The topic explained
LESSON 2A GRAMMAR
- I can use gerunds and infinitives.
Fadia’s footwear: which qualities make her successful?
Read the text. Does Fadia have any of the qualities you mentioned in Exercise 1?
Does Fadia have any of the qualities you mentioned in Exercise 1?
Think back: which pattern does each underlined verb take?
THINK BACK Put the underlined verbs or verb phrases from the text in the correct categories.
verb, e.g. appreciate / deny / admit (to) / can’t bear + gerund
verb, e.g. choose / happen + infinitive with to
verb, e.g. hope / force / help + object + infinitive with to
verb, e.g. notice + object + infinitive without to
What difficulties might someone who has become successful face?
Ten sentences: which form of the gerund or infinitive?
There are various forms of both the gerund and the infinitive depending on time aspect and verb pattern.
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Listen and check.
1 I was lucky ___ (give) a reasonable amount of money by my parents.
2 Despite ___ (work) on the film for ages, I hadn’t expected to be rewarded.
3 It was wonderful ___ (work) on something I loved.
4 Although I was a success, I needed ___ (maintain) it.
5 I remembered ___ (tell) once about an author who’d said ‘You’re only as good as your last book’.
6 Most successful people will admit ___ (experience) self-doubt at points in their career.
7 One temptation is to avoid ___ (take) risks so that you don’t fail.
8 Everyone would prefer ___ (turn out) success after success.
9 Success needs ___ (put) into perspective.
10 Otherwise, you risk ___ (remember) for one thing only.
Look again: gerund or infinitive, active or passive, earlier?
Look at the sentences in Exercise 5 again.
Which forms: a are gerunds or infinitives?
b are active or passive?
c refer to a time before another time in the past?
Same meaning or not? Four pairs
Read the pairs of sentences and decide if they have the same meaning.
a I regret to say that there is no more work for you.
b I regret saying that there is no more work for you.
a The teacher went on to tell us about the new project.
b The teacher went on telling us about the new project.
a Starting a new job means getting up early in the morning.
b To start a new job means getting up early every morning for it.
a I propose to discuss the issue with the boss.
b I propose discussing the issue with the boss.
Grammar Reference: Gerunds
Gerunds: five places we use the gerund
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.
Which prepositions are followed by the gerund?
Grammar Reference: Infinitives
Infinitive without to: modals, had better, would rather, let, make
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
Which verbs or verb phrases are followed by the infinitive without to?
Grammar Reference: Gerund or infinitive
forget, go on, like: same verb, two meanings
The following verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund, with a difference in meaning.
| + gerund | + infinitive |
|---|---|
| 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. |
What is the difference between forget + gerund and forget + infinitive?
What is the difference between like + gerund and like + infinitive?
mean, propose, regret: gerund or infinitive?
| + gerund | + infinitive |
|---|---|
| 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. |
What is the difference between mean + gerund and mean + infinitive?
What is the difference between propose + gerund and propose + infinitive?
What is the difference between regret + gerund and regret + infinitive?
remember, stop, try: what changes the meaning?
| + gerund | + infinitive |
|---|---|
| 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. |
What is the difference between remember + gerund and remember + infinitive?
What is the difference between stop + gerund and stop + infinitive?
What is the difference between try + gerund and try + infinitive?
