ANGLO-PEDIA

Anglo-File 114: GERUND & INFINITIVE

A) Gerund after prepositions
A general rule that applies to the use of gerund (ing form of a verb) is that after a preposition
(in, on at, to etc.) the verb has to be in the gerund form (doing) and not in the infinitive (to do):
We left after saying good-bye.
Jill thanked me for helping her.
He insisted on driving me home.
Im fond of skiing.
Be careful that the word to is both a preposition, and the indicator of an infinitive verb:
1. I want to see the manager. (infinitive)
2. She is used to this climate. (preposition)
Therefore, if you put a verb after the expression to be used to, that verb must be in the gerund
form: She is used to living in this climate.
Other examples:
They look forward to their holiday. / They look forward to going on holiday.
We are entitled to compensation. / We are entitled to receiving compensation.
He is committed to quality. / He is committed to improving the quality.

B) Gerund or Infinitive after verbs and expressions

When a sentence has a second verb directly after its main verb, this second verb can take one of
three forms:
1. Infinitive without to (do)
2. Infinitive with to (to do)
3. Gerund (doing)
There are no rules for choosing the form. It is a question of hearing and repeating the correct
form, until it becomes a reflex. Here are the commonly used verbs and expressions in each case.
1. Verbs & expressions followed by Infinitive without to (do):
Modal verbs:
You can go.
She couldnt find it.
They must see it.
She should try harder.
Shall we stop?
It might happen.
May I speak?
Dare he return?
Notice these two verbs where to is the second part of the modal verb:
You ought to rest.
You have to rest.
Other verbs & expressions:
Let him go.
She made me apologise.
We had better leave.
She would rather stay.
Why dont we go for a drive? (suggestion)

2. Verbs & expressions followed by Infinitive with to (to do):

She wants to succeed.
Tim has decided to leave.
She helped me to pack.
(You can also use infinitive without to: She helped me
pack.)
We expect to arrive shortly.
He has advised us to sell our business.
Id like to meet him.
She has threatened to resign.
I forgot to book a table. = I didnt remember to book a table.
(If you say: I dont remember booking a table, it means that you have done it, but you have
no memory of this action.)
He failed to qualify for the competition.
We cant afford to waste our time.
Theyve managed to buy tickets.
You need to make a reservation.
I didnt mean to upset you.
He deserves to get a salary raise.
3. Verbs & expressions followed by gerund (doing):
She likes / loves cooking.
(You can also use infinitive with to: She likes /
loves to cook.)
I hate / dislike ironing.
We enjoy walking in the woods.
I dont mind staying home.
Would you mind opening the window?
I suggest / recommend / propose creating a company logo.
He avoids speaking to me.
We risk going bankrupt.
I dont feel like dancing.
Do you fancy having a drink?
They regret hiring him.
How about going away for the weekend?
He spends too much time watching television.
They go skiing / mountain climbing / scuba diving once a year. (sport / activity)
We are considering moving to New Zealand.
She has given up / stopped trying.
It started / began / continued snowing. (You can also use infinitive with to: It started /
began / continued to snow.)
She continued explaining the problem.
Can you imagine driving at 250 km/ h?
He denies being involved in the fight.
Its no use crying about it.
She has difficulty / problems reading without glasses.
Dont bother asking for a discount.
(You can also use infinitive with to: Dont bother to
ask for a discount.)
Please Keep / keep on trying.
She cant help falling asleep in class.

ANGLO-PEDIA
Anglo-File 114: GERUND & INFINITIVE
EXERCISES
Choose the correct form of the verb in brackets (do, to do, doing). (Tracks 1-57)

Examples:
She helped me .. (fill in the form).
She helped me to fill in the form.
We mustnt (forget this).
We mustnt forget this.
She likes (live in the countryside.)
She likes living in the countryside

1. I suggest ..

(have) a break.

