Gerunds Gerunds

1. As Nouns for Activities: smoking, reading, swimming

E.g. I like reading and swimming.

2. After Prepositions: on, at, in, E.g. I’m good at teaching but my son is not interested in doing homework.

How about TO:

I like to swim this Sunday.

I am used to swimming on Sundays.

Other e.g.s

Looking forward to + ing

e.g. I’m looking forward to seeing you.

Accustomed to + ing

3. After Expressions:

a) It/there is no use/good

e.g. The last bus has gone. It is no use waiting at the bus stop now.

b) Is there any sense/use (Questions)

e.g. Is there any sense crying over split milk?

c) Be worth (Be = is/am/are/was/were etc.)e.g. It is worth studying hard. You will get

good results in return.

d) Can’t help/can’t stand e.g. After knowing the bad news, she can’t

help crying.BUT: She can’t help but cry (bare inf.)

Bare InfinitivesBare Infinitives

1. After Modal Verbs:

Must/may/might/can/could/should/will/

would/shall/have to/ought to

e.g. You ought to study hard if you want to get good results in exams.

2. After Make/let

e.g. I’ve failed today’s test and my teacher made me take my re-test tomorrow after school.

e.g. My mother lets me come home later tonight.

3. After would rather

I’m very tired, so I would rather go home to have a sleep now than to go to the concert.

4. After had better

You had better study hard now if you really want to go to university.

5. After Verbs of Perceptions: (Infinitive or Gerund)

See/watch/observe @@Eyes@@e.g. I saw her cross the road. I saw her crossing the road.

Hear/listen @@Ears@@

e.g. I heard somebody shout/shouting outside

Smell @@Nose@@e.g. I could smell something burn/burning

Feel/notice

e.g. I felt/noticed somebody enter/entering the house

Differences between Gerund Differences between Gerund and Infinitive Uses in the and Infinitive Uses in the

aboveabove

Verb+Bare Infinitive normal situationsVerb+-ing emphasise the on-going of

the action seen, heard etc.

e.g. I saw her cross the road and turned left

Vs. I saw her crossing the road when the car

knocked her down.

Ger-In CasesGer-In Cases

1. Stop

Stop + -ing Stop what one is doing

e.g. The driver stopped repairing the car and drove away.

Stop + To-inf. stop what one is doing to do to do the thing in the infinitivee.g. The driver stopped to examine the car.

2. Try

Try +-ing doing something to see what will happen

e.g. She tried sending him chocolates but he did not respond.

Try + To-Infinitive trying to do something difficult, may not be successful

e.g. She tried to open the can but failed.

3. Remember/forget/regret

Remember/forget/regret+-ingfor PAST actions & events

e.g. I regret being too kind to my students. They do not pay attention to my lesson now.

e.g. I remember closing all the doors and windows before I left home yesterday.

Remember/forget/regret + To-infinitiveWhat one has to do (now or in future)

e.g. I’ll remember to return the books to the library tomorrow.

e.g. I regret to inform you that you are not accepted by our company.

4. Like/love/hate/prefer

Like/love/hate/prefer+-ingGeneral Case, something true for the past time long before now

e.g. I like swimming and cycling

Like/love/hate/prefer+ To-inf.refers to a particular/special occasion

e.g. I usually go cycling on Sundays but for this Sunday, I’d like to play rugby.

5. Allow/advise/forbid/permit

Allow/advise/forbid/permit + -ing followed by verbs (no personal objects)

e.g. We don’t allow smoking here.

Like/love/hate/prefer + To-inf.followed by persons (nouns), not verbs

e.g. We don’t allow people (personal object) to smoke here.

6. Need/require/want/deserve

Like/love/hate/prefer + -ing Passive meaning

e.g. My hair needs cutting = My hair needs to be cut by the hair-stylist

(my hair can’t cut itself)

e.g. The flowers need watering = The flowers need to be watered by the gardeners