Using Gerunds or infinitives
One of the difficulties of the English language is to know whether to use a gerund (ex : doing) or an infinitive (ex : to do).
Generally speaking we can use the following rules:
ExamplesRulesExplanationsVerb + gerund1. I enjoy playing
2. I denied stealingOften we use the gerund for an action that happens before or at the same time as the action of the main verb.1. I enjoy myself at the time of playing.
2. I deny having stolen anything before.Verb + infinitive1. I decided to visit my uncle
2. I want to go outOften we use the infinitive for actions that followthe action of the main verb.1. Visiting my uncle was an action of my decision. It comes after.
2. What I want (now) is to go out (after/later)
These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.
Verbs commonly followed by a gerund
1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :
like
love
enjoy
dislike
hate
Example:
" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."
Note "like/love/hate..." can be also followed by an infinitive:
Example:
I like to watch TV in the evening.
2- After verbs such as :
VerbsExamplesadmitHe admitted stealing the wallet.adviseI wouldn't advise buying a used car.allowThey don't allow smoking here. (Note that when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they allowed us to leave early.)anticipateHe anticipated passing the exam.avoidShe avoided meeting him.appreciateI appreciate working with you.completeThey completed building their house.considerShe considered starting a new business.delayShe delayed doing her homework.denyHe denied stealing the money.fancyFancy meeting you here!finishShe finished writing the letter.gogo swimming.imagineHe imagines meeting her.involvethe job involves working in teams.keepHe keeps complaining about his girlfriend.mentionHe mentioned working in that company.mindWould you mind helping me?missHe misses talking to her.permitThe don't permit smoking here. (Note that, like allow, when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they permitted us to leave early.)postponeThey postponed traveling to Japan.practiceShe practiced painting.rejectHe rejected working with them.resistHe couldn't resist eating the cake.riskShe risks losing her job.suggestI suggest leaving early.waste time/money
Don't waste my time complaining.
3- After prepositions
aim at
keep on
interested in
instead of
good at
before ...
after ...
Example:
"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".
4- After some expressions :
It's no use ...
It's no good ...
There's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...
" It's no use convincing him to meet her. "
Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive
1- After verbs that generally refer to a future event:
VerbsExamplesaffordWe can't afford to buy a new car.agreeShe agreed to help him.aimThe government aims to reduce illiteracy ratesarrangeHe arranged to stay at a hotel.attemptHe attempted to join them.chooseHe chose to stay at home.consentShe consented to marry him.decideThey decided to go to the movies.deserveHe deserves to be punished.demandHe demanded to speak to Mrs. LynchendeavorThey endeavor to provide the best possible serviceexpectThey expected to arrive early.failHe failed to convince him.happenThey happened to be at the theatre when we met them.helpShe helped me to do the exercise. (Note, help is also followed by a bare infinitive: She helped me do the exercise.)hopeI hope to join you as soon as possible.intendShe intends to write an autobiography.learnHe learned to play the guitar when he was young.manageHe managed to do his homework without his mother's help.needI need to find a job.offerHe offers to help us.planHe plans to follow a career as an engineer.pretendThe child pretended to be asleep.proceedHe proceeded to show us how to use the machine.promiseShe promised to come on time.refuseShe refused to forgive him.seemHe seemed to be unhappy.swearI swear to tell the truth.threatenHe t
One of the difficulties of the English language is to know whether to use a gerund (ex : doing) or an infinitive (ex : to do).
Generally speaking we can use the following rules:
ExamplesRulesExplanationsVerb + gerund1. I enjoy playing
2. I denied stealingOften we use the gerund for an action that happens before or at the same time as the action of the main verb.1. I enjoy myself at the time of playing.
2. I deny having stolen anything before.Verb + infinitive1. I decided to visit my uncle
2. I want to go outOften we use the infinitive for actions that followthe action of the main verb.1. Visiting my uncle was an action of my decision. It comes after.
2. What I want (now) is to go out (after/later)
These rules are helpful but DO NOT always explain all uses of gerunds and infinitives.
Verbs commonly followed by a gerund
1- After verbs that express likes/dislikes :
like
love
enjoy
dislike
hate
Example:
" I like playing soccer but I hate boxing."
Note "like/love/hate..." can be also followed by an infinitive:
Example:
I like to watch TV in the evening.
2- After verbs such as :
VerbsExamplesadmitHe admitted stealing the wallet.adviseI wouldn't advise buying a used car.allowThey don't allow smoking here. (Note that when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they allowed us to leave early.)anticipateHe anticipated passing the exam.avoidShe avoided meeting him.appreciateI appreciate working with you.completeThey completed building their house.considerShe considered starting a new business.delayShe delayed doing her homework.denyHe denied stealing the money.fancyFancy meeting you here!finishShe finished writing the letter.gogo swimming.imagineHe imagines meeting her.involvethe job involves working in teams.keepHe keeps complaining about his girlfriend.mentionHe mentioned working in that company.mindWould you mind helping me?missHe misses talking to her.permitThe don't permit smoking here. (Note that, like allow, when an object is introduced an infinitive is used instead of a gerund: they permitted us to leave early.)postponeThey postponed traveling to Japan.practiceShe practiced painting.rejectHe rejected working with them.resistHe couldn't resist eating the cake.riskShe risks losing her job.suggestI suggest leaving early.waste time/money
Don't waste my time complaining.
3- After prepositions
aim at
keep on
interested in
instead of
good at
before ...
after ...
Example:
"I am interested in collecting stamps."
"After playing football I drank an orange juice".
4- After some expressions :
It's no use ...
It's no good ...
There's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...
