Infinitive and Gerund

Infinitive
After an adjective Example: The new computer is really easy to use.

After certain verbs (with to) Example: He refused to pay the bill.

• afford • expect • manage • refuse

• agree • fail • mean • want
• appear • help (also • offer • wish
• arrange without to) • plan • would like
• beg • hesitate • prepare • would love
• choose • hope • pretend • would prefer
• decide • learn • promise

Gerund

As the subject of a clause Example: Cycling is good for your health.

After a preposition Example: I did my homework before going out.

Verbs followed by Gerund Example: I enjoy cooking.

• admit • can't stand • finish • practise

• advise • deny • keep • suggest
• allow • dislike • mind • waste time
• avoid • enjoy • miss / money
• can't help • fancy • permit

Verbs with Prepositions followed by Gerund

Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.
• accuse of • blame for • dream about/of • look forward to
• agree with • care for • feel like • object to
• apologize for • carry on • forgive for • think of
• ask about • complain about • give up • succeed in
• believe in • concentrate on • insist on • use for
• be used to • depend on • keep on

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Words with the same meaning Example: I started to read. / I started reading.

• attempt • cannot bear • hate • prefer

• begin • cease • intend • start
• bother • continue • love
 Words with the same meaning but different use

Word Infinitive - with an object Gerund – without an object

advise I advise you to go by bus. I advise going by bus.
allow / permit He allowed her to take the car. He allowed taking the car.
forbid She forbids us to smoke. She forbids smoking.

Words with a different meaning

Word Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

with regard to the future with regard to the past
forget / remember Remember to switch off the lights. Do you remember switching off the lights?
Spanish: Recuerda apagar las luces Spanish: ¿Recuerdas haber apagado las luces?
start something new
continue with the same action
go on Go on to read.
Go on reading.
Spanish:
with regard to the future with regard to the past
regret I regret to say that’s wrong. I regret saying that.
Spanish: Lamento decir que está mal. Spanish: Lamento haber dicho que está mal.
interrupt another action terminate
stop I stopped to smoke. I stopped smoking.
Spanish: Paré para fumar. Spanish: Paré de fumar.
do something complicated do it and see what happens
try Try to solve this riddle. Try talking to him.
Spanish: Intenta resolver este acertijo. Spanish: Prueba a hablar con él.

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 1

1) A lot of people are worried about _______their 6) Are you thinking of _______ London? (visit)
jobs. (lose) 7) He apologized for _______ so late. (arrive)
2) He agreed _______ a new car. (buy) 8) Stop _______ noise, please; I’m studying.
3) The question is easy _______ (answer) (make)
4) Not everybody can afford _______ to 9) She doesn't mind _______ the night shift.
university. (go) (work)
5) I look forward to _______ you at the weekend. 10) I learned ______ the bike at the age of 5.(ride)
(see)

Gerund or Infinitive - Exercise 2

1) We decided _______ a new car. (buy)
2) I regret _______ you we won’t lend you the 7) Avoid _______ silly mistakes.(make)
money. (tell) 8) My parents wanted me _______ home at 11
3) Peter gave up _______.(smoke) o'clock. (be)
4) He'd like _______ an aeroplane.(fly) 9) I dream about _______ a big house. (build)
5) I enjoy _______ picture postcards. (write) 10) He advised me _______ so much money.
6) He offered _______ help with the cleaning. (not spend)
(help)
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1

