Gerunds and Infinitives Part 1

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is
"reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
 Reading helps you learn English. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE
 Her favorite hobby is reading. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE
 I enjoy reading. OBJECT OF SENTENCE
Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."
Examples:
 He enjoys not working.
 The best thing for your health is not smoking.
2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also
use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
 To learn is important. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE
 The most important thing is to learn. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE
 He wants to learn. OBJECT OF SENTENCE
Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."
Examples:
 I decided not to go.
 The most important thing is not to give up.
3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence.
However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English,
whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural
and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential
for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of
the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.
Examples:
 Learning is important. NORMAL SUBJECT
 To learn is important. ABSTRACT SUBJECT - LESS COMMON
 The most important thing is learning. NORMAL COMPLEMENT
 The most important thing is to learn. ABSTRACT COMPLEMENT - LESS COMMON
4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In
such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in
the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
Examples:
 He enjoys swimming. "ENJOY" REQUIRES A GERUND.
 He wants to swim. "WANT" REQUIRES AN INFINITIVE.
5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects.
Examples:
 She suggested going to a movie.
 Mary keeps talking about her problems.
6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives.
Examples:
 She wants to go to a movie.
 Mary needs to talk about her problems.

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 Gerunds and Infinitives 1
read, see, work, speak, help, talk, live, come, help, study
1. Dan enjoys ______________ science fiction.
2. Cheryl suggested ______________ a movie after work.
3. I miss ______________ in the travel industry. Maybe I can get my old job back.
4. Where did you learn ______________ Spanish? Was it in Spain or in Latin America?
5. Do you mind ______________ me translate this letter?
6. He asked ______________ to the store manager.
7. You've never mentioned ______________ in Japan before. How long did you live there?
8. If he keeps ______________ to work late, he's going to get fired!
9. Debbie plans ______________ abroad next year.
10. I agreed ______________ Jack wash his car.
Gerunds and Infinitives 2
graduate walk take accept do help study see work be
1. I hope ______________ from college next June.
2. The models practiced ______________ with a book balanced on their heads.
3. Mandy has promised ______________ care of our dog while we are on vacation.
4. Mr. Edwards chose ______________ the management position in Chicago rather than the
position in Miami.
5. I don't know what she wants ______________ tonight. Why don't you ask her?
6. Frank offered ______________ us paint the house.
7. Sandra decided ______________ economics in London.
8. Witnesses reported ______________ the bank robber as he was climbing out of the second-
story window.
9. Stephanie dislikes ______________ in front of a computer all day.
10. Mrs. Naidoo appears ______________ the most qualified person for the job.
Gerunds and Infinitives 3
eat talk see be fix drive speak hike ask communicate
1. Eliza recommended ______________ in a dim sum restaurant while we're in Hong Kong.
2. I demand ______________ to the manager of the hotel immediately.
3. My grandmother recalled ______________ a plane for the very first time when she was six.
4. She claims ______________ related to George Washington, but I don't believe her.
5. This broken bicycle needs ______________ before someone can ride it.
6. I can't understand ______________ such a big car when gas prices are so high, not to mention
what it does to the environment.
7. She refused ______________ to me after our fight.
8. The wilderness adventure course lasts ten days and involves ______________ more than fifty
miles through rugged mountainous terrain.
9. Don't hesitate ______________ for help if you don't understand the directions.
10. She managed ______________ with them, even though she didn't speak their language
Gerunds and Infinitives 4
be, see steal pay be move admit buy find have
1. She pretended ______________ a student in order to get a student discount.
2. She waited ______________ what would happen next.
3. The child denied ______________ the piece of candy.
4. We fully intend ______________ you for all the work you have done for us.
5. You seem ______________ a little distracted. Is everything alright?
6. Laura and Ed discussed ______________ to the city to find work; however, in the end, they
decided against relocating.
7. She refused ______________ that she had made a mistake.
8. After his accident last year, he would never consider ______________ another motorcycle.
9. Margaret just happened ______________ the lost car keys while she was looking for something
else.
10. He never admitted ______________ the wild party while his parents were out of town.
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 Gerunds and Infinitives 5
arrive lie participate have notice serve work receive have submit
1. Jackie tends ______________ late on Mondays, but our boss doesn't seem to care about that
very much.
2. She imagined ______________ on a tropical beach under a palm tree.
3. The winner of the local competition gets ______________ in a national competition in
Washington D.C.
4. We don't anticipate ______________ any more technical problems during the concert tour.
5. Debbie failed ______________ her credit card lying on the ground.
6. The politician swore ______________ the people honestly and with pride, but the scandal
revealed that the promise was little more than a lie.
7. Mr. Shinohara recollected ______________ with his father on his family's fishing boat when he
was a young child.
8. The medical team deserves ______________ the award for their volunteer work in sub-Saharan
Africa.
9. I really appreciate ______________ the opportunity to take part in this project and to work with
such an excellent team.
10. She delayed ______________ her application until just one week before the deadline.
Gerunds and Infinitives 6
meet speak join see return travel read arrive cleansay
1. Everybody arranged ______________ at the train station 30 minutes before the train departed.
2. Simona resisted ______________ Italian during her English training program in London. She
wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to improve her English.
3. Do you care ______________ us later for dinner? We are meeting at Tony's Italian Restaurant
downtown.
4. We waited ______________ what would happen next, but nothing happened.
5. Julius vowed ______________ to his home country once again to see the village where he and
his family had lived before the war.
6. Diana yearns ______________ to far off, exotic destinations.
7. When she got through ______________ her book, she laid it on the table next to the bed and
went to sleep.
8. They expected ______________ much earlier, but their plane was delayed in Paris.
9. Michael postponed ______________ the bathroom as long as possible. He hates cleaning!
10. How can you defend ______________ such terrible things to him?

Gerunds and Infinitives 7

meet pronounce experiment save dance take wonder see swim stay
1. Bill agreed ______________ us at the restaurant at 8:30, but he never showed up.
2. Jennifer practiced ______________ the word until she sounded just like a native speaker.
3. Our art teacher encouraged ______________ with different colors.
4. Dana hopes ______________ enough money to travel around Europe for three months. It's her
dream.
5. ______________ is her life. That is why Susan moved to New York to study dancing
professionally.
6. Constance plans ______________ part in the marathon next spring.
7. I can't help ______________ how my grandmother's life would have been different if she had
been able to go to college.
8. The doctor advised ______________ a specialist about the problem.
9. ______________ helped me strengthen my injured leg.
10. After the tsunami, Bette chose ______________ in Indonesia and work with a relief
organization.

3
 Gerunds and Infinitives 8
read be walk be take change float participate get take
1. ______________ is a great way to relax. I love to sit back and enjoy a good book.
2. Why do you always get ______________ to be first? I want to go first this time!
3. When you're in Prague, I recommend ______________ walking from the Charles Bridge to the
castle at night.
4. Susanne just happened ______________ to be in the restaurant when Julia Roberts walked in!
Can you believe that?
5. Eye specialists urge ______________ taking frequent breaks while using the computer for
extended periods of time.
6. I thought you knew nothing about cars. Where did you learn______________ to change a flat
tire?
7. My favorite thing is ______________ floating on my back in the sea.
8. The Egyptology course requires ______________ participating in six months of field studies
near Luxor, Egypt.
9. The nurse risked ______________ getting the disease from her patient, but she continued to
treat him until he had fully recovered.
10. Dad, you promised ______________ to take us to the beach today. When are we going to go
to the beach?
Gerunds and Infinitives 9
finish enter carry find forget accept exercise and eat be take be
1. He expects______________ to finish his studies next summer.
2. National park officials do not permit ______________ entering the park without an official
guide. You can hire one at the park office.
3. He offered ______________ to carry her books on the way home.
4. The archaeologist reported______________ finding a large, previously unknown pyramid
deep in the jungle.
5. Samantha keeps ______________ forgetting to send us the documents. We need to have
them by next week!
6. Felix decided not ______________ to accept the position in Miami because he wanted to stay
in New York.
7. ______________ Exercising and eating right can help you live a long and healthy life.
8. The refugees risked______________ being captured as they tried to escape through the
mountains.
9. You have to wait forever at the doctor's office. I suggest ______________ taking a good book
to help kill time.
10. Mr. Miller asked ______________ to be included in the meeting with the new clients.
Gerunds and Infinitives 10
be use have be build make drink and driv try buy begin
1. After his insulting comments, I thought Jack deserved ______________ to be fired.
2. Max avoided ______________ using his cell phone when other people were in the room.
3. We arranged ______________ to have a taxi pick us up and take us to the airport.
4. I resent ______________ being treated like a servant in my own home!
5. Frank completed______________ building the new barn last week. Next, he is going to paint it
red.
6. Don't worry, I don't mind ______________ making dinner. I think I'll make fish with steamed
vegetables, and a big salad on the side!
7. Crying, the mother looked into the television camera and said, "Society will no longer
tolerate ______________ drinking and driving."
8. Karen and Neil would like______________ to try that new dance club downtown. It's supposed
to have one of the largest dance floors in the world.
9. I can't see______________ buying a car when you don't even have a driver's license. That
doesn't make any sense!
10. When do you wish ______________ to begin, now or later?

