GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
BASE FORM After some perception verbs such as HEAR, FEEL or SEE and the verbs LET and MAKE: I saw you leave home. My parents don’t let me stay out late
GERUNDS As a subject of a sentence: After prepositions: Smoking kills. I thought of calling you, but it was late. After having lunch, they go to school.
GERUNDS As a Direct Object of certain verbs: After certain expressions: ContinueMiss EnjoyPrefer FinishRecommend Like/dislikeSuggest Love/hate Can’t helpLook forward to Can’t standSpend (time) Feel likeDon’t mind It’s no useWould mind Be/Get used to
INFINITIVES As a subject of a sentence (when we talk about a specific fact) After some verbs: To smoke now would be rude. Agree Learn Appear/seem Manage Choose Plan Decide Promise Expect Refuse Hope Want/wish
INFINITIVES After certain adjectives and adverbs: After Indirect Object of certain verbs: Busy Happy Ready Tired Slowly Fast Low High Advise Teach Invite Persuade Tell Warn
VERBS FOLLOWED BY BOTH Without change in meaning: With change in meaning: Begin Propose Forbid Intend Start Stop Remember Forget Regret
STOP STOP + GERUND: To leave a habit STOP + INFINITIVE: To interrupt an action for doing something else You should stop smoking, it will kill you! Let’s stop here to have a drink!
REMEMBER REMEMBER + GERUND: It refers to something done in the past REMEMBER + INFINITIVE: It refers to the future. We use it when we want to say sth important to someone. I don’t remember locking the door! You should remember to call Mr Jones to put off the meeting.
REGRET REGRET + GERUND: To regret something from the past. REGRET + INFINITIVE: To make bad news public. She regrets breaking up with him. I regret to tell you that we don’t have any vacancy to be filled.
FORGET FORGET + GERUND: To express that we’ve forgotten something which was done in the past. FORGET + INFINITIVE: To forget doing something. I forgot talking to you! (you talked, but you don’t remember) I forgot to call you on your birthday. (you didn’t call, so you didn’t remember)