Verbs used with the Gerund and the Infinitive

There are a few verbs which appear in more than one combination: with the Gerund and the Infinitive. These particular verbs have different patterns assosiated with meanings.

 

Verbs	Gerund	Infinitive
begin – начинать	a) The predicate indicates an activity or process (but the infinitive is also possible). She began crying (to cry). When did you begin learning (to learn) English?	a) The predicate denotes a state of mind or mental activity. I began to feel dizzy. He began to realize that he had made a mistake. b) The grammatical subject is lifeless. The barometer began to fall. с) The verb is used in a continuous form. It's beginning to freeze.
start– начинать, браться за что- либо	It started raining.	It is starting to snow.
stop – останавли- ваться, прекращать	He stopped smoking on his doctor's advice. (= He doesn't smoke anymore)	He stopped to smoke. (= in order to smoke)
cease – прекращать, приостанавливать	The factory has ceased making bicycles.	The old German Empire ceased to exist in 1918.
continue – продол- жать	How long will you continue working?	He continued to live with his parents after his marriage.
like (love) – нравиться	I like cooking (= enjoy in general)	I like to cook my meals. (= find it good or right)
dread – страшиться, бояться, опасаться	I dread having to visit the dentist.	I dread to think what may happen.
loathe – чувство- вать отвращение, ненавидеть	He loathes travelling by air. (in general)	I loathe to have to put up here, (in particular)
hate – ненавидеть, не хотеть, испытывать неловкость	She hates getting to the theatre late. (= strong dislike)	I hate to trouble you. (= regret)
remember – помнить, напомина- ние ("не забудь")	I remember posting your letter. (= have a memory of the act)	He remembered to post the letter. (= didn't forget to do it)
forget – забывать	I forgot calling you the the day before. (about the past action)	Don't forget to call me tomorrow. (the action occurs at the same time or later)

 

regret – сожалеть	I regret saying (having said) that you were mistaken. (the action I earlier in time)	I regret to say that you were mistaken. (= I am sorry that I must now tell you...)
try – пытаться, стараться	Try knocking at the back door if nobody hears you at the front door. (= do smth as an experiment)	Try to get here early. (= make an effort)
prefer – предпочитать	I prefer walking to cycling. (in general)	I prefer to wait here. (in particular/now)
be afraid (of) – бояться	I don’t like dogs. I’m always afraid of being bitten. (= there is a possibility that smth bad will happen)	He was afraid to tell his parents that he had broken the neighbour’s window. (= don’t want to do smth because it is dangerous or the result might be unpleasant).
	You are afraid to do smth because you are afraid of smth happening as a result. I was afraid to stay in the sun because I was afraid of getting I burnt.

Would like is followed by the Infinitive. Notice the difference in meaning between I like and I would like. I would like is a polite way of saying I want.

I like play ing tennis. (= I enjoy it in general)

I would like to play tennis today. (= I want to play)

We can also use I would love/prefer/hate + Infinitive.

Would you prefer to have dinner now or later?

I’d love to be able to travel round the world.

 

There are some verbs which can be followed by the Gerund or “that-clause”

Verb	Gerund	“that-clause”
admit – признавать	He admitted having done wrong.	He admitted (that) he had made the same mistake again.
Report – сообщать	He reported having seen the escaped convict.	It is reported that the expedition has already come back.
Deny– отрицать	He denied knowing anything about the plan.	I denied (that) the statement was true.
Suggest – предлагать	I suggest going home.	I suggested that he should see a specialist immediately.
Acknowledge – допускать, признавать	Не acknowledged having been frightened.	He refused to acknowledge that he had been defeated.