4
Answers To Gerunds And Infinitives Part 1
Gerunds and Infinitives 1
1. Dan enjoys reading science fiction.
2. Cheryl suggested seeing a movie after work.
3. I miss working in the travel industry. Maybe I can get my old job back.
4. Where did you learn to speak Spanish? Was it in Spain or in Latin America?
5. Do you mind helping me translate this letter?
6. He asked to talk to the store manager.
7. You've never mentioned living in Japan before. How long did you live there?
8. If he keeps coming to work late, he's going to get fired!
9. Debbie plans to study abroad next year.
10. I agreed to help Jack wash his car.
Gerunds and Infinitives 2
1. I hope to graduate from college next June.
2. The models practiced walking with a book balanced on their heads.
3. Mandy has promised to take care of our dog while we are on vacation.
4. Mr. Edwards chose to accept the management position in Chicago rather than the position in
Miami.
5. I don't know what she wants to do tonight. Why don't you ask her?
6. Frank offered to help us paint the house.
7. Sandra decided to study economics in London.
8. Witnesses reported seeing the bank robber as he was climbing out of the second-story window.
9. Stephanie dislikes working in front of a computer all day.
10. Mrs. Naidoo appears to be the most qualified person for the job
Gerunds and Infinitives 3
1. Eliza recommended eating in a dim sum restaurant while we're in Hong Kong.
2. I demand to talk to the manager of the hotel immediately.
3. My grandmother recalled seeing a plane for the very first time when she was six.
4. She claims to be related to George Washington, but I don't believe her.
5. This broken bicycle needs fixing before someone can ride it.
6. I can't understand driving such a big car when gas prices are so high, not to mention what it
does to the environment.
7. She refused to speak to me after our fight.
8. The wilderness adventure course lasts ten days and involves hiking more than fifty miles
through rugged mountainous terrain.
9. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you don't understand the directions.
10. She managed to communicate with them, even though she didn't speak their language.
Gerunds and Infinitives 4
1. She pretended to be a student in order to get a student discount.
2. She waited to see what would happen next.
3. The child denied stealing the piece of candy.
4. We fully intend to pay you for all the work you have done for us.
5. You seem to be a little distracted. Is everything alright?
6. Laura and Ed discussed moving to the city to find work; however, in the end, they decided
against relocating.
7. She refused to admit that she had made a mistake.
8. After his accident last year, he would never consider buying another motorcycle.
9. Margaret just happened to find the lost car keys while she was looking for something else.
10. He never admitted having the wild party while his parents were out of town.

5
 Gerunds and Infinitives 5
1. Jackie tends to arrive late on Mondays, but our boss doesn't seem to care about that very
much.
2. She imagined lying on a tropical beach under a palm tree.
3. The winner of the local competition gets to participate in a national competition in Washington
D.C.
4. We don't anticipate having any more technical problems during the concert tour.
5. Debbie failed to notice her credit card lying on the ground.
6. The politician swore to serve the people honestly and with pride, but the scandal revealed that
the promise was little more than a lie.
7. Mr. Shinohara recollected working with his father on his family's fishing boat when he was a
young child.
8. The medical team deserves to receive the award for their volunteer work in sub-Saharan Africa.
9. I really appreciate having the opportunity to take part in this project and to work with such an
excellent team.
10. She delayed submitting her application until just one week before the deadline.
Gerunds and Infinitives 6
1. Everybody arranged to meet at the train station 30 minutes before the train departed.
2. Simona resisted speaking Italian during her English training program in London. She wanted to
take advantage of the opportunity to improve her English.
3. Do you care to join us later for dinner? We are meeting at Tony's Italian Restaurant downtown.
4. We waited to see what would happen next, but nothing happened.
5. Julius vowed to return to his home country once again to see the village where he and his
family had lived before the war.
6. Diana yearns to travel to far off, exotic destinations.
7. When she got through reading her book, she laid it on the table next to the bed and went to
sleep.
8. They expected to arrive much earlier, but their plane was delayed in Paris.
9. Michael postponed cleaning the bathroom as long as possible. He hates cleaning!
10. How can you defend saying such terrible things to him?
Gerunds and Infinitives 7
1. Bill agreed to meet us at the restaurant at 8:30, but he never showed up.
2. Jennifer practiced pronouncing the word until she sounded just like a native speaker.
3. Our art teacher encouraged experimenting with different colors.
4. Dana hopes to save enough money to travel around Europe for three months. It's her dream.
5. Dancing is her life. That is why Susan moved to New York to study dancing professionally.
6. Constance plans to take part in the marathon next spring.
7. I can't help wondering how my grandmother's life would have been different if she had been
able to go to college.
8. The doctor advised seeing a specialist about the problem.
9. Swimming helped me strengthen my injured leg.
10. After the tsunami, Bette chose to stay in Indonesia and work with a relief organization.
Gerunds and Infinitives 8
1. Reading is a great way to relax. I love to sit back and enjoy a good book.
2. Why do you always get to be first? I want to go first this time!
3. When you're in Prague, I recommend walking from the Charles Bridge to the castle at night.
4. Susanne just happened to be in the restaurant when Julia Roberts walked in! Can you believe
that?
5. Eye specialists urge taking frequent breaks while using the computer for extended periods of
time.
6. I thought you knew nothing about cars. Where did you learn to change a flat tire?
7. My favorite thing is floating on my back in the sea.
8. The Egyptology course requires participating in six months of field studies near Luxor, Egypt.
9. The nurse risked getting the disease from her patient, but she continued to treat him until he

6
had fully recovered.
10. Dad, you promised to take us to the beach today. When are we going to go to the beach?
Gerunds and Infinitives 9
1. He expects to finish his studies next summer.
2. National park officials do not permit entering the park without an official guide. You can hire one
at the park office.
3. He offered to carry her books on the way home.
4. The archaeologist reported finding a large, previously unknown pyramid deep in the jungle.
5. Samantha keeps forgetting to send us the documents. We need to have them by next week!
6. Felix decided not to accept the position in Miami because he wanted to stay in New York.
7. Exercising and eating right can help you live a long and healthy life.
8. The refugees risked being captured as they tried to escape through the mountains.
9. You have to wait forever at the doctor's office. I suggest taking a good book to help kill time.
10. Mr. Miller asked to be included in the meeting with the new clients.
Gerunds and Infinitives 10
1. After his insulting comments, I thought Jack deserved to be fired.
2. Max avoided using his cell phone when other people were in the room.
3. We arranged to have a taxi pick us up and take us to the airport.
4. I resent being treated like a servant in my own home!
5. Frank completed building the new barn last week. Next, he is going to paint it red.
6. Don't worry, I don't mind making dinner. I think I'll make fish with steamed vegetables, and a big
salad on the side!
7. Crying, the mother looked into the television camera and said, "Society will no longer
tolerate drinking and driving."
8. Karen and Neil would like to try that new dance club downtown. It's supposed to have one of
the largest dance floors in the world.
9. I can't see buying a car when you don't even have a driver's license. That doesn't make any
sense!
10. When do you wish to begin, now or later?

7
Gerunds and Infinitives Part 2
7. Gerunds can often be modified with possessive forms such as his, her, its, your, their, our,
John's, Mary's, the machine's, and so on. This makes it clearer who or what is performing the
action.
Examples:
 I enjoyed their singing. THEY WERE SINGING.
 She understood his saying no to the offer. HE SAID NO.
 Sam resented Debbie's coming late to the dinner. DEBBIE CAME LATE TO THE DINNER.
 We discussed the machine's being broken. THE MACHINE IS BROKEN.
8. Some verbs are followed by a noun plus an infinitive. In some situations, the noun is required.
In other situations, the noun is optional.
Examples:
 The police ordered the man to stop. NOUN IS REQUIRED
 She asked to leave. NOUN IS OPTIONAL
 She asked him to leave. NOUN IS OPTIONAL
9. Some verbs are usually followed by a gerund, BUT they can also be followed by a noun plus
infinitive. Using a noun plus infinitive will usually change who is performing the action.
I advised taking the train. IN GENERAL
 I advised him to take the train. HE WILL TAKE THE TRAIN.
10. There are many "go + gerund" expressions used for adventure sports and individual
recreational activities.
Examples:
 I go swimming every weekend.
 Would you ever go skydiving?
11. Gerunds are used after prepositions. Most commonly, these are "verb + preposition"
combinations.
Examples:
 They admitted to committing the crime.
 Leslie made up for forgetting my birthday.
 He is thinking about studying abroad.
12. Remember that there are many "adjective + preposition" combinations and "noun +
preposition" combinations in English as well. These are also followed by gerunds.
Sandy is scared of flying. ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION
 Nick is anxious about taking the examination. ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION
 His interest in becoming a professional snowboarder was well known. NOUN + PREPOSITION
 Thomas' story about seeing a grizzly bear was really exciting. NOUN + PREPOSITION

