verbs contain the sense that someone 'should do' something, should
can follow them.
They suggested that she should apply again.
More formally, the subjunctive can be used instead of should. This is formed
from the base of the verb (without third person V).
They suggested that she apply again.
Some other verbs of this type are:
advise (also: someone to do/against something)
agree (also: to do something, that + clause)
demand (also: to do something)
insist (also: on someone doing something)
prefer (also: someone to do something)
propose (also: doing something)
recommend (also: doing something)
request (also: someone to do something)
suggest (also: that + clause)
urge (also: someone to do something)

Underline the word or phrase that is correct.

a) What do you mean to do/doing about the leaky pipes?
b) I never imagined the mountains to be/being so high!
c) Don't forget to wake me/waking me before you leave.
d) I regret to tell you/telling you that we cannot accept your offer.
e) Did you manage to find/finding the book you were looking for?
f) I tried taking/to take that medicine you gave me but I couldn't swallow it.
g) We have postponed to tell/telling anyone the news until after Christmas,
h) Have you considered to buy/buying a microwave oven?
i) Sorry I'm late, I had to stop to pick up/picking up the children from school,
j) Margaret was slow at school, but she went on to be/being Prime Minister.

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct verb from the box, and
putting it in the appropriate form.
a) It's too late to buy any food. We'll have to make ____________ with what
we've got.
b) I hardly _________ ask how much it cost!
c) Have you ever taking ____________ a year off work?
d) I didn't like the town at first, but I ____________ to love it eventually.
e) What do you ___________ doing after this course has finished?
f) We are all ____________ our holiday in Australia this year. It's going to be such
an adventure.
g) Jim and I __________ to meet at 6.00 but he didn't turn up.
h) It __________ that we won't need to pay so much after all.
i) I can't wait for Saturday! I'm really ___________ to see you!
j) I can't ____________ getting up at 6.30 tomorrow morning! I'll catch a later
train.

Complete the text by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form,
gerund or infinitive.

Yukie Hanue is considered by many (1) (be) the finest violinist of her generation -
and she's still in her early twenties. When we visited her, in the music department
of the University of New York, she was too busy practising (2) (talk), but she
invited us (3) (have) a coffee with her in her mid-morning break. Astonishingly,
she manages (4) (combine) her PhD at the university with international concerts
and recitals, numerous public appearances and interviews. She evidently thrives on
the workload, buzzing around the place with an industrious enthusiasm that leaves
us all breathless. Her fame as a performer means (5) (make) regular appearances at
high profile events. Last month, for example, she agreed (6) (appear) in a series of
recitals organised by Coca-Cola. This involved (7) (travel) to far-flung places like
Seoul, Oslo and Montevideo on successive days, a schedule which would have
caused any normal person to wilt. T can't stand (8) (do) nothing,' she says. T
happen (9) (have) a particular talent, and it would be wasteful not (10) (exploit) it
to the full.' I encouraged her (11) (tell) me about her upbringing, but she was rather
reticent to sing her own praises. I did, however, succeed in persuading her (12)
(confess) to a secret desire. 'If I hadn't been a musician, I would have loved to train
(13) (become) a martial arts expert,' she says. Certainly, she would have had the
discipline, but I couldn't imagine someone so physically frail actually (14) (stand)
there hitting someone. But it was an interesting revelation, and one that I was (15)
(learn) more about during my day with her.

Complete each sentence using the verb in brackets in an appropriate form.

a) Sorry, I meant (tell) I would be out, but I forgot.
b) That's all for now. I (hope) hear from you soon!
c) If I take the new job, it (mean) working a lot harder!
d) Are you still tired? Or do (feel) going out for a meal?
e) Jane is (say) the most outstanding player in the team.
f) I wish you (keep) complaining all the time!
g) How (suggest) that I would take a bribe! I've never been so insulted!
h) We offered to help Helen carry her bags, but she said she (manage) on her
own.