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Chapter qe!
Gerunds and Infinitives, Part 1
s v
A gorundls the -ing form ofa verb used as a noun.t A
(@) Playing’ tennis "8 tun.
gerund is used in the same ways as a noun, ie, as @
subject or as an object.
In (a): playing is @ gerund. It is used as the subject of the
sentence. Playing fennis is a gerund phrase.
In (b): playing is a gerund used as the object of the verb
enjoy.
In (): playing s a gerund used as the object of the
preposition about.
s vo
(b) 'We' ‘enjoy’ ‘playing’ tennis.
PREP oO
(0) He's excited ‘about ‘playing’ tennis.
*Compare the uses of the -ing form of verbs:
(1) Walking is good exercise. — walking = a gerund used as the subject of the sentence,
(2) Bob and Ann are playing tennis. -» playing = a present participle used as part of the present progressive tense.
@) Theard some surprising news. —> surprising = a present participle used as an adjective,
Rita enjoys playing tennis when she has c good partner,
76ids as the Objects
(a) We talked about gong to Canada for our vacation, ‘A gerund is frequently used as the object of a
(6) Sue is in charge of organizing the meeting.
()_ I'm interested in learning more about your work.
preposition.
(@) I'm used to sleeping with the window open.
{In (@) through (f): tos a preposition, not part of an
(e) \'m accustomed to sleeping” with the window open infinitive form, so a gerund follows.
(1) Hook forward to going home next month.
(g) We talked about not going to the meeting, but finally NEGATIVE FORM: not precedes a gerund.
decided we should go.
Comme prepston combinations ellowed by gerunds
be excited keep someone be tited offfrom doing it -
Pemiea fewer | sarge - i
prohibit someone ving i insist on doing it r
com beccasomed
talk SE oO be interested in addition
tik bio ocested
participate f (7 doing it be devoted fodongtt
apologize ‘succeed look forward sd
blame someone ‘object
forgive someone be accused be opposed
Meares | rrcongt Scape boise
fa areacn eeu
be responsible instead oF doing it
tn omoor (ie avariago
ide cae
“Possible in British English: Pn accustomed to sleep with the window open.
(EET Carn ieies nullneelae
vero + gerund
(a) Venjoy’ ‘playing’ tennis.
Gorunds are used as the objects of certain verbs.
In (a): enjoy is followed by a gerund (playing). Enjoy's not
followed by an infinitive.
Inconnecr: | enjoy +e play. tennis.
Common verbs that are followed by gorunds are listed below.
(b) Joe quit smoking.
(0) Joe gave up smoking.
Examples (b) and (c) have the same meaning. Some phrasal
verbs," e.9., give up, are followed by gerunds. See these phrasal
verbs in parentheses below.
Verb + gerund
enjoy uit (give up)
appreciate finish (get through)
‘mind stop**
avoid consider
postpone (put of) discuss
delay mention
keep (keep on) suggest
A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle (a small word such as a preposition) that together have a special meaning. For
example, pur off means “postpone.”
**5top can also be followed by an infinitive of purpose. He stopped at the station (in order) to get some gas. See infinitoes of
purpose, Charts 14-7, p. 80, and 15-1, p. 84
Gerunds and Infinitives, Part 1 77Tews
{@) Did you go shopping?
(0) We went fishing yesterday.
Go's followed by a gerund in certain idiomatic expressions to
‘express, for the most part, recreational activities.
Go + gerund
90 biking {g0 dancing {90 running 90 skiing
{90 birdwatching 90 fishing go sailing {90 skinnydipping
{90 boating go hiking {90 shopping {go sledding
{go bowling {90 hunting Qo sightseeing go snorkeling
{go camping 90 jogging go skating go swimming
go canoeing/kayaking go mountain climbing go skateboarding {go window shopping
Also in British English go angling
103 Gadel Bayan
We had fun
© Xe Ree rood te } Playing voleybal
(b) | had trouble
had difficulty
| had @ hard time
had a difficult time
finding bis house.
ing forms follow certain special expressions:
have tun/a good time + -ing
have trouble/difficulty + -ing
have a hard time|difficult time + -ing
(c) Sam spends most of his time studying.