 

 

anticipate, foresee – ожидать, предвидеть	We didn't anticipate being treated like that.	The directors anticipated that demand would fall.
fancy – нравиться, воображать, представлять себе	She didn't fancy going out. (= like the idea)	I fancy thathe is in for a disappointment. (= get the idea)
imagine – воображать	I can't imagine marrying a girl of that sort. (= form a picture in the mind)	Don't imagine that I can lend you money every time you need it. (= get the idea)

 

With a number of verbs and word-groups both the Gerund and the Infinitive can be used. There is no change in meaning. They can also be followed by a "that-clause"

 

love – любить	She loves having/to have a lot of dogs and young men around her.
regret – сожалеть	I regret being unable to help you. He regretted to have said that. I regretted that I couldn't help.
intend– намереваться, планировать	What do you intend doing/to do today? We intended that they should do it. (= have in mind as a plan)
forget – забывать	I shall never forget hearing Chaliapin in that part. He has forgotten to pay me. Did you forget that I was coming?
propose – предлагать	I propose starting early/to start early/that we should start early.

EXERSICES

Your friend has some problems and you have to be helpful. Write questions with try

Model: I can't find anywhere to live. (put an advertisement in the newspaper)

Have you tried putting an advertisement in the newspaper?

a) My electric shaver is not working. (change the batteries)

b) I can't contact Fred. He is not at home. (phone/at work)

c) I can't sleep at night. (take sleeping pills)

d) The television picture is not very good. (move the aerial)

 

Answer the questions using the Gerund or the Infinitive of the verbs in brackets

Model: – Why do you never fly? (hate)

– I hate flying.

a) Why do you always wear a hat? (like)

b) Why does Ann watch TV so often? (enjoy)

c) Why do you never go to the cinema? (not/like)

d) Why does Jack take so many photographs? (like)

e) Why don't you work in the evening? (hate)

 

 

Put the verb into the correct form: -ing or to – Infinitive

a) Do you mind (travel) such a long way to work every day?

b) Ann loves (cook) but she hates (wash) up.

c) I can't stand people (tell) me what to do when I'm driving.

d) I don't like that house. I would hate (live) there.

e) Do you like (drive)?

f) When I have to catch a train, I'm always worried about missing it. So I like (get) to the station in plenty of time.

g) I very much enjoy (listen) to classical music.

h) I would love (come) to your wedding but it just isn't possible.

i) Sometimes I'd like (learn) to play the guitar.

 

Read each situation and use the words in brackets to write your sentence

 

Model: The streets are unsafe at night. (I/afraid/go out/alone)

I am afraid to go out alone.

a) I don't usually carry my passport with me. (I/afraid/lose/it)

b) The sea is very rough, (we/afraid/go/swimming)

c) We rushed to the station, (we/afraid/miss/our train)

d) I didn't tell Tom that I thought he behaved foolishly. (I/afraid/hurt/his feelings)

e) In the middle of the film there was a horrifying scene, (we/afraid/look)

f) The glasses were very full, so Ann carried them very carefully, (she/afraid/spill/the drinks)

g) I didn't like the look of the food in my plate, a) (I/afraid/eat/it); b) (I/afraid/make/myself/ill)

There are a few verbs which can take a Gerund or an Infinitive, but the meaning is not the same. Use Gerunds or Infinitives in place of the verbs in brackets

I

1. We saw this film last month. Do you remember (see) it? 2. He was very forgetful. He never remembered (lock) the garage door when he put the car away. 3. Don't ask me to pay the bill again. I clearly remember (pay) it a month ago. 4. Did you remember (buy) bread for dinner? – Yes, I have the bread here, 5. Do you remember (post) the letter? – Yes, I remember quite clearly; I posted it in the letter-box near my gate. 6. Did you remember (air) the room? – No, I didn't. I'll go back and do it now. 7. She remembers part of her childhood quite clearly. She remembers (go) to school for the first time and (play) with Dick in the garden. 8. Did you remember (give) him the message? – No, I didn't. I'll go and do it now.

II

1. She forgot (bring) the sugar; she left it on the kitchen table. 2. Where is my dictionary? Have you forgotten (borrow) it a fortnight ago? 3. She often told her little boy, "You must never forget (say) "please" and "thank you". 4. Why are you late again? Have you forgotten (promise) me that you would never be late again?

III.

1. Do stop (talk); I am trying to finish a letter. 2. I didn't know how to get to your house so I stopped (ask) the way. 3. We stopped once (buy) petrol and then we stopped again (ask) someone the way.