2. Would you mind (repeat) that?

3. Please, let me .. (finish).
4. They expected (see) better results.
5. We have to avoid (make) the same mistake.
6. She has decided .. (resign) from her job.
7. I hate (queue) at the cinema.
8. I was advised (book) my flight early.
9. Do you enjoy (walk) around the park?
10. He made me .. (sign) an agreement.
11. He may risk (lose) his job.
12. I recommend .. (postpone) the meeting.
13. Would you like .. (have) a seat?
14. Do you feel like .. (go out)?
15. Do you fancy . (go) for a walk?
16. I am tired. I would rather . (stay) home.
17. I am not used to . (wake) up early in the morning.
18. Have you thought of . (join) the football club?
19. I dont regret . (buy) this camera.

20. Shes interested in (do) business with us.

21. My neighbour threatened . (call) the police.
22. We had better . (tell) him the truth.
23. Dont forget . (post) the letter I gave you.
24. I have always wanted . (go) scuba diving.
25. She wanted her children . (have) a good education.
26. Sarah failed . (make) a good impression.
27. Everyone was afraid. No one dared . (say) anything.
28. How about (have) dinner early tonight?
29. She has spent a lot of time . (prepare) her speech.
30. They cant afford . (buy) a new car.
31. They usually go . (cycle) on Sundays.
32. Have you considered . (sell) your boat?.
33. We managed . (get) to the airport on time.
34. He has finally given up .. (smoke).
35. I need . (borrow) some money.
36. I dont remember . (lend) you 100 last week.
37. Please remember (turn off) the lights.
38. We cant go on . (live) like this.
39. They will telephone before (come).
40. They went inside because it had started . (rain).
41. Can you imagine . (live) in such a house?
42. She didnt deny . (spread) the rumour.
43. I meant . (call) you yesterday.
44. I dont mind . (work) at the weekend.
45. She deserves . (win) the competition.
46. I couldnt help (think) that he was lying.
47. Shall we .. (go over) the figures again?
48. It is no use (speak) to him. He wont listen.
49. I had difficulty . (get) to work yesterday.

50. Does she have problems .. (concentrate)?

51. Dont bother . (lock) the door.
52. We look forward to (see) you soon.
53. After . (wait) for an hour, he eventually left.
54. Why dont we (start) again?
55. I am sorry to keep you . (wait).

Anglo-File 114: GERUND & INFINITIVE / Answer Key

1 . I suggest having a break.
2. Would you mind repeating that?.
3. Please, let me finish.
4. They expected to see better results.
5. We have to avoid making the same mistake.
6. She has decided to resign from her job.
7. I hate queuing at the cinema.
8. I was advised to book my flight early.
9. Do you enjoy walking around the park?
10. He made me sign an agreement.
11. He may risk losing his job.
12. I recommend postponing the meeting.
13. Would you like to have a seat?
14. Do you feel like going out?
15. Do you fancy going for a walk?
16. I am tired. I would rather stay home.
17. I am not used to waking up early in the morning.
18. Have you thought of joining the football club?
19. I dont regret buying this camera.
20. Shes interested in doing business with us.
21. My neighbour threatened to call the police.
22. We had better tell him the truth.
23. Dont forget to post the letter I gave you).
24. I have always wanted to go scuba diving.
25. She wanted her children to have a good education.
26. Sarah failed to make a good impression).
27. Everyone was afraid. No one dared say anything.
28. How about having dinner early tonight?
29. She has spent a lot of time preparing her speech.
30. They cant afford to buy new car.
31. They usually go cycling on Sundays.
32. Have you considered selling your boat?

33. We managed to get to the airport on time.

34. He has finally given up smoking.
35. I need to borrow some money.
36. I dont remember lending you 100 last week.
37. Please remember to turn off the lights.
38. We cant go on living like this.
39. They will telephone before coming.
40. They went inside because it had started raining.
41. Can you imagine living in such a house?
42. She didnt deny spreading the rumour.
43. I meant to call you yesterday.
44. I dont mind working at the weekend.
45. She deserves to win the competition.
46. I couldnt help thinking that he was lying.
47. Shall we go over the figures again?
48. It is no use speaking to him. He wont listen.
49. I had difficulty getting to work yesterday.
50. Does she have problems concentrating?
51. Dont bother locking the door.
52. We look forward to seeing you soon.
53. After waiting for an hour, he eventually left.
54. Why dont we start again?
55. I am sorry to keep you waiting.

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