(@) | waste a lot of time watching TV.
‘spend + expression of time or money + -ing
waste + expression of time or money + -ing
(6) She sat at her desk writing letter.
(9) | stood there wondering what to do next.
(@) He is ying in bed reading @ novel.
sit + expression of place + -ing
stand + expression of place + -ing
ie + expression of place + -ing
(h) When | walked into my office, | found George
using my telephone,
(i) When | walked into my office, | caught a thief
Jooking through my desk drawers.
{find + (pro)noun + ing
catch + (pronoun + -ing
In (h) and (1): Both find and catch mean “siscover’
Catch often expresses anger or displeasure.
78 CHAPTER 14
Mrs. Garcia works in the city five days a week.
She spends a lot of time commuting.USES Cooratrencasn rosie sel tonsrecesleny eeveereences
Verb + Infiniti
(a) | hope to see you again soon, ‘An infinitive = to + the simple form of a verb (to see, 10
(0) He promised to be here by ten, aeaoaiaee
Some verbs are followed immediately by an infinitive, as
in (a) and (b)
(0) He promised not to be lat. ‘Negative form: not precedes the infinitive, as in (c).
‘Common verbs followed by infinitives
hope to (do something) promise to seem to expect to
plan to agree to appear to would lke to
ca = Ss
Verb + Object + Infinitive
(@) Mr. Lee told me to be here at ten o'clock, Some verbs are followed by a x alt and then
told me to be here at te0 r
(@) The police ordered the driver to stop. an infinitive, as in (d) and (e)
5 ‘These verbs are followed eee by an Infinitive
(f)_ | was told to be here at ten o'clock, they are used in the passi a Fe mg
(@) ThE diver was ordered to stop. °
Common verbs followed by (pro)nouns and infinitives a5 "1,
tell someone to invite someone to require someone to expect someone to
advise someone to** order someone to ‘would Ike someone to
encourage someone to allow someone to force someone to want someone to
remind someone to warn someone to ask someone to need someone to
Verb + Infinitive/Verb + Object + Infinitive
(hy ‘expect to pass the test Some verbs have two pattems:
i) | expect Mary to pass te test. verb + inintive, as in)
(i) expect Mary to pas © verb + abject + infinitive, as in (i)
courane:
In (h): [think | will pass the test.
In(i): | think Mary will pass the test.
‘Common verbs followed by infinitives or by objects and then infinitives
ask to / ask someone to want to/ want someone to
expect to / expect someone to ‘would Ike to / would like someone to
need to / need someone to
“Intend is usually followed by an infinitive (Intend to go tothe mecing.) but sometimes may be followed by a gerund (I intend
soing to the mestng.) with no change in meaning.
**A gerund is used after adoise (active) ifthere is no noun or pronoun object,
Compare:
(() He advised buying a Fit.
Q) He advised me wo buy a Fiat, I1aas advised ro buy a Fit.
Gerunds and Infinitives, Part 1 79‘Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, sometimes with no difference in meaning, as in Group A
below, and sometimes with a difference in meaning, as in Group B below.
Group A: Verb + Infinitive or Gerund, with No Difference in Meaning
begin like hate The verbs in Group A may be followed by ether an
start love ‘can't stand infinitive or a gerund with lite or no difference in
continue prefers can't bear ‘meaning,
(a) It began to rain. It began raining. In (a): There Is no difference between began to rain and
(b) | started to work. started working. began raining.
(c) It was beginning to rain. Ii the main verb is progressive, an infinitive (not a gerund)
is usually used, as in (c)
Group B: Verb + Infinitive or Gerund, with a Difference in Meaning
remember regret. «stop ‘The verbs in Group B may be followed by either an
forget ty infinitive or @ gerund, but the meaning is different.
