Infinitives and Gerunds

In beginning English grammar, we usually teach that : some verbs are followed by infinitives, some verbs are followed by gerunds, and some verbs can be followed by either. That is true but the real situation is a little more complicated…

encourage Take the verb encourage for example. It is usually on the list of verbs followed by gerunds: City officials encourage (to recycle, recycling). However, encourage can be followed by an infinitive if there is a intervening noun or pronoun: City officials encourage citizens (to recycle, recycling)

Verbs Followed by Infinitives, Pattern 1 verb + infinitive Examples He appears to be healthy. I didn’t agree to clean the windows. NOTE: Pattern 1 verbs never have a noun/ pronoun before the infinitive: He demanded me to work overtime. I offered him to do it. Pattern 1 verbs appear agree care claim decide deserve demand hesitate learn neglect offer pretend refuse seem tend wait that I X √ to do it for him. X √

Infinitives, Pattern 2 verb + noun phrase + infinitive Examples I allowed the children to stay up late. I warned you not to come. NOTE: Pattern 2 verbs are not followed directly by the infinitive… unless they are passive: I warned not to come. You were warned not to come. Pattern 2 verbs advise allow cause command convince encourage forbid force hire invite order permit persuade teach tell trust urge warn you not to come. X√

Infinitives, Pattern 3 Verbs that can use either Pattern 1 or Pattern 2 Examples I expect to arrive at 9 a.m. I expect you to arrive at 9 a.m., too. I want to get up early. I want you to get up early, too. I intended to do it myself. I didn’t intend for you to do it. Pattern 3 verbs arrange (for) ask expect intend (for) need want

Exercise 11, p. 99 verb + (noun phrase) + infinitive 1.John will write a long letter once a week. Mary has requested this.  Mary has requested John to write a long letter once a week. 2. John might postpone his trip until next year. Mary would prefer this. Mary would prefer John to postpone his trip until next year. (OR: Mary would prefer that John postpone his trip until next year.)

Exercise 11, p. 99 verb + (noun phrase) + infinitive 3.She will try to visit him while he’s there. She has decided this.  She has decided to try to visit him while he’s there. 4. She was upset by his plans. He didn’t expect this.  He didn’t expect her to be upset by his plans. (Note in No. 3 that, if the subject of the two sentences doesn’t change, the infinitive directly follows the verb.

Exercise 11, p. 99 verb + (noun phrase) + infinitive 5.John got a very cheap ticket. Mary’s father arranged this.  Mary’s father arranged for John to get a very cheap ticket. 6. John didn’t apply for a passport. He neglected this.  John neglected to apply for a passport.

Exercise 11, p. 99 verb + (noun phrase) + infinitive 7.John will report to the police when he arrives. French law requires this.  French law requires John to report to the police when he arrives. OR: French law requires that John report to the police when he arrives. 8.Mary will begin to study French herself. John has encouraged this.  John has encouraged Mary to begin to study French herself.

Exercise 11, p. 99 verb + (noun phrase) + infinitive 9.Mary feels hurt that John is leaving. John never intended this.  John never intended for Mary to be hurt that he was leaving.

Gerunds, Pattern 1 verb gerund Examples I avoid traveling during the Chinese New Year holiday. The student admitted copying the material from the Internet. I can’t help thinking about what you said. Verbs admit avoid can’t help consider deny give up include keep on practice quit recommend resist suggest

Gerunds, Pattern 2 verb gerund --OR-- verb + noun phrase + infinitive Examples I don’t advise taking the advanced course unless you have a good background in grammar. OR I don’t advise you to take the advanced course unless you have a good background in grammar. Pattern 2 verbs advise allow cause encourage forbid invite permit teach urge

Infinitives, Pattern 3 Verb + (noun phrase) + gerund Examples I can’t imagine spending that much money on one meal… …and I can’t imagine you spending that much either. Verbs excuse imagine miss tolerate postpone resent understand anticipate appreciate consider delay dislike don’t mind enjoy

Exercise 9, p. 115 verb + (noun phrase) +gerund 1.Johns sings a funny song whenever he sees her. Mary will miss this.  Mary will miss John singing a funny song whenever he sees her. 2. He wants to become really fluent in French. Mary doesn’t really understand this.  Mary doesn’t really understand him wanting to become really fluent in French.

Exercise 9, p. 115 verb + (noun phrase) +gerund 3.He applied to the program without consulting Mary. She resents this.  Mary resents John’s applying to the program without consulting her. 4.She will not have a chance to talk with him every day. She’s not looking forward to this.  She ’s not looking forward to not having a chance to talk with him every day.

Exercise 9, p. 115 verb + (noun phrase) +gerund 5. John is leaving in two weeks. He is quite excited about this.  John is quite excited about leaving in two weeks. 6.John needs at least three weeks to get a passport. He didn’t anticipate this.  John didn’t anticipate needing at least three weeks to get a passport.

Exercise 9, p. 115 verb + (noun phrase) +gerund 7.This will make his departure even later than expected. John wanted to avoid this.  John wanted to avoid making his departure even later than expected.

Exercise 12, p (Read the notes on p. 117 about forget, try, remember, stop first!) 1.to avoid/ avoiding 2.talking 3.to pick up 4.to talk/ talking 5.smoking 6.to bring 7.playing, to prefer playing 8.eating

Exercise 13, p doing 2.doing 3.making 4.playing 5.singing 6.to keep busy 7.trying 8.to improve 9.practicing 10.to spend 11. collecting/ to collect 12. reading 13. writing 14. to be 15. reading about 16. making 17. decorating 18. making 19. carving

Exercise 14, p to fill 2.to stop 3.working on 4.watching 5.playing 6.to be forgotten 7.to be passed on 8.to prefer 9.to be 10.disappearing 11.doing 12.spending