Grammar — Gerunds and infinitives: Gerunds
- We use the gerund after:
- certain verbs/verbal phrases: admit, appreciate, avoid, can’t bear, suggest, understand, etc.
- prepositions: after, before, by, for, in, on, with, without
- verb + preposition: apologise for, succeed at/in, think about/of, etc.
- noun + preposition: congratulations on, the idea of, a good chance of, etc.
- adjective + preposition: famous for, good at, used to, worried about, etc.
Grammar — Gerunds and infinitives: Infinitives
- We use the infinitive without to after:
- modal verbs: must, can, should, could, will, etc.
- certain verbs/verb phrases: had better, would rather, let, make
Grammar — Gerunds and infinitives: Gerund or infinitive
- The following verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund, with a difference in meaning.
- forget + gerund: lose a memory of something you have done:
- I will never forget seeing The Grand Canyon for the first time – what a spectacular view!
- forget + infinitive: fail to do something because it slips your mind:
- Caitlin forgot to tell her manager about a meeting and she is in trouble now.
- go on + gerund: continue with the same activity:
- Brian went on practising martial arts despite his numerous injuries.
- go on + infinitive: start another activity after finishing something else:
- After Frank had quit his office job, he went on to become a farmer.
- like + gerund: to enjoy something:
- I really like knitting – it’s so relaxing.
- like + infinitive: to do something because it is a good idea:
- Sometimes I just like to switch my phone off.
- mean + gerund: involve, result in something:
- Accepting this job meant getting up early.
- mean + infinitive: intend to do something:
- I meant to call you yesterday to tell you about the concert, but I completely forgot.
- propose + gerund: suggest a plan:
- I proposed having a garden party, but nobody liked the idea.
- propose + infinitive: intend to do something:
- How do you propose to resolve this problem?
- regret + gerund: be ashamed of having done something:
- I honestly regret lying to you.
- regret + infinitive: feel bad about doing something at the moment of speaking:
- We regret to inform you that your application has been rejected.
- remember + gerund: have a memory of something you have done:
- I remember locking the door.
- remember + infinitive: keep something in your mind in order to do it:
- Please remember to keep your rooms clean.
- stop + gerund: to no longer do something:
- I stopped drinking fizzy drinks.
- stop + infinitive: to stop something in order to do something else:
- We stopped to ask for directions because our Sat-Nav wasn’t working properly.
- try + gerund: do something to see what it’s like/if it works:
- If you’re stuck with your essay, try taking a break.
- try + infinitive: make an effort to do something:
- We tried to convince Mum to go on holiday in the mountains this summer, but she just loves the beach too much to change her mind.