GERUND or INFINITIVE Compiled by: Dra. Wulandari Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu 1
Gerund (Gerund is the ING form of a verb used as a NOUN) 1. As a Subject of a sentence. Fishing can ease your stress. Cooking gourmet meals can be very expensive. Writing a good novel is hard work 2. As a Complement My father's occupation was farming. My neighbor's pastime is training guard dogs. The secretary's duties are taking notes and typing letters. 3. As a Modifier and Compound Nouns (functions of a thing) My grandpa uses his walking stick everywhere he goes. David paced his racing horse yesterday. Mother has just bought a washing machine. Other compound nouns: - swimming pool - swimming suit - diving board - waiting room - shopping centre 4. In Short Prohibition No smoking! No parking! 5. As a Direct Object. Do you watch boxing or wrestling? Try doing it this way. Most women love gossiping. 6. As an Object of Preposition By adding more water, we can thin the paint. You can start this machine by simply pushing this button. I find relaxation in my gardening. 2
7. After a Noun in the Possessive form I hate his always snoring in his sleep. (Literary formal) I hate him always snoring in his sleep. (In spoken language) Mr. Harris knew John s being dishonest. 8. After certain expression Look forward to We look forward to seeing you. Be/get used to She was used to getting what she wanted to. Be accustomed to I am not accustomed to having my word questioned. Be busy He is busy reading the paper. Couldn t help She couldn't help eating another apple. Don t mind I don't mind telling them my opinion. Feel like We feel like having a cup of tea. How about How about having dinner in Tomodaci? It s (no) good It's no good talking to this girl. It s no use It's no use talking to the headmaster. Spend one's time They spend their time reading. There s no There's no cheating anymore. There s no point There's no point in complaining further. What about What about going to the zoo? Be worth The book is worth reading. 3
We use the Gerund after the following verbs: admit avoid carry on consider delay deny dislike can't help enjoy finish give up imagine include involve justify keep (on) feel like mention mind miss practise risk suggest He admitted having driven too fast. They avoid going on holiday on Saturdays. If we carry on sleeping so badly, we may need help. Ralph is considering buying a new house. I delayed telling Max the news. She denied buying new shoes. We dislike reading poems. He couldn't help falling in love with her. I enjoy playing chess. They finished working in the garden. Susan gives up playing ice-hockey. He imagined driving a new car. You responsibility includes taking reservations on the phone. The project will involve growing plants. I cannot justify paying $100 for this ticket. They keep on running. For a moment, I feel like giving up. Did Alex ever mention playing baseball? I don't mind sleeping on the couch. They miss playing with their friends. She practised playing hockey. You risk catching a cold. She suggested flying to Cairo. 4
The following verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with no change in meaning: attempt begin start continue deserve hate like love prefer These verbs can be followed by either a GERUND or and INFINITIVE with a difference in meaning. VERB GERUND INFINITIVE remember I still remember buying my first bicycle. Remember to switch off the lights when you go on holiday. forget regret try I ll never forget meeting the President. I regret giving you the money Why don't you try running after the dog? Don't forget to spend money on the tickets. I regret to tell you that you fail you test. I tried to run after the dog, but I was too slow. stop Stop reading the text. Stop to read the text. remember + gerund means thinking of a past experience you ve had remember + infinitive means don t forget to do something forget + gerund forget + infinitive means to no longer think of something that you did means to not think of doing something you should do or should have done 5
regret + gerund regret + infinitive try + gerund try + infinitive stop + gerund stop + infinitive means feeling sorry about something you said or did in the past means feeling sorry about something you are going to say or do next/ in the future means do it and see what the results are means try hard to see if you can do something that is really not easy means to not continue doing a certain activity or action means make a pause in one activity in order to do a different activity INFINITIVE The Infinitive of the verb is the basic form of the verb. There are 2 forms of infinitive: to-infinitive and bare infinitive. To-infinitive 1. Verb + object + to-infinitive My dad I helped my dad to clean the car. 2. After adjectives Happy I'm happy to be here. Better It's better not to smoke. 3. After Passive Voice Be V3 I was asked to do the first number 4. After question words What I don't know what to say. How Can you tell me how to get to the bus stop? 5. After want/would like (PURPOSE) Want I want you to help me. 6
Bare Infinitive 1. After auxiliaries/modals Can He can run very fast. Could As a boy he could run very fast. Needn t You needn't go. 2. After to do: Do I don't know. Does Does he like math? Did She didn t work. 3. After the following expressions: Had better You had better clean up your room. Would rather Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow. Would sooner I would sooner read a book than watch this film. Why not Why not ask your neighbour for help? Why should we not Why should we not go by car? 4. After verbs of perception + object (action has finished) Feel She feels the rain fall on her face. Hear I heard Peter sing a song. Notice Mandy noticed the boy climb the tree. See They saw him climb up the roof. Watch He watched the thieves steal a car. 5. After let + object: Let Sandy let her child go out alone. Let s Let's go for a walk through the park. 6. After have /make + object: (causative) Make She made Peggy and Samantha clean the room. Have She had Peggy and Samantha clean the room. 7
