Unit 1: Grammar-Gerund / infinitive
Some expressions are followed by:
1. bare infinitive ( without “to”): I can swim.
2. full infinitive ( to+inf): I want to swim.
3. gerunds ( V+ing): I enjoy swimming.
Bare infinitive is used after | Full infinitive is used after: | Gerund is used after: |
Will,let, would rather,had better, help, make, shall, Modals: should, would, can, could, may, might, must. | Afford, agree, appear, choose, dare, decide, demand, deserve, encourage, expect,fail, happen, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, manage, need, offer, plan, promise, refuse, seem, urge, want. Love, like, hate, start, prefer | Admit, appreciate, avoid, Can’t,help, carry on, consider, delay, deny, detest, dislike, enjoy, excuse, feel like, finish, give up,hate, imagine, involve, love, mind, miss, postpone, practice, recommend, report, risk, can’t stand, suggest. Love, like, hate, start, prefer Prepositions: for, from, before, in, at, about, after, by … |
Some verbs (e.g. love, like, hate, start, prefer) can take gerund or infinitive, with similar meanings.
Examples:
- I love to eat chocolates.
- I love eating chocolates.
- I started to clean the car, but then decided not to.
- I started cleaning the car, but then decided not to.
Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive.
- I want _____ (finish) work early tonight.
- I hate ______ (wait) for buses in the rain.
- I will give up_____ (smoke) in Ramadan.
- Sam is really good at _____ (climb).
- Thank you for ____ (be) so helpful.
- I love _____ (listen) to the radio while cooking.
- Let’s go now. I’m worried about _____ (miss) the train.
- He refused _____ (help) me.