1 Fill the gaps with the verb in brackets in the appropriate form.

1 I can't stand ________________ in queues. ( to wait )

2 I wouldn't like ________________ in his shoes. ( to be )

3 Jim loves ________________ in Thailand. ( to work )

4 I hate ________________ the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )

5 Blast! I forgot ________________ milk. ( to buy )

6 In the end we decided ________________ in. ( to stay )

7 I need ________________ some information about Portugal. ( to find )

8 My parents like ________________ for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )

9 Tony gave up ________________ years ago. ( to smoke )

10 I wanted ________________ and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )

11 Mrs Leith offered ________________ us to the airport. ( to take )

12 Clare refused ________________ clean up after the party. ( to help )

13 I tried ________________ him to come but it was no use. ( to persuade )

14 Do you mind not ________________ ? ( to smoke )

15 Everybody really enjoyed ________________ the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )

16 Lionel admitted ________________ my chocolate mousse. ( to eat )

2 Check your answers and put the verbs in bold into the right columns. Translate the verbs.

VERB + GERUND VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Translation Translation
admit .......................... decide ..........................
___________ .......................... forget ..........................
enjoy .......................... ___________ ..........................
give up .......................... offer ..........................
___________ .......................... refuse ..........................
___________ .......................... try ..........................
love .......................... want ..........................
___________ .......................... would like ..........................
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 2

1 Use the verbs in brackets to fill the gaps.

1 We arranged _____________ under the station clock at half nine. ( to meet )

2 I always try to avoid _____________ him whenever I can. ( to see )

3 I long _____________ in Scotland again. ( to be )

4 My Mum demanded _____________ the manager. ( to see )

5 My brother denied _____________ my chocolate mousse. Maybe his hamster ate it. ( to eat )

6 I tried _____________ but I just couldn't. ( to understand )

7 In the end I gave up _____________ to persuade her. ( to try )

8 Charlie was pretending _____________ a chicken. ( to be )

9 They chose _____________ in a cheap hotel but spend more money on meals. ( to stay)

10 We like Galicia so much that we keep _____________ back there. ( to go )

11 He deserves _____________ severely punished. ( to be )

12 When we visit my aunt, they expect me _____________ on my best behaviour. ( to be )

13 I didn't mean _____________ her feelings. I'm really sorry. ( to hurt )

14 I always put off _____________ my homework until the last possible moment. ( to do )

15 He goes on _____________ me the same thing over and over again. ( to tell )

16 I can't stand _____________ in the queue at the baker's. ( to wait )

17 The firemen managed _____________ the fire pretty quickly. ( to put out )

18 I never risk _____________ through that part of town. ( to go )

19 Clare offered _____________ me to the airport, which was very kind of her. ( to take )

20 Dad threatened _____________ my pocket money if I didn't do my homework. ( to stop )

2 Check your answers and put the verbs in bold into the right columns. Translate the verbs.

VERB + GERUND VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Translation Translation
1 _____________ .......................... 1 _____________ ..........................
2 _____________ .......................... 2 _____________ ..........................
3 _____________ .......................... 3 _____________ ..........................
4 _____________ .......................... 4 _____________ ..........................
5 _____________ .......................... 5 _____________ ..........................
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 1 answers

1 I can't stand waiting in queues. ( to wait )

2 I wouldn't like to be in his shoes. ( to be )

3 Jim loves working in Thailand. ( to work )

4 I hate doing the shopping on Saturday. ( to do )

5 Blast! I forgot to buy milk. ( to buy )

6 In the end we decided to stay in. ( to stay )

7 I need to find some information about Portugal. ( to find )

8 My parents like going for long walks at the weekend. ( to go )

9 Tony gave up smoking years ago. ( to smoke )

10 I wanted to go and see Troy but no one else was interested. ( to go )

11 Mrs Leith offered to take us to the airport. ( to take )

12 Clare refused to help clean up after the party. ( to help )

13 I tried to persuade him to come but it was no use. ( to persuade )

14 Do you mind not smoking ? ( to smoke )

15 Everybody really enjoyed dancing the cha-cha-cha. ( to dance )

16 Lionel admitted eating my chocolate mousse. ( to eat )

VERB + GERUND VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Translation Translation
admit .......................... decide ..........................
can't stand .......................... forget ..........................
enjoy .......................... need ..........................
give up .......................... offer ..........................
hate .......................... refuse ..........................
like .......................... try ..........................
love .......................... want ..........................
mind .......................... would like ..........................
Gerund or Infinitive Exercise 2 answers