8
 Gerunds and Infinitives 11
1. I can't stand ______________ (she/complain) all the time. – to complain/ her complaining/
complaining
2. Our teacher won't allow ______________ (we/use) dictionaries during the test. – us to use/to
use/us using
3. We advised ______________ (he/take) a taxi instead of walking to the restaurant. him to
take/him taking/his to take
4. The city doesn't allow ______________ (park) along curbs painted red.
5. She prefers ______________ (I/make) dinner because she doesn't like to cook.
6. I hope you don't mind ______________ (I/smoke) while you eat.
7. John is never on time to work! I hate ______________ (he/arrive) late every day.
8. Sarah urged ______________ (I/vote) in the next election.
9. He needs to get a visa extension immediately. The authorities won't permit ______________
(he/stay) in the country without a visa.
10. Travel agents usually advise ______________ (reconfirm) flight bookings three days
before departure.
Gerunds and Infinitives 12
1. I enjoy ______________ (have) to get up so early in the morning. Sleeping in is great!
2. Nancy proposed ______________ (we/have) a picnic at the beach.
3. Do you wish ______________, (continue) or would you like to stop now?
4. His car needs ______________ (wash). It looks like it hasn't been washed in years.
5. Smokers risk ______________ (get) several smoking related illnesses.
6. The astronomer told us ______________ (look) into the sun during the eclipse.
7. I wish she would just quit ______________ (complain) all the time.
8. Leslie hired______________ (someone/repair) her fence.
9. She resisted ______________ (take) advice from her coworkers.
10. Linda regretted ______________ (not/go) to her high school reunion.
Gerunds and Infinitives 13
1. They urged the hikers ______________ (watch) out for bears.
2. Denise resented ______________ (not have) the opportunity to work and advance her career.
3. The policeman ordered the driver ______________ (stop ) his car.
4. He threatened ______________ (leave ) forever.
5. After he finished ______________ ( watch) the show, he turned off the TV and went to bed.
6. The banker advised his clients ______________ (invest ) for retirement.
7. Mr. Johnson won't tolerate our ______________ ( be) late to class.
8. Do you prefer Ester’s ______________ (help ) you or my___________ (help) you?
9. I go ______________ (snowboard ) every year. I love winter sports.
10. Frederick and I discussed the computer’s ______________ (cost ) more than we can afford.
Gerunds and Infinitives 14
1. She promised ______________ (to go) to the doctor as soon as she returned home.
2. Franne encouraged ______________ (I / apply ) for the job.
3. She wants ______________ (to study) more.
4. She neglected ______________ (mention ) all the facts.
5. The food caused ______________ (she/ get ) sick.
6. We expect ______________ (start) soon.
7. Sam chose ______________ (begin) the meeting.
8. I tried ______________ (email ) the picture, but it didn't work.
9. Laurelle reminded ______________ (I/ lock ) the door.
10. I would like ______________ (take) the train.
Gerunds and Infinitives 15
1. Debbie urged ______________ (visit/they visit ) the Eiffel Tower while they were in Paris.
2. I remember ______________ (get) up at 4:30 AM to make it to work on time.
3. The math teacher doesn't allow ______________ (use/we use) calculators.

9
4. Sallie wanted ______________ (we/stay) longer, but I was so tired that we had to leave.
5. The Japanese teacher encouraged ______________ (speak/the students/speak) in class.
6. The consultant advised ______________ (reduce/they reduce) costs.
7. I need ______________ (you/help) me move the table.
8. The zoo keeper permitted ______________ (touch/we touch) the snake.
9. Do you mind ______________ (wait) a few more minutes?
10. The hiking course requires ______________ (camp/we camp) in the snow.
Gerunds and Infinitives 16
1. Carrie Ann goes ______________ (surf) every day.
2. Delores goes ______________ (hiking) in the mountains when she has time.
3. Sam went ______________ (sightsee) in Paris.
4. Lisa and Kurt are going to go ______________ (dance) tonight.
5. Jamie has never gone ______________ (shop) in that mall.
6. Patrick wanted to go ______________ (bowl) with his friends, but he had to work late.
7. He likes to go ______________ (fish) .
8. Stephanie loves to go ______________ (sail) .
9. Mina wants to go ______________ (camp) on the weekend.
10. Sarah often goes ______________ (mountain climb).
Gerunds and Infinitives 17
1. Simone was talking about ______________ grow up in Tanzania. She has had such an
interesting life!
2. I need him ______________ help me lift this heavy box.
3. Thank you for ______________ come to the meeting on such short notice.
4. I suggest ______________ visit Japan when the cherry trees are in bloom.
5. We hired professional translators ______________ translate the documents into Arabic and
Chinese.
6. After work, I always go ______________ jog. I'm a fitness freak!
7. His interest in ______________ learn languages is very impressive.
8. I don't mind your friend Sally's ______________ come along with us. Why don't you invite
her and her husband?
9. Roberta is getting tired of ______________ do the same old job day in and day out. I think she
is going to quit!
10. Health professionals encourage people ______________ eat less red meat.
Gerunds and Infinitives 18
1. Agatha invited me _____________ spend the summer at her family's home in Costa Rica.
2. I didn't believe Camille's story about _____________ find a rattlesnake in her bed.
3. The terrible weather forced us _____________ change our plans.
4. Diane has been scared of _____________ swim in the ocean ever since she saw the movie
"Jaws."
5. I don't know how you got my son _____________ eat his broccoli. He hates vegetables!
6. I went _____________ bungee jump when I was in New Zealand. It was awesome!
7. Sally loves to go _____________ window shop in her free time. She doesn't usually buy
anything, she just likes to look.
8. What do you think about Sarah's and Doug's _____________ get married just one week after
they met? Isn't that crazy?
9. I urge you _____________ reconsider your decision.
10. His reasons for _____________ choose to study Latin were always unclear to me.
Gerunds and Infinitives 19
1. Michael's talent for_____________ choose the right investments made him rich.
2. Katie's talking caused me _____________ make a mistake.
3. I'm bored of _____________ do the same old thing every weekend.
4. Neil Armstrong is famous for _____________ be the first man to walk on the Moon.
5. The zoo keeper allowed us _____________ pet the cheetah.
6. I went _____________ snorke in Hawaii. It was spectacular!
10
7. Carrie reminded me _____________ call Dave and Stacey and invite them over for dinner.
8. The little girl pretended _____________ be sick, so that she didn't have to go to school.
9. She took up _____________ play the piano at the age of six.
10. Constance denied _____________ be related to the royal family.
Gerunds and Infinitives 20
1. The certification program requires me _____________ take several tests.
2. The certification program requires my _____________ take several tests.
3. I told the others _____________ meet me at the beach after work. Why don't you come along?
4. Robin talked me into _____________ participate in the 24-hour dance marathon.
5. He appreciated _____________ we helphim prepare for the Halloween party.
6. _____________ go skydiving tomorrow will test how brave you are.
7. Don't you need _____________ take a break? You've been working non-stop for over 8 hours!
8. _____________ We arrivelate would be an insult to our dinner hosts.
9. Beth was excited about _____________ meet the world famous photographer.
10. How did you manage _____________ get tickets for that concert? It has been sold out for
months.