(4) Judy always remembers to lock the door. ‘Remember + infinitive = remember to perform
responsibilty, duty, of task, asin
(€) Sam often forgets to lock the door. Forget + infinitive = forget to perform a responsibilty,
duty, oF task, as in (e).
(1) [remember seeing the Alps forthe first time ‘Remember +- gerund = remember (recall) something
The sight was impressive, that happened in the past, as in (1).
(a) 1'f never forget seeing the Alps forthe first Forget + gerund = forget something that happened in
time. the past, asin (g).**
(hy) | regret to tell you that you failed the test Regret + infinitive = regret to say, to tell someone, to
inform someone of some bad news, as in (h).
(i) | regret lending him some money. He never Regret + gerund = regret something that happened in
paid me back: the past, as in (i)
(i) Um trying to toarn English. Try + infinitive = make an effort, as in ().
(k) The tom was hot. | tried opening the window, Try + gerund = experiment with a new or diferent
but that didn't help. So1 tried turning on the approach to see if it works, as in (K).
fan, but | was stil hot. Finally, | turned on the
air conditioner.
(1) The students stopped talking when the professor | Stop + gerund = stop an activity.
entered the room. The room became quiet.
(m) When Ann saw her professor in the hallway, Stop can also be followed immediately by an infinitive of
she stopped (in order) fo talc to him. purpose, as in (m): Ann stopped walking in order to talk
to her professor. (See Chart 15-1, p. 84.)
"Notice the patterns with prefer:
‘profer + gerund: I prefer staying home to going to the concer.
prefer + infinitive: Il prefer to stay home (rather) than (to) go to the concert
**Forget followed by a gerund usually occurs in a negative sentence or ina ques
orgowen, and Can you ever forget are often followed by a gerund phrase,
ae
e.g. I'll never forget, I can’ forget, Have you svar
80 CHAPTER 14(a) tis difficult to learn @ second language.
14-8 it | Infinitives Gerunds and Infinit
as Subjects:
(Often an infntive phrase is used with itas the
subject ofa sentence. The word itrefers to
and has the same meaning as the ifitve
phrase atthe end ofthe sentence.
In (@): Itmeans "to learn a second language”
(b) Learning a second language's difficult
‘A gerund phrase is frequently used as the
subject of a sentence, as in (b)
(©) To learn a second language's dificult.
{An infinitive can also be used as the subject of
‘a sentence, as in (c), but far more commonly
an infintve phrase i used with, asin (a.
(@) tis easy for young children to learn a second language.
‘Learning @ second language is easy for young childran,
To learn a second language is easy for young children.
‘The phrase for (someone) may be used to
‘specify exactly who the speaker is talking
about, as in (d).
Washing the dishes is George's job when his wife has to work on Saturdays,
Gerunds and infinitives, Part 1 81‘Verbs with a bullet (+) can also be followed by infnitves. See Chart 14-10.
1"
12,
13.
14.
16.
16.
18.
19.
SBEBRASESENBRERREB
82 CHAPTER 14
admit
advises
anticipate:
appreciate
avoid
can't beare
begine
complete,
consider
continues
delay
deny
discuss
distke
enjoy
finish
forget
hates
can'thelp
keep
likes
lovee
‘mention
mind
miss
postpone
practice
prefers
quit
recall
recollect
recommend
regret
remembers
resent
rosist
risk
can't stand+
starts
stop
suggest
tolerate
trys
understand
He admitted stealing the money.
She advised waiting until tomorrow.
| anticipate having a good time on vacation.
| appreciated hearing trom them.
He avoided answering my question.
| can't bear waiting in tong lines.
lt began raining.
Linally completed writing my term paper.
| wit consider going with you.
He continued speaking.
He delayed leaving tor school
‘She denied committing the crime.
‘They dlscussed opening a new business.
| distike driving long distances.
We enjoyed visiting them.
‘She finished studying about ten.
| never forget visiting Napoleon's tomb.
| hate making silly mistakes.
| can't help worrying about it.
| keep hoping he will come.
| ike going to movies.
| love going o operas.