1 We arranged to meet under the station clock at half nine. ( to meet )

2 I always try to avoid seeing him whenever I can. ( to see )

3 I long to be in Scotland again. ( to be )

4 My Mum demanded to see the manager. ( to see )

5 My brother denied eating my chocolate mousse. Maybe his hamster ate it. ( to eat
)

6 I tried to understand but I just couldn't. ( to understand )

7 In the end I gave up trying to persuade her. ( to try )

8 Charlie was pretending to be a chicken. ( to be )

9 They chose to stay in a cheap hotel but spend more money on meals. ( to stay )

10 We like Galicia so much that we keep going back there. ( to go )

11 He deserves to be severely punished. ( to be )

12 When we visit my aunt, they expect me to be on my best behaviour. ( to be )

13 I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. I'm really sorry. ( to hurt )

14 I always put off doing my homework until the last possible moment. ( to do )

15 He goes on telling me the same thing over and over again. ( to tell )

16 I can't stand waiting in the queue at the baker's. ( to wait )

17 The firemen managed to put out the fire pretty quickly. ( to put out )

18 I never risk going through that part of town. ( to go )

19 Clare offered to take me to the airport, which was very kind of her. ( to take )

20 Dad threatened to stop my pocket money if I didn't do my homework. ( to stop )

VERB + GERUND VERB + TO + INFINITIVE

Translation Translation
avoid .......................... arrange ..........................
deny .......................... choose ..........................
give up .......................... deserve ..........................
put off .......................... manage ..........................
risk .......................... threaten ..........................
 B1 Gerund and Infinitive GI002

Fill in the correct form: Gerund or Infinitive (with or without "TO")

1. Margaret enjoys __________________ to music (LISTEN).

2. The doctor encouraged his patients __________________ healthy food. (EAT)

3. When she was a teenager, she was keen on __________________ a doctor. (BECOME)

4. She is saving her money __________________ a new car. (BUY)

5. My apartment is quite easy __________________. (FIND)

6. I don’t mind __________________ the washing up, as long as you help me. (DO)

7. Irregular verbs are not easy __________________ (REMEMBER).

8. He advised me __________________ a doctor as soon as possible. (SEE)

9. My dad is really good at __________________. (COOK)

10. She waited for two hours __________________ a cinema ticket (BUY)

11. __________________ some kind of sport every day is good for your health. (DO)