11
Answers To Gerunds And Infinitives Part 2
Gerunds and Infinitives 11
1. I can't stand her complaining all the time.
2. Our teacher won't allow us to use dictionaries during the test.
3. We advised him to take a taxi instead of walking to the restaurant.
4. The city doesn't allow parking along curbs painted red.
5. She prefers my making dinner because she doesn't like to cook.
6. I hope you don't mind my smoking while you eat.
7. John is never on time to work! I hate his arriving late every day.
8. Sarah urged me to vote in the next election.
9. He needs to get a visa extension immediately. The authorities won't permit him to stay in the
country without a visa.
10. Travel agents usually advise reconfirming flight bookings three days before departure.
Gerunds and Infinitives 12
1. I enjoy not having to get up so early in the morning. Sleeping in is great!
2. Nancy proposed our having a picnic at the beach.
3. Do you wish to continue, or would you like to stop now?
4. His car needs washing. It looks like it hasn't been washed in years.
5. Smokers risk getting several smoking related illnesses.
6. The astronomer told us not to look into the sun during the eclipse.
7. I wish she would just quit complaining all the time.
8. Leslie hired someone to repair her fence.
9. She resisted taking advice from her coworkers.
10. Linda regretted not going to her high school reunion.
Gerunds and Infinitives 13
1. They urged the hikers to watch out for bears.
2. Denise resented not having the opportunity to work and advance her career.
3. The policeman ordered the driver to stop his car.
4. He threatened to leave forever.
5. After he finished watching the show, he turned off the TV and went to bed.
6. The banker advised his clients to invest for retirement.
7. Mr. Johnson won't tolerate our being late to class.
8. Do you prefer Ester's helping you or my helping you?
9. I go snowboarding every year. I love winter sports.
10. Frederick and I discussed the computer's costing more than we can afford.
Gerunds and Infinitives 14
1. She promised to go / him to go to the doctor as soon as she returned home.
2. Franne encouraged me to apply for the job.
3. She wants to study / her daughter to study more.
4. She neglected to mention all the facts.
5. The food caused her to get sick.
6. We expect to start / her to start soon.
7. Sam chose to begin / me to begin the meeting.
8. I tried to email the picture, but it didn't work.
9. Laurelle reminded me to lock the door.
10. I would like to take / the group to take the train.
Gerunds and Infinitives 15
1. Debbie urged visiting / them to visit the Eiffel Tower while they were in Paris.
2. I remember getting up at 4:30 AM to make it to work on time.
3. The math teacher doesn't allow using / us to use calculators.
4. Sallie wanted us to stay longer, but I was so tired that we had to leave.
5. The Japanese teacher encouraged speaking / the students to speak in class.
6. The consultant advised reducing / them to reduce costs.

12
7. I need you to help me move the table.
8. The zoo keeper permitted touching / us to touch the snake.
9. Do you mind waiting a few more minutes?
10. The hiking course requires camping / us to camp in the snow.
Gerunds and Infinitives 16
1. Carrie Ann goes surfing every day.
2. Delores goes hiking in the mountains when she has time.
3. Sam went sightseeing in Paris.
4. Lisa and Kurt are going to go dancing tonight.
5. Jamie has never gone shopping in that mall.
6. Patrick wanted to go bowling with his friends, but he had to work late.
7. He likes to go fishing.
8. Stephanie loves to go sailing.
9. Mina wants to go camping on the weekend.
10. Sarah often goes mountain climbing.
Gerunds and Infinitives 17
1. Simone was talking about growing up in Tanzania. She has had such an interesting life!
2. I need him to help me lift this heavy box.
3. Thank you for coming to the meeting on such short notice.
4. I suggest visiting Japan when the cherry trees are in bloom.
5. We hired professional translators to translate the documents into Arabic and Chinese.
6. After work, I always go jogging. I'm a fitness freak!
7. His interest in learning languages is very impressive.
8. I don't mind your friend Sally's coming along with us. Why don't you invite her and her
husband?
9. Roberta is getting tired of doing the same old job day in and day out. I think she is going to quit!
10. Health professionals encourage people to eat less red meat.
Gerunds and Infinitives 18
1. Agatha invited me to spend the summer at her family's home in Costa Rica.
2. I didn't believe Camille's story about finding a rattlesnake in her bed.
3. The terrible weather forced us to change our plans.
4. Diane has been scared of swimming in the ocean ever since she saw the movie "Jaws."
5. I don't know how you got my son to eat his broccoli. He hates vegetables!
6. I went bungee jumping when I was in New Zealand. It was awesome!
7. Sally loves to go window shopping in her free time. She doesn't usually buy anything, she just
likes to look.
8. What do you think about Sarah's and Doug's getting married just one week after they met?
Isn't that crazy?
9. I urge you to reconsider your decision.
10. His reasons for choosing to study Latin were always unclear to me.
Gerunds and Infinitives 19
1. Michael's talent for choosing the right investments made him rich.
2. Katie's talking caused me to make a mistake.
3. I'm bored of doing the same old thing every weekend.
4. Neil Armstrong is famous for being the first man to walk on the Moon.
5. The zoo keeper allowed us to pet the cheetah.
6. I went snorking in Hawaii. It was spectacular!
7. Carrie reminded me to call Dave and Stacey and invite them over for dinner.
8. The little girl pretended to be sick, so that she didn't have to go to school.
9. She took up playing the piano at the age of six.
10. Constance denied being related to the royal family.

13
Gerunds and Infinitives 20
1. The certification program requires me to take several tests.
2. The certification program requires my taking several tests.
3. I told the others to meet me at the beach after work. Why don't you come along?
4. Robin talked me into participating in the 24-hour dance marathon.
5. He appreciated our helping him prepare for the Halloween party.
6. Going skydiving tomorrow will test how brave you are.
7. Don't you need to take a break? You've been working non-stop for over 8 hours!
8. Our arriving late would be an insult to our dinner hosts.
9. Beth was excited about meeting the world famous photographer.
10. How did you manage to get tickets for that concert? It has been sold out for months.

14
Gerunds and Infinitives Part 3
13. Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive, but with a difference in meaning.
Examples:
 Nancy remembered getting married. NANCY HAS A MEMORY OF GETTING MARRIED.
 Fred remembered to bring sunblock to the beach. FRED REMEMBERED THAT HE NEEDED TO BRING
SUNBLOCK.

14. Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive with little difference in meaning.
She likes swimming.
 She likes to swim.
Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives
can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests
that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are
talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in
meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the examples
below.
Examples:
 The British reporter likes living in New York. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK AND HE LIKES WHAT HE
EXPERIENCES THERE.
 The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States. HE
LIKES THE OPTION OR POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN NEW YORK WHEN HE WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES.
 I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF
SPEAKING FRENCH, AND THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL WHEN I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
 I like to speak French when I'm in France. I PREFER THE OPTION OF SPEAKING FRENCH WHEN I AM
IN FRANCE.

15. There are many "be + adjective" combinations that are commonly followed by infinitives.
Examples:
 They were anxious to begin.
 She was delighted to receive such good feedback.
 He is lucky to have such good friends.
16. There are also many nouns that are commonly followed by infinitives.
Examples:
 It was a good decision to move to San Francisco.
 His wish to become an actor was well known.
 Laura's desire to improve impressed me.
17. Sometimes infinitives are used to express the idea of "in order to do something."
Examples:
 He bought the English dictionary to look up difficult words. IN ORDER TO LOOK UP
 Janine sold her car to get the money that she needed. IN ORDER TO GET
 Juan uses Englishpage.com to learn English. IN ORDER TO LEARN
This idea of "in order to do something" is found in many English patterns.
too + adjective/adverb + infinitive
Examples:
 The box is too heavy to carry.
 The television is too expensive to buy.
 Fiona ran too slowly to win the race.
 We arrived too late to see the beginning of the movie.
adjective/adverb + enough + infinitive
Examples:
 She is tall enough to reach the book on the shelf.
 Brian was smart enough to enter college at the age of 12.
 Linda runs quickly enough to win the race.
enough + noun(s) + infinitive
Examples:

15
  He has enough money to buy his own car.
 Cheryl owns enough books to start her own library!
 Diane needs enough time to finish writing her book.
18. Certain expressions are followed by "ING" forms.
Examples:
 He had fun fishing.
 They had difficulty finding a parking place.
 She spent her time practicing the piano.
19. Verbs which indicate location can often be followed by "ING" forms. This pattern is VERB OF
LOCATION + LOCATION + VERB+ING.
Examples:
 Sarah stood at the corner waiting for Tom.
 Melissa lay in bed thinking about her future.
 Don clung to the side of the cliff looking down.
20. In addition to simple gerund and infinitive forms, there are progressive gerund and infinitive
forms, passive gerund and infinitive forms and perfect gerund and infinitive forms as well as
combinations of these forms. Progressive forms are used to emphasize that an action is taking
place now. Passive forms are used to emphasize that the subject of the sentence is being acted
upon. Perfect gerund and infinitive forms are used to emphasize completion in both the past and
the future.
GERUND FORMS INFINITIVE FORMS

SIMPLE The teacher enjoys teaching. The teacher wants to teach.

PROGRESSIVE Mr. Smith is really enjoying teaching his Mr. Smith would like to be
class. teaching his class.
LOOKS THE SAME AS SIMPLE FORM ABOVE.

PASSIVE The students enjoy being taught. The students want to be taught.

PERFECT The retired teacher recalled having taught. The teacher was expecting to have
taught that already.

PASSIVE + The students are enjoying being taught by The students would like to be
PROGRESSIVE such an exciting new teacher. being taught by Mr Smith.
LOOKS THE SAME AS THE PASSIVE FORM ABOVE.

PASSIVE + The older students recalled having been The students were expecting to
PERFECT taught that already. have been taught that by now.

