ING and INF structures

OBS. The ING form is either gerund (verbal noun) or present participle (it replaces an
adverbial clause). The gerund may be preceded by a preposition or it can take noun
determiners (the+ adj+V-ing +of). Both the -ing and the infinitive have perfect and
continuous forms. These structures normally have a parallel THAT Clause.
A. Verbs that go both with the ING or INF
1. Change of meaning
- remember: Do you remember seeing him? I remembered to phone her.
- forget: I forgot to call, sorry! I cant forget (about) meeting him.
- regret: I regret yelling to you.(regret this action) We regret to inform you that you are
fired. (formal use)
- try: Try to open the can (make the effort). When you feel blue, try listening to some
music (a suggestion).
- stop: Stop crying!(stop the action) He stopped to pick up his hat.(he stopped with a
purpose)
- go on: He went on writing the letter. (he continued that activity) After finishing the
presentation, he went on to discuss more general issues. (he changed the topic of
conversation)
- mean: Catching the 8 oclock train means (to imply) leaving very early. I meant (to
intend) to phone you but I forgot.
- consider: He is considered to be the finest pianist we have (is appreciated as). Did you
ever consider leaving your job? (do you think about)
N.B.: Verbs of feeling (see, hear, feel, notice etc.):
+ gerund => part of the action: I saw them playing the game several times.
+ infinitive => the whole action: I watched them play the game to the very end.
2. Little or no change in meaning
- start, begin, continue: I started to cook/ cooking at 8.
- like, love, hate, dislike (there is a difference between general things, with the gerund,
and particular occasions, with the infinitive): I hate to disturb you now (but I have to do
it). I hate disturbing people (so I try to be discreet). I like watching movies. I like to flick
through a book now and then.
- attempt: I attempted to smoke/smoking but acquired a bad cough.
- allow, forbid, permit => the infinitive requires D.O. and represents a particular
occurrence: He allowed them to stay in his house for a few days. I never allow smoking
in my house.
- imagine + Object (Ac+ING or Ac+INF) : I could never imagine her living alone. I
imagined him to be rather smart.
B. Verbs and structures that go either with the ING or the INF:
Verb + ING: avoid, be worth, enjoy, fancy, cant help, mind, miss, cant stand, admit,
consider, deny, suggest, its no good, its no use, theres no denying/ telling etc.

Verb + INF: ask, manage, plan, offer, pretend, pay, refuse, promise, want, wait (!exc.
want + ing = need), seem, agree, demand, desire, expect, hope, decide, the right thing to
do is to, had better, would rather, dare, neednt +short inf, the first/last/ second etc. to
do sth., so as to, indefinite pronoun + to-inf. (no one to talk to, something to say etc.),
etc.
Impersonal structures with the INF or the ING:
There is no telling/denying/saying = Nu se poate spune/nega etc.;
He is said /known/believed to beetc = Se stie/se cunoaste ca el(It is said/known
that)
Prep+ V-ing (gerund): to concentrate on, to accuse of, to succeed in, to refrain from, to
dissuade from, to blame for, to prevent from, to apologize for, to prohibit from, to insist
upon, to suspect of etc.
Ex. You have to refrain from drinking alcohol.
NB. The preposition to can also be an infinitive marker:
- to be used to + gerund: We are used to getting up early.
- used to + infinitive (habit in the past): We used to sit up late during the holidays.
But: We *use to go skiing in winter. (Correct: We usually go skiing in winter.)
Phrasal verbs with to(+ING): to look forward to, to be accustomed to, to swear to, to
object to, to be reduced to, to limit yourself to, to feel up to etc.
Participle vs. Gerund Distinctions:
Translate these structures with the gerund: The car needs washing. He prefers dancing
to swimming. He tried to limit himself to smoking 5 cigarettes a day. Theres no
alternative to moving house. Staying here is not an option.
And with the participle: They caught him cheating at cards. Did they see you coming?
He kept us all waiting. Leaving the place, he didnt say goodbye.
NB. How to distinguish between the participle and the gerund in similar contexts:
Visiting relatives is sometimes tiresome (gerund, SB).
Visiting relatives, he met his future wife (participle, time clause).
Translate with either the infinitive or the -ing form:
1. Spera ca isi va termina teza in curand. (hopes to finish)
2. Abia astept sa il vad pe James iar. (I look forward to seeing J again./ I cant wait
to see J again)
3. Guvernul se opune ideei de a cheltui mai multi bani pe transportul public.
(opposed to the idea of spending)
4. Astept sa te vad de foarte mult timp. (I have been waiting to see you for so long!)
5. Nu e obisnuit sa vorbeasca in engleza. (used to talking)
6. Pe langa ca munceste peste program, face totul perfect. (Besides working late
hours/ In addition to working)

7. Cand te-ai hotarat sa renunti la curs? (decide on giving up/ decide to give up)
Poate e o idee buna sa faci asta. (Maybe it is a good idea to do that./ Maybe doing
that is a good idea.)
8. Ei propun sa deschida un nou aeroport. (proposing to open)
9. Scuze de intarziere dar a trebuit sa ma opresc sa iau copii de la scoala. (stop to
take)
10. El a studiat matematica in liceu dar pana la urma ajuns profesor de muzica. (went
on to become)
11. Mi-a spus ca regreta ca a venit la petrecere.
12. Am incercat sa invat spaniola dar nu am reusit.
13. Nu te mai plange! Incearca sa gandesti pozitiv!
14. Dupa ce au participat la conferinta au continuat cu un spectacol si cu masa la
restaurant.
15. Te-ai gandit vreodata sa te muti pe cont propriu?
16. Dintotdeauna te-am considerat prietenul meu cel mai bun.
17. Ca deobicei, a uitat sa ii suna ca a fost sunat de la serviciu.
18. Te simti in stare sa conduci masina dupa ce nu ai dormit o noapte intreaga? (to
feel up to)
Traduceti cu expresii cu INF sau ING
19. O treaba care merita facuta merita facuta bine. (A job worth doing is worth doing
well.)
20. Nu are rost sa regreti, nu mai poti schimba nimic. (Its no use crying over spilt
milk.)
21. N-are rost sa il suni. Nu se poate spune cand se va intoarce acasa. (Its no use
calling him. There is no telling when he will be back home.)