" It's no use convincing him to meet her. "
Verbs that can be followed by an infinitive
1- After verbs that generally refer to a future event:
VerbsExamplesaffordWe can't afford to buy a new car.agreeShe agreed to help him.aimThe government aims to reduce illiteracy ratesarrangeHe arranged to stay at a hotel.attemptHe attempted to join them.chooseHe chose to stay at home.consentShe consented to marry him.decideThey decided to go to the movies.deserveHe deserves to be punished.demandHe demanded to speak to Mrs. LynchendeavorThey endeavor to provide the best possible serviceexpectThey expected to arrive early.failHe failed to convince him.happenThey happened to be at the theatre when we met them.helpShe helped me to do the exercise. (Note, help is also followed by a bare infinitive: She helped me do the exercise.)hopeI hope to join you as soon as possible.intendShe intends to write an autobiography.learnHe learned to play the guitar when he was young.manageHe managed to do his homework without his mother's help.needI need to find a job.offerHe offers to help us.planHe plans to follow a career as an engineer.pretendThe child pretended to be asleep.proceedHe proceeded to show us how to use the machine.promiseShe promised to come on time.refuseShe refused to forgive him.seemHe seemed to be unhappy.swearI swear to tell the truth.threatenHe t
hreatened to reveal her secret.volunteerHe always volunteers to help the needy.wantI want to finish my work early.would hateHe would hate to lose.would likeHe would like to drink a cup of tea.would loveI would love to meet you.
2- After adjectives
be determined
be disappointed
be glad
be happy
be pleased
Examples:
"I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."
3- After "too" & "enough":
too difficult
easy enough
Example:
"It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."
Verbs that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund:
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:
start
begin
stop
remember...
Example:
"I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."
2- After adjectives
be determined
be disappointed
be glad
be happy
be pleased
Examples:
"I'm glad to know that you passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear that you flunked maths."
3- After "too" & "enough":
too difficult
easy enough
Example:
"It's too difficult to convince him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool him to get what you want."
Verbs that can be followed by both an infinitive and a gerund:
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive. Here are some examples:
start
begin
stop
remember...
Example:
"I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."
Would sooner, would just as soon
We use the phrases would sooner and would just as soonwhen we say that we prefer one thing to another thing. They mean approximately the same as would rather:
I don’t really want to go back to France again this year. I’dsooner go to Spain.
Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don’t mind, we’d justas soon stay at home and watch it all on TV.
Would sooner is more common than would just as soon. However, would rather is more common than both of these phrases.
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We use the phrases would sooner and would just as soonwhen we say that we prefer one thing to another thing. They mean approximately the same as would rather:
I don’t really want to go back to France again this year. I’dsooner go to Spain.
Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don’t mind, we’d justas soon stay at home and watch it all on TV.
Would sooner is more common than would just as soon. However, would rather is more common than both of these phrases.
@Englishteacherideas1
#grammar
Would rather, would sooner: typical errors
We don’t use would rather or would sooner with an -ingform or a to-infinitive:
I don’t need a lift, thanks. I’d rather walk.
Not: I’d rather to walk. or I’d rather walking.
When we use not referring to a different subject, we attach not to the second clause, not to would rather or would sooner:
I’d rather they didn’t tell anyone
Not: I’d rather not they told anyone.
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We don’t use would rather or would sooner with an -ingform or a to-infinitive:
I don’t need a lift, thanks. I’d rather walk.
Not: I’d rather to walk. or I’d rather walking.
When we use not referring to a different subject, we attach not to the second clause, not to would rather or would sooner:
I’d rather they didn’t tell anyone
Not: I’d rather not they told anyone.
@Englishteacherideas1
#grammar
Would rather
We use would rather or ’d rather to talk about preferring one thing to another. Would rather has two different constructions. (The subjects are underlined in the examples.)
Compare
same subject (+ base form)
different subject (+ past simple clause)
I’d rather stay at home than go out tonight.
I’d rather you stayedat home tonight.
I’d rather not go outtonight.
I’d rather you didn’tgo out tonight
In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not on would rather:
She’d rather you didn’t phone after 10 o’clock.
Not: She wouldn’t rather you phoned after 10 o’clock.
Same subject
When the subject is the same person in both clauses, we use would rather (not) followed by the base form of the verb:
We’d rather go on Monday.
Not: We’d rather to go … or We’d rather going …
More than half the people questioned would rather havea shorter summer break and more holidays at other times.
I’d rather not fly. I hate planes.
When we want to refer to the past we use would rather + have + -ed form (perfect infinitive without to):
She would rather have spent the money on a holiday.(The money wasn’t spent on a holiday.)
I’d rather have seen it at the cinema than on DVD. (I saw the film on DVD.)
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#grammar
We use would rather or ’d rather to talk about preferring one thing to another. Would rather has two different constructions. (The subjects are underlined in the examples.)
Compare
same subject (+ base form)
different subject (+ past simple clause)
I’d rather stay at home than go out tonight.
I’d rather you stayedat home tonight.
I’d rather not go outtonight.
I’d rather you didn’tgo out tonight
In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not on would rather:
She’d rather you didn’t phone after 10 o’clock.
Not: She wouldn’t rather you phoned after 10 o’clock.
Same subject
When the subject is the same person in both clauses, we use would rather (not) followed by the base form of the verb:
We’d rather go on Monday.
Not: We’d rather to go … or We’d rather going …
More than half the people questioned would rather havea shorter summer break and more holidays at other times.
I’d rather not fly. I hate planes.
When we want to refer to the past we use would rather + have + -ed form (perfect infinitive without to):
She would rather have spent the money on a holiday.(The money wasn’t spent on a holiday.)
I’d rather have seen it at the cinema than on DVD. (I saw the film on DVD.)
@Englishteacherideas1
#grammar