Gerunds and Infinitives 21

1. Sheryl forgot _____________ bring her purse, so I lent her ten dollars.
2. I completely forgot_____________ come here when I was a kid. But now I remember! My

16
parents brought me here when I was three.
3. Lydia really regrets _____________ drop out of high school. She has really had to struggle to
make a living because of that decision.
4. I regret _____________ inform you that Mr. Smith has passed away.
5. Did you remember _____________ pack your swimsuit? Our vacation in Hawaii won't be
much fun if you can't go swimming.
6. Do you remember _____________ be stuck in that elevator when we were in New York? I
thought we would never get out of there!
7. If you can't find the key, try _____________ open the lock with something else, like a knife or
a screwdriver.
8. She tried _____________ tell him the terrible truth, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
9. I dread _____________ think of what might happen next.
10. I dread _____________ go to work tomorrow. I think I'm going to call in sick.
Gerunds and Infinitives 22
1. Neil is starting _____________ learn Japanese.
2. Neil started _____________ learn Japanese when he moved to Tokyo.
3. Samantha loves_____________ live in New York. She has been living there all her life.
4. I would love _____________ live in London, but it is too expensive.
5. Tom loves _____________ live in smaller towns where he can get to know the locals. He
would never live in a big city.
6. Fred is continuing _____________ take karate lessons even though he broke his hand.
7. Fred continued _____________ take karate lessons even though he broke his hand.
8. I like _____________ eat pizza.
9. I would like _____________ travel back in time and meet my great grandparents.
10. It's so hot in here! I'd like _____________ be sitting in my swimming pool right now.Bottom
of Form
Gerunds and Infinitives 23
1. Are you ready _____________ go yet? The train leaves in 30 minutes!
2. Paul sat on a hill _____________ watch the mother bear and her cubs until they disappeared
into the forest.
3. I took the course _____________ learn more about Asian history.
4. Candice regretted _____________ make that comment to Terry, so she apologized later.
5. My living room needs _____________ vacuum. I think I haven't vacuumed in more than a
month.
6. His plan _____________ walk from New York to Los Angeles seemed crazy, but he actually
did it!
7. We had a great time _____________ sail from San Diego to Catalina.
8. The runner was too exhausted _____________ finish the marathon.
9. Oh no! I forgot _____________ turn the iron off after using it. We need to go back home, so I
can turn it off.
10. Nancy loves _____________ work at the Museum of Modern Art. She would never want to
work anywhere else.
Gerunds and Infinitives 24
1. I completely forgot_____________ lend you my electronic dictionary. I thought I had lost it.
2. Mickey is determined _____________ win the spelling bee at school. He has been studying
for weeks.
3. We spent the whole day _____________ sit in the train station waiting for the overdue train to
arrive.
4. You just lie there on that couch _____________ watch TV all the time. Get up and do
something!
5. I think I am beginning _____________ understand this grammar.
6. Mr. McDougall regretted _____________ fire Denise, so he called her up and asked her to
come back to the company.
7. He'll never forget _____________ see the Rolling Stones in concert!

17
8. We weren't sure if Sid was fit enough _____________ hike to the top of the mountain, but he
was the first one there!
9. They prepared _____________ leave early in the morning.
10. There is no need _____________ bring anything when you come to my birthday party. No
food, no gifts - just bring yourself.
Gerunds and Infinitives 25
1. You were fortunate _____________get tickets for the concert. I heard they are already sold out!
2. What is wrong with my computer? It keeps _____________ shut down by itself.
3. I don't know if I have enough time _____________ finish all this work before I have to leave.
4. Mike's desire _____________ see the world is what made him join the foreign service. Now,
he's working in the embassy in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia.
5. The hitchhiker stood on the side of the road ____________wait for someone to offer him a ride.
6. We had fun _____________ raft down the Colorado river.
7. We stopped _____________ get something to eat at a little diner just next to the freeway.
8. She stopped _____________ read, closed the book, laid it on the table, and turned off the light.
9. His bad attitude is starting _____________ get on my nerves.
10. Amy disliked _____________ travel on the mountain roads at night. She preferred to travel
during the day.
Gerunds and Infinitives 26
1. They got to the train station too late _____________ catch the train, so they will have to leave
tomorrow.
2. I need _____________ make a quick phone call. I'll be back in a second.
3. Louis had some problems_____________ buy train tickets in Beijing since he does not
speak Chinese.
4. I tried _____________ eat the exotic fruit durian while I was in Malaysia, but I didn't like it at all.
5. Ricky loves _____________ be a translator. He has worked as a translator for over twenty
years and he really enjoys what he does.
6. All of the students need permission from their parents _____________ go on the field trip.
7. I am beginning _____________ think this is a bad idea.
8. The children cowered behind the large rock _____________ hope the lion wouldn't see or
smell them.
9. Sari's belief in not _______ eat meat made it difficult to find restaurants while we were traveling.
10. Sam warned me not _________ say anything during the tea ceremony, so I didn't say a word.
Gerunds and Infinitives 27
1. She just keeps _____________ make the same mistake over and over again.
2. I have been trying ________contact Steve, but I still haven't been able to get in touch with him.
3. Nate goes _____________ run every afternoon.
4. On the way home from work, he stopped _____________ buy some groceries.
5. I forgot _____________ learnthat word in class. Now I remember! The teacher wrote it on the
board and gave us several example sentences.
6. Don't waste your time _____________ look in the phone book. Just look the address up on
the Internet.
7. Did you remember _____________ unplug the iron before we left the house?
8. He despises her constantly _____________ ask him questions while he is working.
9. I know I've met her before. I remember _____________ meet her at John's party last summer.
10. After several months of studying Japanese, I am finally beginning _____________
understand native speakers when they talk to me.

Gerunds and Infinitives 28

1. Fiona and Diedre really want _____________ be invited to the party.
2. Shelly admitted _____________ have cheated on the exam.
3. I recall _____________ have visited the Grand Canyon once as a child, but I don't remember
it very well.

18
4. Nathan claims _____________ have graduated from Harvard at the age of 16, but I don't
believe him.
5. Mr. Thompson was interested in _____________ be considered for the new position as
regional manager.
6. Bill's ____________ be fired one month before he retired was a shock to the whole company.
7. We were very thrilled _____________ have been given the opportunity to speak to the Dalai
Lama in person.
8. The applicant's not _____________ have studied French hurt her chances for the job.
9. Jenny's not _____________ have been admitted to the university upset the entire family.
10. Tina expects the children _____________ have finished cleaning their rooms before their
grandparents arrive this afternoon.
Gerunds and Infinitives 29
1. She quit _____________ complainabout_____________ be unemployed and
decided _____________ create her own job.
2. Naomi's_____________ lose her passport prevented her from ___________ cross the border.
3. Do you remember _____________ standat the top of the Eiffel Tower _____________
watch the sunset? That's a view I'll never forget!
4. Oh no! The movie is sold out! Do you want _____________ wait _____________ see if we
can get tickets for the next showing at 8:30?
5. _____________ Go snowboarding next week isn't a good idea since you
keep _____________ haveproblems with your knee. Already _____________ have injured
your knee once this year should teach you that you need _____________ be more careful
about _____________ push yourself to return to the slopes.
6. I would love _____________ be lying on a beach in Tahiti right now _____________
bask in the sun. _____________ Sit in this office all day and _____________ be ordered
around by my boss is not an enjoyable way _____________ spend my time.
7. The police chief ordered his officers _____________ keep looking for the escaped prisoner.
Hopefully, _____________ order the officers _____________ continue looking will result in
the prisoner's _____________ be captured.
8. Her _____________ quit her job allowed her _____________ spend more
time _____________ care for her sick parents.
9. Rover, my dog, always tries _____________ jump over the fence, but he is too
small _____________ do it.
10. The little boy was clinging to his mother's leg _____________ scream that he wanted
her _____________ buy him a candy bar. The mother refused _____________ buy the little
boy any candy and told him _____________ stop crying.

