INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS

UNIT 03: INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS

INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS

Infinitives

A. Use a to-infinitives after the following verbs: Agree, decide, expect, happen, pretend, promise, manage, tand (for example, decide to do)

B. Use a to-infinintives after the following verbs plus their object, advise, allow, expect, forbid, want, force, tell (for example, allow him to do)

C. Use an infinitive without "to" after the following verbs plus their object: Have, let, make, feel, see, hear, smell, find (for example, let Tom do it)

Gerunds

Use an -ing form after the following verbs: Avoid, can't help, deny, feel like, give up, imagine, mind, postpone, enjoy, (for example, deny giving up)

Choosing Between infitives and Gerunds

The following verbs allow both a to-infinitives form and an-ing form: remember, forget, stop, regret, try.

• The choice of a to-infinitives or an-ing form depends on the meaning.
• I forgot to turn the light off
• (= I didn't turn it off. I forgot to do it.)
• I forgot turning the light off
• ( I actually turned it off. I forgot that I had done that.)

Choosing Subjects

A. Use objective case pronouns with a to-infinitive.

• Expect him to help her
• Allow them to do it

B. Use a possessive pronoun with a gerund.

• Enjoy their singing
• Mind my smoking