12. When I saw her the first time I couldn’t help __________________. She was so lovely to
look at (CRY).

13. My father helped me __________________ my homework. (DO)

14. She stopped __________________ some cigarettes on her way to work. (BUY)

15. Stop __________________ now! You’re such a big girl! (CRY)

16. I don’t feel like __________________ maths today. (STUDY)

17. I’m so sick of __________________ pasta all the time. I would like something else for a
change. (EAT)

18. It is important __________________ the net for more information. (SURF)

19. Mira got Mike __________________ the car for her. (WASH)

20. They finally decided __________________ their apartment. (RENT)

21. It’s no use __________________ over spilt milk. (COMPLAIN)

22. The questions won’t be difficult __________________. (ANSWER)

23. He told us where __________________ the necessary material (FIND).

24. Would you mind __________________ the letter for me. It’s very important. (POST)

25. I remember __________________ you my necklace to wear. Where is it now? (GIVE)

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KEY

1. Margaret enjoys listening to music (LISTEN).

2. The doctor encouraged his patients to eat healthy food. (EAT)

3. When she was a teenager, she was keen on becoming a doctor. (BECOME)

4. She is saving her money to buy a new car. (BUY)

5. My apartment is quite easy to find. (FIND)

6. I don’t mind doing the washing up, as long as you help me. (DO)

7. Irregular verbs are not easy to remember (REMEMBER).

8. He advised me to see a doctor as soon as possible. (SEE)

9. My dad is really good at cooking. (COOK)

10. She waited for two hours to buy a cinema ticket (BUY)

11. Doing some kind of sport every day is good for your health. (DO)

12. When I saw her the first time I couldn’t help crying. She was so lovely to look at (CRY).

13. My father helped me do my homework. (DO)

14. She stopped to buy some cigarettes on her way to work. (BUY)

15. Stop crying now! You’re such a big girl! (CRY)

16. I don’t feel like studying maths today. (STUDY)

17. I’m so sick of eating pasta all the time. I would like something else for a change. (EAT)

18. It is important to surf the net for more information. (SURF)

19. Mira got Mike to wash the car for her. (WASH)

20. They finally decided to rent their apartment. (RENT)

21. It’s no use complaining over spilt milk. (COMPLAIN)

22. The questions won’t be difficult to answer. (ANSWER)

23. He told us where to find the necessary material (FIND).

24. Would you mind posting the letter for me. It’s very important. (POST)

25. I remember giving you my necklace to wear. Where is it now? (GIVE)

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GERUND - INFINITIVE GI 3

Gerund or Infinitive – Fill in the correct form.

1. I can’t imagine __________________ at home. (work)

2. We have decided against __________________ a new car. (buy)
3. She seems __________________ her new job. (like)
4. The students hope __________________ the exam. (pass)
5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of __________________ . (fly)
6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like __________________ any work. (do)
7. Remember __________________ the letter. Otherwise they won’t get it by Saturday.
(post)
8. Have you ever learned how __________________ such a plane? (fly)
9. They were too lazy __________________ out with us. (go)
10. I always enjoy __________________ to my grandfather. He always tells me great stories.
(talk)
11. I’m very interested in __________________ French. (learn)
12. My pen friend is coming next Friday. I’m really looking forward __________________ her.
(meet)
13. Don’t you mind __________________ away from your family for such a long time? (be)
14. The children promised __________________ back by nine. (be)
15. I wanted to go alone but Joe insisted on __________________ with me. (come)
16. Tom offered __________________ me home. (bring)
17. Why not __________________ a weekend in Scotland? (spend)
18. I’m sorry I can’t come to your party but thank you for __________________ me. (invite)
19. Our neighbors apologized for __________________ such noise. (make)
20. Paris is always worth __________________ to. (travel)
21. I’m sure I gave him back the money. I remember __________________ it back to him.
(give)
22. She eventually managed __________________ her bike. (repair)
23. Would you like __________________ a cup of coffee? (drink)
24. There’s no point in __________________ the matter. He has already made his decision.
(discuss)
25. I prefer __________________ to skiing. (snowboard)
26. Do you mind __________________ Anita to the doctor? (bring)
27. It is difficult __________________ him. (understand)
28. We had difficulties __________________ your house. (find)
29. They decided __________________ Tennis in the afternoon. (play)
30. We expect him __________________ us on Sunday. (join)
GERUND - INFINITIVE GI 3

Gerund or Infinitive – Fill in the correct form.

1. I can’t imagine working at home.

2. We have decided against buying a new car.
3. She seems to like her new job.
4. The students hope to pass the exam.
5. He won’t go by plane. He is afraid of flying.
6. I am lazy. I don’t feel like doing any work.
7. Remember to post the letter. Otherwise they won’t get it by Saturday.
8. Have you ever learned how to fly such a plane?
9. They were too lazy to go out with us.
10. I always enjoy talking to my grandfather. He always tells me great stories.
11. I’m very interested in learning French.
12. My pen friend is coming next Friday. I’m really looking forward to meeting her.
13. Don’t you mind being away from your family for such a long time?
14. The children promised to be back by nine.
15. I wanted to go alone but Joe insisted on coming with me.
16. Tom offered to bring me home.
17. Why not spend a weekend in Scotland?
18. I’m sorry I can’t come to your party but thank you for inviting me.
19. Our neighbors apologized for making such noise.
20. Paris is always worth travelling to.
21. I’m sure I gave him back the money. I remember giving it back to him.
22. She eventually managed to repair her bike.
23. Would you like to drink a cup of coffee?
24. There’s no point in discussing the matter. He has already made his decision.
25. I prefer snowboarding to skiing.
26. Do you mind bringing Anita to the doctor?
27. It is difficult to understand him.
28. We had difficulties finding your house.
29. They decided to play Tennis in the afternoon.
30. We expect him to join us on Sunday.