Answers To Gerunds And Infinitives Part 1

Gerunds and Infinitives 21
1. Sheryl forgot to bring her purse, so I lent her ten dollars.
2. I completely forgot coming here when I was a kid. But now I remember! My parents brought me
19
here when I was three.
3. Lydia really regrets dropping out of high school. She has really had to struggle to make a living
because of that decision.
4. I regret to inform you that Mr. Smith has passed away.
5. Did you remember to pack your swimsuit? Our vacation in Hawaii won't be much fun if you can't
go swimming.
6. Do you remember being stuck in that elevator when we were in New York? I thought we would
never get out of there!
7. If you can't find the key, try opening the lock with something else, like a knife or a screwdriver.
8. She tried to tell him the terrible truth, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
9. I dread to think of what might happen next.
10. I dread going to work tomorrow. I think I'm going to call in sick.
Gerunds and Infinitives 22
1. Neil is starting to learn Japanese.
2. Neil started learning / to learn Japanese when he moved to Tokyo.
3. Samantha loves living in New York. She has been living there all her life.
4. I would love to live in London, but it is too expensive.
5. Tom loves living / to live in smaller towns where he can get to know the locals. He would never
live in a big city.
6. Fred is continuing to take karate lessons even though he broke his hand.
7. Fred continued taking / to take karate lessons even though he broke his hand.
8. I like eating / to eat pizza.
9. I would like to travel back in time and meet my great grandparents.
10. It's so hot in here! I'd like to be sitting in my swimming pool right now.Bottom of Form
Gerunds and Infinitives 23
1. Are you ready to go yet? The train leaves in 30 minutes!
2. Paul sat on a hill watching the mother bear and her cubs until they disappeared into the forest.
3. I took the course to learn more about Asian history.
4. Candice regretted making that comment to Terry, so she apologized later.
5. My living room needs vacuuming. I think I haven't vacuumed in more than a month.
6. His plan to walk from New York to Los Angeles seemed crazy, but he actually did it!
7. We had a great time sailing from San Diego to Catalina.
8. The runner was too exhausted to finish the marathon.
9. Oh no! I forgot to turn the iron off after using it. We need to go back home, so I can turn it off.
10. She loves working at the Museum. She would never want to work anywhere else.
Gerunds and Infinitives 24
1. I completely forgot lending you my electronic dictionary. I thought I had lost it.
2. Mickey is determined to win the spelling bee at school. He has been studying for weeks.
3. We spent the whole day sitting in the train station waiting for the overdue train to arrive.
4. You just lie there on that couch watching TV all the time. Get up and do something!
5. I think I am beginning to understand this grammar.
6. Mr. McDougall regretted firing Denise, so he called her up and asked her to come back to the
company.
7. He'll never forget seeing the Rolling Stones in concert!
8. We weren't sure if Sid was fit enough to hike to the top of the mountain, but he was the first one
there!
9. They prepared to leave early in the morning.
10. There is no need to bring anything when you come to my birthday party. No food, no gifts -
just bring yourself.
Gerunds and Infinitives 25
1. You were fortunate to get tickets for the concert. I heard they are already sold out!
2. What is wrong with my computer? It keeps shutting down by itself.
3. I don't know if I have enough time to finish all this work before I have to leave.
4. Mike's desire to see the world is what made him join the foreign service. Now, he's working in
20
the embassy in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia.
5. The hitchhiker stood on the side of the road waiting for someone to offer him a ride.
6. We had fun rafting down the Colorado river.
7. We stopped to get something to eat at a little diner just next to the freeway.
8. She stopped reading, closed the book, laid it on the table, and turned off the light.
9. His bad attitude is starting to get on my nerves.
10. Amy disliked traveling on the mountain roads at night. She preferred to travel during the day.
Gerunds and Infinitives 26
1. They got to the train station too late to catch the train, so they will have to leave tomorrow.
2. I need to make a quick phone call. I'll be back in a second.
3. Louis had some problems buying train tickets in Beijing since he does not speak Chinese.
4. I tried eating the exotic fruit durian while I was in Malaysia, but I didn't like it at all.
5. Ricky loves being a translator. He has worked as a translator for over twenty years and he
really enjoys what he does.
6. All of the students need permission from their parents to go on the field trip.
7. I am beginning to think this is a bad idea.
8. The children cowered behind the large rock hoping the lion wouldn't see or smell them.
9. Sari's belief in not eating meat made it difficult to find restaurants while we were traveling.
10. Sam warned me not to say anything during the tea ceremony, so I didn't say a word.
Gerunds and Infinitives 27
1. She just keeps making the same mistake over and over again.
2. I have been trying to contact Steve, but I still haven't been able to get in touch with him.
3. Nate goes running every afternoon.
4. On the way home from work, he stopped to buy some groceries.
5. I forgot learning that word in class. Now I remember! The teacher wrote it on the board and
gave us several example sentences.
6. Don't waste your time looking in the phone book. Just look the address up on the Internet.
7. Did you remember to unplug the iron before we left the house?
8. He despises her constantly asking him questions while he is working.
9. I know I've met her before. I remember meeting her at John's party last summer.
10. After several months of studying Japanese, I am finally beginning to understand native
speakers when they talk to me.
Gerunds and Infinitives 28
1. Fiona and Diedre really want to be invited to the party.
2. Shelly admitted having cheated on the exam.
3. I recall having visited the Grand Canyon once as a child, but I don't remember it very well.
4. Nathan claims to have graduated from Harvard at the age of 16, but I don't believe him.
5. Mr. Thompson was interested in being considered for the new position as regional manager.
6. Bill's being fired one month before he retired was a shock to the whole company.
7. We were very thrilled to have been given the opportunity to speak to the Dalai Lama in person.
8. The applicant's not having studied French hurt her chances for the job.
9. Jenny's not having been admitted to the university upset the entire family.
10. Tina expects the children to have finished cleaning their rooms before their grandparents
arrive this afternoon.
Gerunds and Infinitives 29
1. She quit complaining about being unemployed and decided to create her own job.
2. Naomi's losing her passport prevented her from crossing the border.
3. Do you remember standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower watching the sunset? That's a view I'll
never forget!
4. Oh no! The movie is sold out! Do you want to wait to see if we can get tickets for the next
showing at 8:30?
5. Going snowboarding next week isn't a good idea since you keep having problems with your
knee. Already having injured your knee once this year should teach you that you need to be more
careful about pushing yourself to return to the slopes.
21
6. I would love to be lying on a beach in Tahiti right now basking in the sun. Sitting in this office
all day and being ordered around by my boss is not an enjoyable way to spend my time.
7. The police chief ordered his officers to keep looking for the escaped prisoner.
Hopefully, ordering the officers to continue looking will result in the prisoner's being captured.
8. Her quitting her job allowed her to spend more time caring for her sick parents.
9. Rover, my dog, always tries to jump over the fence, but he is too small to do it.
10. The little boy was clinging to his mother's leg screaming that he wanted her to buy him a
candy bar. The mother refused to buy the little boy any candy and told him to stop crying.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

9 = verb followed by a gerund OR a noun + an infinitive
13 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with a difference in meaning
14 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with little difference in meaning
admit He admitted cheating on the test.

22
advise [9] The doctor generally advised drinking low-fat milk.

allow [9] Ireland doesn't allow smoking in bars.

anticipate I anticipated arriving late.

appreciate I appreciated her helping me.

avoid He avoided talking to her.

begin [14] I began learning Chinese.

can't bear [14] He can't bear having so much responsibility.

can't help He can't help talking so loudly.

can't see I can't see paying so much money for a car.

can't stand [14] He can't stand her smoking in the office.

cease [14] The government ceased providing free healthcare.

complete He completed renovating the house.

consider She considered moving to New York.

continue [14] He continued talking.

defend The lawyer defended her making such statements.

delay He delayed doing his taxes.

deny He denied committing the crime.

despise She despises waking up early.

discuss We discussed working at the company.

dislike She dislikes working after 5 PM.

don't mind I don't mind helping you.

dread [13] She dreads getting up at 5 AM.

encourage [9] He encourages eating healthy foods.

enjoy We enjoy hiking.

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finish [13] He finished doing his homework.

forget [13] I forgot giving you my book.

hate [14] I hate cleaning the bathroom.

imagine He imagines working there one day.

involve The job involves traveling to Japan once a month.

keep She kept interrupting me.

like [14] She likes listening to music.

love [14] I love swimming.

mention He mentioned going to that college.

mind Do you mind waiting here for a few minutes.

miss She misses living near the beach.

need [13] The aquarium needs cleaning.

neglect [14] Sometimes she neglects doing her homework.

permit [9] California does not permit smoking in restaurants.

postpone He postponed returning to Paris.

practice She practiced singing the song.

prefer [14] He prefers sitting at the back of the movie theater.

propose [14] I proposed having lunch at the beach.

quit [13] She quit worrying about the problem.

recall Tom recalled using his credit card at the store.

recollect She recollected living in Kenya.

recommend Tony recommended taking the train.

regret [13] She regretted saying that.

remember [13] I remember telling her the address yesterday.

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 report He reported her stealing the money.

require [9] The certificate requires completing two courses.

resent Nick resented Debbie's being there.

resist He resisted asking for help.

risk He risked being caught.

start [14] He started studying harder.

stop [13] She stopped working at 5 o'clock.

suggest They suggested staying at the hotel.

tolerate I tolerated her talking.

try [13] Sam tried opening the lock with a paperclip.

understand I understand his quitting.

urge [9] They urge recycling bottles and paper.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

8 = verb followed by an infinitive OR an optional noun + an infinitive
13 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with a difference in meaning
14 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with little difference in meaning
agree Tom agreed to help me.

appear His health appeared to be better.

arrange Naomi arranged to stay with her cousin in Miami.

ask [8] She asked to leave.

begin [13] He began to talk.

can't bear [14] He can't bear to be alone.

can't stand [14] Nancy can't stand to work the late shift.

care He doesn't care to participate in the activity.

cease [14] The government ceased to provide free healthcare.

choose [8] I chose to help.

