Gerunds And Infinitive

s8/8/2012

VERBS FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE:

GERUNDS AND
INFINITIVES

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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

AGREE
APPEAR
ARRANGE
AFFORD
CHOOSE
DECIDE
EXPECT
HOPE
LEARN
MANAGE

•
•
•
••
•
•
•
•

ABOUT
AFRAID OF
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
BE TIRED OF *
BY
EXICITED ABOUT *
FEEL LIKE
FED UP WITH*
GIVE UP

VERBS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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•ADMIT
AVOID
APPRECIATE
CAN’T HELP
CONSIDER
DETEST
DISCUSS
DISLIKE
DENY
ENJOY
EXPLAIN
IMAGINE

FINISH
KEEP
MENTION
MIND
MISS
POSTPONE
PRACTICE
QUIT
REGRET
SUGGEST
TAKE UP
UNDERSTANDVERBS + INFINITIVE OR GERUND
• BEGIN
• CAN’T STAND
• CONTINUE
• HATE
• LIKE
• LOVE
• START
• STOP

PREFER
REMEMBER
TRY
REGRET
GO ON
INTEND

NEED
OFFER
PLAN
PRETEND
PROMISEREFUSE
SEEM
THREATEN
TRY
WANT

PREPOSITION + GERUND
KEEP ON
INSTEAD OF *
INTERESTED IN *
LOOK FORWARD TO*
OF
SPEND TIME
THINK ABOUT
USED TO*
WITHOUT

WORRIED ABOUT *

However, someverbs have a slightly different meaning when
followed by an infinitive as opposed to a gerund.
•remember, forget, stop
The difference is often in the sequence of events.
See what you think about thefollowing pairs of sentences:
I remembered to feed the dog this
morning.
-----first--------- second

I remember feeding him his favorite food.

---second----first
(I fed him and later Iremembered the
(I remembered and then I fed him.)
action.)

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8/8/2012

I forgot to go to the bank.

I forgot going to the bank.

-----------------

second first

(I didn't remember and Ididn't go (I went to the bank, but later I forgot that I
to the bank.)
did.)

STOP
• SHE STOPPED TYPING
STOP+GERUND (INDICATES THE END OF THE
ACTIVITY)

• SHE STOPPED TO ANSWER THE PHONESTOP+INF. (INDICATES THE BEGINING OF
AN ACTIVITY)

• Although the difference in meaning is small with
these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives
can often be used interchangeably, there...