Infinitive/ Gerund There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund If you are not sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, look at the chart below or look the words up in a dictionary I-Infinitive: Use: Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’ Use and word list As the subject of a clause After certain expressions (without ‘to’) After certain expressions (without ‘to’) After certain verbs (with ‘to’) After certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive constructions) After certain verbs with objects (without ‘to’) After certain verbs with objects (with ‘to’) After certain adjectives and their comparisons After nouns deriving from verbs Example To love is to forgive Why not visit our friend? I can swim He wants to swim He doesn’t know how to swim He made her swim He wanted her to swim It’s easier to swim downstream We made a promise to swim (derived from the verb to promise) As the subject of a clause: 1-To wake early disturbs him a lot 2-To follow his advice seemed logical After certain expressions (without ‘to’): 1-I would rather stay at home 2-You had better try this medicine (Had better - would rather -would sooner -why not -why should I/you/… [not] ) Infinitive after certain Verbs (without to): 1-We must stay at home 2-You shouldn’t be late (Can -dare (also with to) -do -help (also with to) -let -may -must -need (also with to) -shall -should -will) Infinitive after certain Verbs (with to): 1- He refused to pay the bill 2-She stopped her car to buy some cheese Infinitive after certain Verbs with Interrogative (how, if, what, where, whether): 1-We didn't remember where to meet 2-She learnt how to repair the computer Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (without 'to'): 1-We heard him scream 2-She made him leave his wife (Let -make) Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (with 'to'): 1-He advised me to travel to Canada 2-The mother warned her son not to play with the matches (Advise -allow -ask -beg -cause -enable -encourage -expect -forbid -force -get -help -invite -mean -order -permit -persuade -recommend -remind -teach -tell -want -warn -would hate -would like -would love -would prefer ) Infinitive after certain Adjectives: 1-It was impossible to go back 2-I was surprised to see him Infinitive after certain Nouns: 1-There was no need to get angry 2-He made a big effort to convince her II-Gerund: Form: Ing form of the verb Use: Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form Use and word list As the subject of a clause After certain adjectives After certain prepositions After certain verbs After certain verbs with prepositions After certain nouns Example Cycling is good for health She is afraid of travelling by plane Before going to work, he took his breakfast I love swimming I’m looking forward to meeting you I had problems finding my way to your house As the subject of a clause: 1-Reading is the food of the mind 2-Swimming is her favourite sport Adjectives (with Prepositions) followed by the Gerund: 1-I am interested in visiting the museum 2-She is good at playing chess (Afraid of -angry about / at -bad at -busy -clever at -crazy about -disappointed about -excited about -famous for -fond of -glad about -good at -impressed by -interested in -keen on -like -near -proud of -sick of -sorry about -tired of -worried about –worth) Prepositions followed by the Gerund: 1-Instead of studying for her exams, she went out every night 2-He took the money without telling it to his father (About (in 'how/what about') -after -apart from -because of -before -by -in -in spite of -instead of -on -without ) Verbs followed by the Gerund: 1-She enjoys cooking 2-Would mind lending me some books? (Admit-advise -allow -appreciate -avoid -can't help -can't stand -consider-delay -deny -mind -miss -permit -postpone -practise -reject -resist -risk -stop -suggest -understand -waste time / money ) Verbs with Prepositions followed by the Gerund: 1-I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon 2-They apologized for coming late (Accuse of -adjust to -agree with -apologize for -approve of -ask about -ask for -begin by -believe in -be used to -blame for -care for -carry on -complain about -concentrate on -congratulate on -consist of -cope with -decide against-decide for -depend on -die of -dream about / of-escape from -feel like -forgive for -give up -insist on -keep on-look forward to -object to -pay for -prevent sb From-protect from-put off -rely on -spend money on -spend time on -succeed in -suspect of -take part in-talk about / of -thank for -think of -use for –warn against-worry about ) Nouns / Nouns with Prepositions followed by the Gerund: 1-There's no point in waiting any longer 2-He has a difficulty in getting up early (Advantage of -alternative of -chance of -choice between -danger of -difficulty in -doubt about -experience in -fun -hope of -idea of -interest in -opportunity of -place for -pleasure in -point inpossibility of -problem -reason for -trouble -trouble in -use -way of -waste of money -waste of time ) Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form: Use and word lists Same meaning Same meaning but different use Different meaning Infinitive or present participle Examples He started to read/reading She forbids us to talk/talking He stopped to smoke/ He stopped smoking I saw him steal the money/ I saw him stealing the money