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claim She claimed to be a princess.

continue [14] She continued to talk.

decide We decided to go to Hawaii.

demand He demanded to speak to Mr. Harris.

deserve He deserves to go to jail.

dread [13] I dread to think what might happen.

expect [8] They expect to arrive early.

fail He failed to get enough money to pay for the new project.

forget [13] I forgot to lock the door when I left.

get (be allowed to) Debbie gets to go to the concert next week! Why can't I?

happen She happened to be at the bank when it was robbed.

hate [14] He hates to clean dishes.

hesitate She hesitated to tell me the problem.

hope I hope to begin college this year.

intend We intend to visit you next spring.

learn I learned to speak Japanese when I was a kid.

like [14] Samantha likes to read.

love [14] We love to scuba dive.

manage He managed to open the door without the key.

need [8,13] I need to study.

neglect [14] She neglected to tell me the date of the meeting.

offer Frank offered to drive us to the supermarket.

plan We plan to go to Europe this summer.

prefer [14] He prefers to eat at 7 PM.

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 prepare [8] They prepared to take the test.

pretend The child pretended to be a monster.

promise [8] She promised to stop smoking.

propose [14] Drew proposed to pay for the trip.

refuse The guard refused to let them enter the building.

regret [13] I regret to inform you that your application was rejected.

remember [13] Did you remember to lock the door when you left?

seem Nancy seemed to be disappointed.

start [13] Marge started to talk really fast.

swear She swore to tell the truth.

tend He tends to be a little shy.

threaten [8] He threatened to leave forever.

try [13] Mary tried to lift the table, but it was too heavy.

vow He vowed to get revenge.

wait She waited to buy a movie ticket.

want [8] I want to study Spanish.

wish [8] I wish to stay.

would like [8] We would like to start now.

(meaning "wish" or "want")

yearn Melanie yearns to travel somewhere exotic.

Verbs Followed by Nouns + Infinitives

9 = verb followed by a gerund OR a noun + an infinitive
13 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with a difference in meaning
List 1: Verb + Required Noun + Infinitive
advise [9] I advised them to see a doctor.

allow [9] Ireland doesn't allow people to smoke in bars.

cause He caused her to make a mistake.

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 convince Ned convinced me to quit my job.

enable Financial aid enabled the students to pay such expensive tuition fees.

encourage [9] He encourages his patients to eat healthy foods.

force The commander forced the soldiers to march in the rain.

get (cause to) Isabelle got Mike to wash her car.

hire Mr. Donelly hired Sarah to work as a receptionist.

invite We invited them to join us.

order The police ordered him to put his hands in the air.

permit [9] California doesn't permit people to fish without a fishing license.

remind They reminded me to pay the bills before the end of the month.

require [9] The certificate requires students to complete two courses.

tell He told me to shut up.

urge [9] They urge citizens to recycle bottles and paper.

warn She warned him not to be late.

List 2: Verb + Optional Noun + Infinitive

Notice in the examples below that the verbs can be followed by an infinitive or a noun plus an
infinitive. When a noun is added, it usually changes who or what is performing the action. To
understand this better, look at the first verb "ask" and its examples. In the first sentence, she is
asking if she herself can leave. In the second sentence, she is requesting that a man leave. Study
the examples below and consider how the optional noun changes the meaning.
ask She asked to leave. She asked him to leave.

choose I chose to help out. I chose him to help out.

expect They expect to arrive early. The expect him to arrive early.

need [13] I need to clean the house. I need her to clean the house.

prepare They prepared to take the test. They prepared her to take the test.

promise She promised to stop smoking She promised him to stop smoking.

threaten He threatened to leave forever. He threatened her to leave forever.

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 want I want to study Spanish. I want my son to study Spanish.

wish I wish to stay. I wish him to stay. RARE FORM

would like We would like to start now. We would like him to start now.

Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds OR Nouns + Infinitives

advise I advised seeing a doctor. I advised them to see a doctor.

allow Ireland doesn't allow smoking in bars. Ireland doesn't allow people to smoke in bars.

encourag He encourages eating healthy foods. He encourages his patients to eat healthy
e foods.

permit California doesn't permit fishing without California doesn't permit people to fish
a fishing license. without a fishing license.

require The certificate requires completing two The certificate requires students to complete
courses. two courses.

urge They urge recycling bottles and paper. They urge citizens to recycle bottles and
paper.

Adjective + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds

The following is ONLY A SAMPLE LIST of the most commonly used adjective + preposition
combinations that can be followed by gerunds.
accustomed to He is accustomed to having his own office.

addicted to She is addicted to watching TV.

afraid of She is afraid of speaking in public.

anxious about Norma is anxious about making the presentation.

bored of I am bored of doing the same old job.

capable of He is capable of winning a gold medal.

committed to She is committed to improving her English.

concerned about Nancy was concerned about being late.

content with Tim is content with winning second place.

dedicated to The organization is dedicated to ending poverty.

devoted to The money will be devoted to protecting the environment.

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 disappointed with Fiona was disappointed with coming in third place.

discouraged by He was discouraged by not getting the job.

excited about The researcher was excited about going to Africa.

famous for That actor is famous for being extremely weird.

fond of She is fond of having picnics.

frightened of She is frightened of being alone at night.

guilty of The banker was guilty of stealing money.

happy about He was happy about winning the lottery.

interested in She is interested in becoming a doctor.

involved in He was involved in making the movie.

known for She was known for causing problems.

opposed to They are opposed to building a new road in the park.

proud of He was proud of having completed the marathon.

remembered for She is remembered for protecting mountain gorillas.

responsible for He is responsible for causing the damage.

scared of Tina is scared of being alone at night.

terrified of The surfer is terrified of being attacked by a shark.

tired from She is tired from working all day.

tired of Margaret is tired of making dinner every night.

worried about The hikers were worried about not having enough water.

Noun + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds

The following is ONLY A SAMPLE LIST of the most commonly used noun + preposition
combinations that can be followed by gerunds.
addiction to His addiction to surfing the Internet is a problem.

advantage of He has the advantage of speaking English fluently.

anxiety about Her anxiety about speaking in public caused her to lose the job.

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belief in His belief in not harming animals was something he learned from his mother.

credit for She took credit for improving the filing system.

dedication to His dedication to teaching was impressive.

delay in The delay in processing the visa caused problems.

devotion to His devotion to biking allowed him to win the competition.

disadvantage The disadvantage of flying is that you can't see the scenery along the way.
of

experience in She has a great deal of experience in introducing new products to international
markets.
WITH THE NOUN "EXPERIENCE," SOMETIMES A GERUND IS ADDED WITHOUT THE PREPOSITION "IN." "EXPERIENCE
INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS" WOULD ALSO BE ACCEPTABLE.

fear of His fear of flying made travel difficult.

fondness for Her fondness for traveling led to her career in the travel industry.

habit of His habit of smoking in restaurants caused many problems in California.

interest in Her career as a pilot evolved out of her interest in flying.

knowledge of Her knowledge of climbing helped her during the competition.

love of His love of singing developed when he was a child.

memory of Their memories of traveling in Africa will stay with them forever.

preference for I think his preference for speaking his native language is natural.

process of The process of painting such a large mural is more complicated than you might think.

reaction to His reaction to winning the prize was quite funny.

reason for The main reason for taking the course is to improve your language skills.

regret for The criminal's regret for committing the crime did not convince the judge.

report on The magazine's report on choosing the right car was not well researched.

reputation for Her reputation for lying is well known.

responsibility His responsibility for completing the project on time was acknowledged by the
for company.

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 story about I don't know if I believe his story about seeing a UFO.

talent for His talent for learning languages was impressive.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different Meaning)

begin She began singing. She is beginning to sing.
She began to sing. WHEN "BEGIN" IS USED IN CONTINUOUS TENSES, AN
WHEN "BEGIN" IS USED IN NON-CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE IS USED.
TENSES, YOU CAN EITHER USE A GERUND OR AN
INFINITIVE.

dread She dreaded taking the test. He dreaded to think of the consequences of his
USUALLY "DREAD" IS FOLLOWED BY A GERUND. actions.
"DREAD" IS SOMETIMES USED WITH INFINITIVES SUCH
AS "THINK" OR "CONSIDER." IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE,
"DREADED TO THINK" MEANS "DID NOT WANT TO
THINK."

forget She forgot reading the book when she She forgot to pay the rent this month.
was a kid. WHEN FORGET IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, IT MEANS
WHEN "FORGET" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT "TO FORGET THAT YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING." THE
MEANS "TO FORGET THAT YOU HAVE DONE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT SHE FORGOT THAT SHE
SOMETHING." THE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT NEEDED TO PAY THE RENT.
SHE READ THE BOOK WHEN SHE WAS A KID, AND
THAT SHE HAS FORGOTTEN THAT FACT.

keep She kept talking. The attackers kept hostages to prevent the
"KEEP" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND TO police from entering.
MEAN THAT YOU CONTINUE DOING AN ACTION. "KEEP" CAN ALSO BE USED WITH AN OBJECT
FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE, BUT THEN THE INFINITIVE
TAKES ON THE MEANING OF "IN ORDER TO... ." IN THE
SENTENCE ABOVE, THE ATTACKERS KEPT HOSTAGES IN
ORDER TO PREVENT THE POLICE FROM ENTERING.

need The house needs cleaning. He needs to call his boss.