7. After that clause = Recommendation Advise, recommend, guide, instruct, warn, direct, counsel She advised that he stay at home. She recommended that they leave before dark EXERCISES A. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct forms. 1. I am looking forward to (see) you. 2. I arranged (meet) them here. 3. He urged us (work) faster. 4. I wish (see) the manager. 5. It's no use (wait). 6. He warned her (not touch) the wire. 7. Don't forget (lock) the door before (go) to bed. 8. My mother told me (not speak) to anyone about it. 9. I can't understand her (behave) like that. 10. He tried (explain) but she refused (listen). 11. At dinner she annoyed me by (smoke) between the courses. 12. You are expected (know) the safety regulations of the college. 13. He decided (disguise) himself by (dress) as a woman. 14. I am prepared (wait) here all night if necessary. 15. Would you mind (show) me how (work) the lift? 16. After (walk) for three hours we stopped to let the others (catch up) with us. 17. I begin (understand) what you mean. 18. He was fined for (exceed) the speed limit. 19. The boys like (play) games but hate (do) lessons. 20. I regret (inform) you that your application has been refused. 21. I couldn't help (overhear) what you said. 22. He surprised us all by (go) away without (say) 8
"Goodbye". 23. Please go on (write); I don't mind (wait). 24. He wore dark glasses (avoid) (be) recognized. 25. Before (give) evidence you must swear (speak) the truth. 26. I tried (persuade) him (agree) with your proposal. 27. Your windows need (clean); would you like me (do) them for you? 28. Would you mind (shut) the window? I hate (sit) in a draught. 29. I can't help (sneeze): I caught a cold yesterday from (sit) in a draught. 30. Do stop (talk); I am trying (finish) a letter. 31. He hates (answer) the phone, and very often just lets it (ring) 32. If you go on (let) your dog (chase) cars he'll end by (be) run over 33. I prefer (drive) to (be driven). 34. I advise you (start) (look) for a flat at once. 35. Would you mind (lend) me 5? I forgot (cash) a cheque. 36. (Lie) on this beach is much more pleasant than (sit) in the office. 37. She likes her children (go) to the dentist every six months. 38. By (neglect) (take) ordinary precautions he endangered the life of his crew. 39. An instructor is coming (show) us how (use) the aqualung. 40. I have no intention of (go) to that film; I couldn't bear- (see) my favourite actress in such a dreadful part. 9
41. I suggest (telephone) the hospital before (ask) the police (look) for him. 42. After (hear) the conditions I decided (not enter) for the competition. 43. Some people seem (have) a passion for (write) to the newspapers. 44. He expects me (answer) by return but I have no intention of (reply) at all. 45. I tried (explain) to him but he refused (listen) and went on (grumble). 46. By (offer) enormous wages he is persuading men (leave) their present jobs and (work) for him. 47. He postponed (make) a decision till it was too late (do) anything. 48. Imagine (have) (get up) at five a.m. every day! 49. Try (forget) it; it isn't worth (worry) about. 50. There is no point in (remain) in a dangerous place if YOU can't do anything (help) the people who have (stay) there. 51. The horse won't be well enough (run) in tomorrow's race. He doesn't seem (have recovered) from his long journey. 10. Sometimes teenagers get into trouble with their parents 52. At first I enjoyed (listen) to him but after a while I got tired of (hear) the same story again and again. 53. It is usually easier (learn) a subject by (read) books than by (listen) to lectures. 54. It wouldn't be safe (start) down now; we'll have (wait) till the mist clears. 55. The police accused him of (set) fire to the building but he denied (have been) in the area on the night of the fire. 56. I left my door open. Why didn't you walk in? ~ I didn't like (go) in when you weren't there. 10
57. It's much better (go) to a hairdresser than (try) (save) time by (cut) your own hair. 58. I'd rather (earn) my living by (scrub) floors than (make) money by (blackmail) people. 59. After (discuss) the matter for an hour the committee adjourned without (have reached) any decision. 60. It's not much use (have) a bicycle if you don't know how (ride) it. 61. 31. He didn't dare (leave) the house because he was afraid of (meet) someone who might (recognize) him. 62. I distinctly remember (pay) him. I gave him 2. 63. Did you remember (give) him the key of the safe? ~ No, I didn't. I'll go and do it now. 64. Please forgive me for (interrupt) you but would you mind (repeat) that last sentence? 65. I know my hair wants (cut) but I never have time (go) to the hairdresser's. 66. He made a lot of money by (buy) tickets in advance and (sell) them for twice the price on the day of the match. 67. She rushed out the room without (give) me a chance (explain). 68. He keeps (ask) me the time and I keep (tell) him (buy) himself a watch. 69. He has a theory that it is possible (tell) the time in day light by (look) into a cat's eyes. 70. I'd hate (be) beside a volcano when it started (erupt). 11
B. Complete the following dialogue with the verbs in brackets in the correct form. Harris : Did you remember 1) (book) the tickets for two of us? Valen : Yes, I did. But the problem is how 2) (get) there. My dad says I m not allowed to borrow his car this Sunday. He suggested using your motorbike. Harris : You know what. The tire of my motorbike was leaked when I went home yesterday. Now I m afraid it continues 24) (leak). But I could try 25) (ask) my sister if we can have hers. She might agree. Valen : I m not sure. Moreover, the tickets were pricey. I regret 26) (buy) them. I think we ve just wasted the money. Harry Valen : I don t think so. I remember 27) (walk) there once. It took about one hour. Please stop 28) (worry) and start 29) (think) the good times we re going to have. : All right. So we can just walk if there s no other choice. But don t forget 30) (ask) your sister about the car. 12