To make a gerund, you add “-ing” to the verb. Remember, Preparation is the key to succeed! (I enjoy getting up early in summer.) I imagined him to be much taller. Both gerunds and infinitives can replace a noun as the object of a verb. There's really no helpful rule for you to determine which you need, so the best thing to do is just practice, practice, practice until you have them memorized. ; In the English language, some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with little or no change in meaning. Rules For Using Gerunds and Infinitives Gerunds and Infinitives Gerund The “-ing” form of a verb which works as a noun is known as a gerund. I hate dancing, so don't ask me to. / Chris likes to read. avoid doing). Understanding how these words function is a crucial step in developing your English skills. The meaning is 'we are sorry to inform'. cease            The government ceased providing free provide free health care. Gerund - Infinitive . Gerunds versus Infinitives – Know the right use of them in a sentence. Importance of gerund and infinities in English grammar. Verbing (Present Participle) Add ing to most verbs. It cannot be followed by any other verb form. Why should you avoid repeating words in a sentence? Buy today and The verbs like and hate express (dis)liking if they are followed by a gerund: I like getting up early in summer. The infinitive form is the base form of a verb with ‘to’. The following lists of verbs followed by other verbs will help you practice using gerunds and infinitives within simple sentences. I hate dancing, so don't ask me to. 'Stop' is normally used with a gerund. recommend: I recommend practicing gerunds and infinitives. Consult the lists below to find out which form to use following which verbs. (Sandra didn't want to be photographed, and she wasn't.). His doctor told him to stop smoking. It's annoying, but some English verbs are only followed by a gerund, and some only by an infinitive. He was fined for driving over the speed limit. Levels of Difficulty: Elementary Intermediate Advanced Marge started to talk really fast. I hate to lie, but sometimes I do. Verbs Followed by Gerunds ListVerbs Followed by Infinitive List. hope to do) or a gerund (ex. It sounds "funny" if you don't use the right one. (It's important to be punctual and I am.) play > playing, cry > crying, bark > barking; For verbs that end in e, remove the e and add ing. Consider and imagine can be followed by either (a) a gerund or (b) a noun phrase or pronoun + to-infinitive but with different meanings:. Tip 1: Both gerunds and infinitives follow certain verbs — you’ll learn much more about which verbs below. Here are some examples. 'Try' with an infinitive means you did not succeed. hate              He hates cleaning dishes. Marc started talking really fast. When 'remember' is used with an infinitive it means 'to remember to do something' or 'not to forget'. I couldn't bear to see those animals suffer, so I looked away. thanhks you so much!!! Everybody considers him to be the best person for the job. Your question touches on several subjects so I’ll just narrow them down to the verb “consider” and try to be as clear as possible: i am really grateful to you for your answer, i've waited for you for such a long time.hehe. / Sarah continued to talk. It is used after another verb, after an adjective or noun or as the subject or object of a sentence.. / Peter proposed to pay for the trip. I can't imagine that she's telling the truth. What is the difference between "wether" and "whether"? I love to drink a cup of coffee before running because it gives me an extra boost. The infinitive form is the base form of a verb with ‘to’. When need is used with a gerund it takes a passive meaning. neglect         He neglected doing his daily chores. Whether you use a gerund or an infinitive depends on the main verb in the sentence. propose        Peter proposed paying for the trip. It can be a little difficult to know when to use gerunds and infinitives. I’ve also included example sentences and practice questions for you. Marc started to talk really fast. / He hates to clean dishes. Sandra didn't like to be photographed, so she turned her back to the camera. 'Stop' is used with an infinitive to mean that an action was stopped in order to do something else. (See all the gerund and infinitive exercises here) Here's my video on the subject: We use gerunds (verb + ing): After certain verbs - I enjoy singing; After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving / He prefers to eat at 7 PM. Prefer and can't bear can also take a gerund or a to-infinitive: I prefer walking to taking the bus. consider (think about): I considered staying silent, but I had to tell her. Verbs that take a gerund or an infinitive with different meanings: When 'begin' is used in non-continuous tenses, you can use a gerund or an infinitive: She began singing. of your order to the Children's Literacy Charity. Imagine can be followed by a noun, gerund, or that-clause. 