WHEN "NEED" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT TAKES He needs him to call his boss.
ON A PASSIVE MEANING. THE SENTENCE ABOVE "NEED" IS USUALLY USED WITH AN INFINITIVE OR AN
MEANS "THE HOUSE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED." OBJECT + AN INFINITIVE.

regret I regretted being late to the interview. We regret to inform you that your position at
"REGRET" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND. the company is being eliminated.
"REGRET" IS SOMETIMES USED WITH INFINITIVES SUCH
AS "TO INFORM." IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE, "WE
REGRET TO INFORM YOU" MEANS "WE WISH WE DID
NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU (BAD NEWS)."

remembe I remember mentioning the meeting He remembered to turn off the lights before he
r yesterday. left.
WHEN "REMEMBER" IS USED WITH A GERUND, IT WHEN "REMEMBER" IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, IT
MEANS "TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE DONE MEANS "TO REMEMBER THAT YOU NEED TO DO
SOMETHING." THE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT SOMETHING." THE SENTENCE ABOVE MEANS THAT HE
I MENTIONED THE MEETING, AND THAT I REMEMBERED THAT HE NEEDED TO TURN THE LIGHTS
REMEMBER THE FACT THAT I DID THAT. OFF.

start Marge started talking really fast. Marge is starting to talk really fast.

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 Marge started to talk really fast. WHEN "START" IS USED IN CONTINUOUS TENSES, AN
WHEN "START" IS USED IN NON-CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE IS USED.
TENSES, YOU CAN EITHER USE A GERUND OR AN I started to learn Russian, but it was so much
INFINITIVE. work that I finally quit the class.
IN OTHER SITUATIONS, AN INFINITIVE MEANS THAT YOU
DID NOT COMPLETE OR CONTINUE AN ACTION.

stop He stopped smoking for health reasons. He stopped to rest for a few minutes.
"STOP" IS NORMALLY USED WITH A GERUND. WHEN "STOP" IS USED WITH AN INFINITIVE, THE
INFINITIVE TAKES ON THE MEANING OF "IN ORDER TO."
IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE, HE STOPPED IN ORDER TO
REST FOR A FEW MINUTES.

try She can't find a job. She tried looking in She tried to climb the tree, but she couldn't
the paper, but there was nothing. She tried even get off the ground.
asking friends and family, but nobody WHEN YOU "TRY TO DO" SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO DO
knew of anything. She also tried going IT, BUT YOU DO NOT SUCCEED IN ACTUALLY DOING IT.

shop to shop, but nobody was hiring. IN THE SENTENCE ABOVE, AN INFINITIVE IS USED
BECAUSE SHE CANNOT SUCCESSFULLY CLIMB THE TREE.
"TRY + GERUND" MEANS TO TRY OR TO
EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT METHODS TO SEE Try not to wake the baby when you get up
IF SOMETHING WORKS. tomorrow at 5 AM.
She tried eating the snake soup, but she AN INFINITIVE IS ALSO USED IF YOU ARE ASKING
SOMEONE TO TRY SOMETHING THEY MAY OR MAY NOT
didn't like it.
BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
"TRY + GERUND" IS OFTEN USED WHEN YOU
EXPERIMENT WITH SOMETHING, BUT YOU DO NOT
REALLY LIKE IT OR WANT TO DO IT AGAIN.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Similar Meaning)

can't bear He can't bear being alone. He can't bear to be alone.

can't Nancy can't stand working the late shift. Nancy can't stand to work the late shift.
stand

cease The government ceased providing free The government ceased to provide free
health care. health care.

continue She continued talking. She continued to talk.

hate He hates cleaning dishes. He hates to clean dishes.

like Samantha likes reading. Samantha likes to read.

love We love scuba diving. We love to scuba dive.

neglect He neglected doing his daily chores. He neglected to do his daily chores.

prefer He prefers eating at 7 PM. He prefers to eat at 7 PM.

propose Drew proposed paying for the trip. Drew proposed to pay for the trip.
REMEMBER
Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives
can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests

33
that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are
talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in
meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the examples
below.
Examples:
 The British reporter likes living in New York. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK AND HE LIKES WHAT HE
EXPERIENCES THERE.
 The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States. HE
NEW YORK WHEN HE WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES.
LIKES THE OPTION OR POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN
 I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF
SPEAKING FRENCH, AND THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL WHEN I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
 I like to speak French when I'm in France. I PREFER THE OPTION OF SPEAKING FRENCH WHEN I AM IN
FRANCE.
Be + Adjective Combinations Followed by Infinitives
be amazed He was amazed to discover the truth.

be anxious She was anxious to start her new job.

be ashamed He was ashamed to admit he had lied.

be bound She is bound to be elected class president.

be careful They were careful not to reveal the winner of the prize until the end.

be certain She is certain to get the job.

be content The student was content to receive second place in the competition.

be delighted We were delighted to be invited to the wedding.

be determined He was determined to finish the marathon.

be eager He was eager to begin.

be eligible They were not eligible to participate in the program.

be fortunate She was fortunate to receive the research grant.

be glad I would be glad to help out.

be happy She was happy to see them at the party.

be hesitant Mary was hesitant to say anything.

be liable The mountain climber is liable to hurt himself if he doesn't use well-made equipment.

be likely They are likely to show up at any time.

be lucky You were lucky to have such an opportunity.

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 be pleased I am pleased to meet you.

be proud He was proud to have been chosen to lead the project.

be ready I'm ready to go now.

be reluctant The witness was reluctant to reveal what he had seen.

be sad She was really sad to leave.

be shocked He was shocked to discover the truth.

be sorry I am sorry to have to tell you that the tickets are sold out.

be surprised She was surprised to discover that he had never learned how to swim.

Nouns Followed by Infinitives

advice His advice to continue was good.

appeal The appeal to reduce pollution was ineffective.

attempt Her attempt to locate them was unsuccessful.

chance In Britain, you will have a chance to improve your English.

decision The decision to increase taxes was not popular.

desire His desire to get a good job motivated him.

dream Her dream to become an actress was never realized.

goal His goal to run a marathon seemed unrealistic.

motivation Her motivation to enter university impressed them.

need Bob's need to be the center of attention was irritating.

opportunity The opportunity to live in New York interested Sandra.

order They followed the general's order to retreat.

permission Permission to enter the area was difficult to get.

plan Sandy's plan to move to Madrid bothered her parents.

preparation NASA's preparations to launch on Monday moved forward.

proposal Her proposal to host the party impressed the committee.

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 recommendation His recommendation to close the school upset the community.

refusal Debra's refusal to help did not go unnoticed.

reminder Her reminder to review the vocabulary helped me pass the test.

request Their request to participate was granted.

requirement Their requirement to speak four languages was unreasonable.

suggestion His suggestion to leave seemed like a good idea.

tendency His tendency to tap his desk during a test annoyed me.

wish Her wish to be treated normally was respected.

way One way to improve your English is to read novels.

Expressions followed by VERB+ing

have (some) problems He had some problems reading without his glasses.

have a difficult time She had a difficult time hiking up the mountain.

have a good time They had a good time snorkeling.

have a hard time She had a hard time explaining the situation.

have a problem Debbie had a problem understanding his accent.

have an easy time She had an easy time selling the delicious cookies.

have difficulty Wanda had difficulty translating the letter by herself.

have fun The had fun skiing.

have no difficulty They had no difficulty finding a discount flight to London.

have no problem Francis had no problem getting from the airport to the hotel.

spend one's time He always spends his time working out at the gym.

waste one's time She always wastes her time playing video games.

Location Verbs Followed by VERB+ing

cling She clung to the bottom of the bridge trying to resist the swift current.

cower The family cowered in their basement hoping the tornado would change directions.

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crouch The mountain lion crouched on a bolder watching the deer walk by below.

hang The monkey hung in the tree chewing on the ripened fruit.

lean Tom leaned against the wall resting a few moments before he continued on.

lie He lay in bed thinking about the day's events.

sit She always sits on the couch watching TV.

stand Nancy stood at the corner looking up and down the street.

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