MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

Here you will find more explanation of the use of gerunds and infinitieves plus some exercises as well.

GUESSING MEANING OF VOCABULARY FROM CONTEXT

Here you have some information that is going to be useful in order to guess the meaning of words just by reading them...

SKIMMING AND SCANNING EXERCISES

In this link you can exercise your skimming and scanning skills. If you don't have it, train with it as soon as possible.
This exercise practices skimming, that means reading very fast to find only the main ideas of a text; and scanning -- that means reading very fast to find specific pieces of information.

HOW TO READ FASTER AND BETTER (Youtube)

This is a video that shows you how to read faster and better. Check it out so that you can improve your reading skill.

Gerunds and Infinitives

Some Important Rules

The form of the verb that ends in -ing is called a Gerund when used as a noun.  Because their function is that of a noun, gerunds may be used as the subject of a sentence:

Running regularly will make you feel better.

Studying requires most of my time during the day.

The -ing form can also be called a present participle; however, the function is that of a verb when used in the present or past progressive:

The teacher is speaking to her students.

If a gerund is combined with a preposition, it is called a Gerund phrase:

Our daughter's life ambition is studying to be a doctor.

Possessive adjectives precede a gerund:

Her working late is making her sick.            I don’t mind him being here.

There are some verbs that must be followed by a gerund.  Example:

I enjoy studying.       Would you mind being quiet?

The following verbs MUST be followed by a gerund:

admit              discuss             finish               miss                 quit                 

stop (=quit)     avoid               resist               give up            postpone

consider          dislike             keep on           practice           think about

recommend     put off            enjoy               mind                                                     

suggest            go + activities

The choice of a gerund or an infinitive, in some instances, does not affect the meaning of  a verb.

a)         I prefer to go to the mall.

b)                  I prefer going to the mall.

Verbs that show emotion and the fulfillment of unfulfillment of an activity may affect the meaning depending on the choice of an infinitive or a gerund.  Gerunds are used to describe actions that are factual, whereas infinitives are used to describe actions that may take place in the time to come or that are possible.

Verbs of Emotion:

           

Factual: Did you like dancing last night?

Possible: Do you like to dance?

Verbs of fulfillment/unfulfillment:

Factual: I started doing my homework and question #1 is really hard.

Possible: Did you start to do your homework?

A Gerund will follow a preposition:

Thank you for helping me.

The negation NOT is always placed in front of the gerund or the infinitive.

I enjoy not having to do study today.

Gerunds are used after the following expressions:

-worth,

-rather than,

-instead of

-This situation is worth looking into

-Rather than studying Chemistry we decided to study Anatomy

-Instead of talking to her boss directly, she sent a message with her secretary.

Verbs of perception- feel, hear, notice, observe, see, smell, watch- may be followed by gerunds, however, never infinitives.  (These may also be followed by the base form of the verb.)

-Have you ever seen an ice skater doing a high jump?

-Do you hear the phone ringing?

When there is only one object complement, some verbs are followed by a gerund complements.

-Doctors advise reducing fats in one’s diet. 

-They urge giving up fried foods. 

-They encourage steaming or boiling food but forbid frying things in oil. 

-Changing food habits requires changing old habits.

Infinitives

However, if there is a second object complement, an infinitive is used. (*see another example)

-The doctor advised me to reduce my fat intake. 

-He urged me to give up fried food. 

-He encouraged me to steam and boil my food but forbade me to fry things in oil. 

-This has required me to change a lot of old habits.

These are some verbs that follow the preceding pattern:

advise             force                allow               tell

persuade         require             permit             remind

urge                forbid              invite               warm

encourage       command        trust                teach  

convince         oder                cause               hire

More examples:          I trust my doctor to do the job right.

                                              They hired him to solve the problems here.

Infinitives as subjects:          To be on time is important in this culture.

Infinitives as objects:            *The asked her to check the letter before it was sent.

Infinitives used in passive construction:

            I was told to go very quickly and quietly.

The following verbs may be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive:

attempt             continue          intend             plan

begin               dread              like                  prefer

hate                 love                 start                 stop

try                   cannot                         stand  

The following verbs are followed by infinitives:

want                need                would like       hope                expect             agree               seem

appear             learn                mean               try                   forget              offer                agree