‘She mentioned going to a movie.
Would you mind helping me with this?
| miss being with my family.
Let's postpone leaving until tomorrow.
‘The athlete practiced throwing the ball
‘Ann prefers walking to driving to work.
He quit trying to solve the problem.
| don't recall meeting him before.
| don't recoltect meeting him before,
She recommended seeing the show.
| regret telling him my secret.
| can remember meeting him when | was a child.
| resent her interfering in my business.
| couldn't resist eating the dessert
She risks losing all of her money.
| can't stand waiting in long lines.
It started raining.
‘Sho stopped going to classes when she got sick.
She suggested going to a movie.
‘She won't tolerate cheating during an examination.
| tried changing the light bulb, but the lamp stil didn't wort.
| don't understand his leaving schoo!‘Verbs with a bullet (+) can also be followed by gerunds. See Chart 14-9.
Verbs Followed Immediately by an Infinitive
1. alld canta ya 2h tes ike goto te moves
2, agree ‘They agreed to help us. 25. lover | love to go to operas.
2. appear She ppeaao bored 26. manage Sho mange fish her work
4 mange rang omeetyeu a he ety
ior 27. mean rt mean ort your tng
8 ask He astedo come wih us 2 need need one your epion
& santbeare cant boartewatiniongines. | 29. fer ‘They fered oh
7 beg He veagedtocomewinus. | 30. plan Implanning the party
& tego began rain St profes Amott ato wore
9. cae Lontearetossematshow. | $2. prepare We reparedto wacom them
10. Gam ——-Shecamatoinowatamous | 88. pretnd Mo prot nto undrstand
wove sar, 34 promise I prom ott be late
11. consont_ _Shefnaly consented to manytim. | 88. feen ‘| roueeto Bove ie sory
12. continue He continued to speak. 36. regret= | regret to tell you that you failed.
15. ede I hove decdedtolavecn Mondey.| 87. emenberr | eembored tobe edo
“4. comand I domangto owas S@. Seem Taal sean oe nerdy.
responsible. 39. can'tstand» | can't stand to waitin long lines.
15. dosene She desenes tonne prize. | fo. gurk tatoo ran
16. pect” Texpactoonbr graduate scootin | 49° sruggle—_amgged sy avaka.
eee 42. swear ‘She swore to tell the truth.
17 tt stevaier retro ooktome | ak ieee oaneseas
brary on time. 44, threaten threatened to tel
18. foes Logtto maith tr ‘eee Se
12, hater | hat to make sity mistakes. 46. volunteer He volunteered to hep us.
peut Pe petite task tome | 47. wait (i wait 0 hear from you.
22 intra Heintras‘oboa tran, | 4S at eee ene
23. learn He learned to play the piano. ”
Verbs Followed by a (Pro)noun + an Infinitive
50. savor Shwaaisedmo‘owaruna | 64 te —~Hat ned soto come
Tomor won.
51 alow ———Sheaowed me wusehercer. | €5. need We needed Cio hep us four
2. ask IesedJotn ho out te soon.
53. beg Tey Begg uso come cc. order Trelvdg ore et pay ine
Ss. cause Herlsows caused nario, | 67. pomit He pamitad fe clan yup
55. challenge ‘She challenged me to race her to late.
the comer 68. persuade | persuade him m comet avi
58. comince _Loutrtcomnce nin toaccgt | 69. famind She rnnabd me tock he doo
eure 70. que Ourteacer equ ust bon
57. dare ‘Hered ma to dobar than he ‘ne
hed one 71. teach My bier ayghtme fain
58 eroourege He encauregedmeto ryagsin, | 72. th Te door one ake ese
58 eipect | expatyou oben me mis
60. fers yeu em, 73, ge ‘aed orto appre jb
81. force They road nto rornean, | 74 want ‘ante bo apy.
02. hire Ste hredabay emewtretai, | 75. warn ‘med you nto vote fas
62. Instuct He nsncted nom be cart
‘Gerunds and Infinitives, Port! 83