'Keep' is normally used with a gerund to mean that the action is continued. Can you touch your toes without bending your knees? Online Exercises on the use of the gerund as well as the infinitive with and without "TO". ), For timeline diagrams, quotes and exercises, check out our e-book The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar, Grammaring – A guide to English grammar | Copyright © 2009-2020, Non-finite verb forms (infinitives, gerunds and participles), Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund, Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with a difference in meaning, TO-infinitive or gerund: LIKE, HATE, PREFER, CAN'T BEAR. (I expected that he would be much taller. But if these verbs are followed by a to-infinitive, they express habitual preference, something that we do not necessarily like or enjoy but consider as useful, right or wise: I like to be punctual. If you prefer to walk, it will take you 30 minutes to school. (Everybody thinks that he is the best person for the job.) Indeed a gerund is a noun made from a verb. / I can't bear to be alone. Sarah forgot to pay her phone bill. It must be followed by a noun, that-clause, or gerund. love              We love scuba diving. Some verbs are followed by a pronoun or noun referring to a person, and then an infinitive. The following guidelines and lists will help you figure out whether a gerund or infinitive is needed. An infinitive is the basic or root form of a verb, typically preceded with "to." risk: Don’t risk losing your job! A corkscrew is a tool for taking corks out of bottles. can you distinguish for me two clusters:consider+v-ing or consider+to infinitive??? What's the difference between "alternatively" and "alternately"? can't stand   Anne can't stand working the late / Anne can't stand to work the late shif. Danny kept talking. mention (say something): She mentioned seeing my brother at a baseball game. (Everybody thinks that he is the best person for the job. mention (say something): She mentioned seeing my brother at a baseball game. With a gerund 'remember' means 'recall' from your memories. In both cases, when a verb directly follows consider or imagine, you should use the gerund form, not the infinitive: Consider can be followed by a noun, a that-clause, or a gerund. (I didn't want to see them suffer, so I looked away. Dread 'Dread' is usually followed by a gerund: He dreaded facing his debtors. With an infinitive 'start' can mean the action was not completed. TiengAnh.net - English Sharing Experience Community. 'Dread' is sometimes used with infinitives such as 'think' or 'consider'. involve: The course involved writing three tests. Follow this link to HyperGrammar at the University of Ottawa for a review of the parts of speech. can't bear     I can't bear being alone. They will consider the suggestions. I remember meeting him last year. Things to look out for. I can't imagine a larger dog than a mastiff. When 'forget' is used with a gerund, it means 'forget you have done something'. Everybody considers him to be the best person for the job. If like is in the negative, a gerund refers to an action that we do but don't enjoy doing, while a to-infinitive means that we don't do something because we don't think it right to do: I could tell that Sandra didn't like being photographed though she didn't say a word. How should I use commas with "not only... but also"? Written by Martine Johnston, International Student Centre. 'Regret' is sometimes used with phrases such as 'to inform'. ), Imagine living at 2,000 metres above sea level! recommend: I recommend practicing gerunds and infinitives. like               Chris likes reading. Let’s take a minute and imagine that you get the part. Frequently, the main verb in a sentence is followed by another verb which is either an infinitive with ‘to’ (ex. He imagined running his own business since he was a boy. deny: I denied knowing about his secret. He dreaded to think of the dangers of the trek in the Alps. I like getting up early in summer. prefer           He prefers eating at 7 PM. You should consider that she might not feel the same way about you. (Sandra was photographed, which she didn't like.) (I like walking better than taking the bus.) It can be a little difficult to know when to use gerunds and infinitives. (I don't like dancing.)