Verbs followed by no gerund. Gerund (-ing form) and infinitive

The use of the -ing form and the infinitive after verbs is one of the most difficult grammar topics for Russian speakers.

Some cases of the use of the gerund and the infinitive are discussed in.

Today I would like to pay special attention to cases where both the -ing form and the infinitive can be used after the verb, while the meaning of the verb changes.

Infinitive or -ing form?

Both the infinitive and the -ing form can be used after verbs.

We can divide verbs into 5 groups:

1. Verbs followed by the -ing form.

appreciate, avoid, contemplate, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, fancy, finish, involve, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, resent, risk, suggest

Jason won't mind lending you his car.

I "d like to help you, but I can" t risk losing my job.

ing-shape also always used after the following expressions:
it's no good, it's no use, feel like, spend time, waste time, it's worth, there's no point, can't help

2. Verbs followed by the infinitive with the particle to.

can't afford, agree, appear, arrange, attempt, ask, choose, dare, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, grow, hasten, happen, hope, hurry, learn, long, manage, neglect, offer, pay , plan, pledge, pretend, promise, refuse, resolve, seek, seem, struggle, swear, threaten, vow, wish

She agreed to help me.

He promised to write to me every week.

3. Verbs followed by an infinitive without to.

make, let, everything modal verbs, except ought to

You can't make me go.

You shouldn't be so angry with him.

4. Verbs after which both the -ing form and the infinitive can be used, while the meaning of the verb does NOT change.

hate, like, love, prefer, begin, continue, intend, plan, propose, start

This also includes expressions can (‘t) bear and can (‘t) stand.

I love to eat/eating out on Saturday evenings.

I can't bear to watch/watching horror movies.

5. Verbs after which both the -ing form and the infinitive can be used, while the meaning of the verb CHANGES.

forget, remember, try, go on, mean, stop, regret

Let's take a closer look at how the meaning of each of these verbs changes.

1. Remember.

remember to do smt - we are talking about something we have to do (do not forget to do something, we are talking about a commitment)

Did you remember to pay the bill? Did you forget to pay the bill?

remember doing something - we are referring to a memory of a moment or event (remember something that happened in the past)

I will always remember meeting you for the first time. “I will never forget the first time I met you.

2.Forget.

Using the -ing form and the infinitive with forget, very similar to using the -ing form and the infinitive with remember, but the value is reversed.

forget to do something = to not remember to do something (do not remember, forget to do something)

You didn't forget to pay the bill, did you? You didn't forget to pay the bill, did you?

forget doing something = to be unable to remember a fact, something that happened, or how to do something (to forget about something that happened in the past)

I will never forget meeting you for the first time.“I will never forget the first time I met you.

3. Stop.

stop to do something = to interrupt an activity in order to do something else (stop, interrupt one activity for the sake of another activity)

On the way to Edinburgh, we stopped to look at an old castle. On the way to Edinburgh we stopped to look at the old castle.

stop doing something = to quit doing something (stop doing something, quit doing something)

What is the best way to stop smoking? What is the best way to quit smoking?


4. Regret.

regret doing something = to feel sorry about a situation, especially something that you wish you had not done (regret, repent)

I regret not studying harder for my exams. I regret that I didn't study harder for the exams.


regret to do something - used to say that you are sorry that you have to tell someone about a situation (within a formal context) (regret that you need to tell bad news; used in a formal context)

We regret to inform you that your paper has not been accepted.— Sorry, your entry has not been accepted.

5. Try.

try to do something = to attempt to do something (try, try to do something; it is understood that you failed to do this)

I tried to open the window but couldn't. - I tried to open the window, but nothing happened.

try doing smt = to do, test, taste, etc (try, experience)

Why don't you try using a different shampoo? - Why don't you try a new shampoo?

Compare:

Last night I tried to sleep for hours, but I simply couldn't. I was so desperate that I even tried counting sheep! I couldn't sleep for several hours last night. I was so desperate that I even tried counting sheep!

6. Go on.

go on to do smt = to do something else in the future (go to something in the future)

go on doing something = to continue doing something (continue)

Compare:

After listening to me closely, Jim went on to read his email. Jim listened to me carefully and then continued to read the e-mail.

J im wasn't really listening to me, he just went on reading his email. Jim didn't really listen to me, he just kept reading the e-mail.

7 Mean.

mean to do something = to intend to do something (intend, want to do something)

I didn't mean to hurt you. - I did not want to offend you.

something means doing something= something involves doing something else (it will be necessary to do something else)

Entering the competition will mean training at least twice a week. - If you decide to take part in the competition, then you will have to train at least 2 times a week.

One of the difficulties of the English language is that some verbs are used with a gerund ( gerund ), and the other part is a synfinitive ( infinitive ). But first, a little about what a gerund is and how it is formed. There is no such part of speech in Russian. A gerund is a form of a verb that functions like a noun. He expresses action as a subject, sometimes called a verbal noun.

In English, this form is formed by adding -ing endings to verbs, for example play-playing, sleep-sleeping, think-thinking. The infinitive is a verb with a particle to: to play, to sleep, to think. This particle to sometimes it can go down.

When is the gerund used? (verb + ing)

After verbs:

I like living in London (I like living in London)
I love going out with my friends (I like to go out with my friends)
She enjoys singing (she enjoys singing)
I dislike washing dishes (I do not like Wash the dishes)
I hate studying economy (I hate learning economics)
I don't mind opening the window (I don't mind opening a window)
I can't stand getting up early in the morning (I can't stand getting up early in the morning)

After certain verbs such as:

I imagine seeing a new planet (i imagine seeing a new planet)
They denied going out that evening (they denied going out that evening)
He tried to avoid doing anything wrong (he tried not to do anything wrong)
You keep on waiting for me (you keep waiting for me)
Do you consider studying more grammar? (Are you thinking of learning more grammar?)

After suggestions:

After having read the letter she felt sad (after reading the letter, she felt sad)
Before going out, please wash your face (before you go out, wash your face)
Are you interested in listening to English podcasts? (Are you interested in listening to English podcasts?)
Mia went to work instead of staying home and taking the medicine (Mia went to work instead of staying at home and taking medication)
Their uncle is looking forward to seeing us for dinner tonight (their uncle is looking forward to us for dinner tonight)
Our mom is good at cooking turkish. (Our mom cooks turkey well)

After certain expressions:

It is no use arguing, everyone has his own opinion. (It's useless to argue, everyone has their own opinion.)
i t's no good gossiping about people who are not present here (it's not good to gossip about people who aren't here)
There is no point in reading these dull books (no point in reading these boring books)

When is the infinitive used? (to + verb)

After verbs that refer to future events. They can be followed by a verb+to/verb+object+to object:

We expect anybody to come (we expect someone to come)
They asked us to give them that book (they asked us to give them that book)
I intend to study history tonight (I intend to study history tonight)
Would you prefer to stay home? (do you prefer to stay at home?)
Do you want me to play the piano? (do you want me to play the piano?)

After verbs such as:

We decided to give more information (we decided to give more information)
My father needs to give up smoking (my father needs to quit smoking)
It helped to prevent more damage (this helped prevent more damage)
My son chose to go to Spain for holidays (my son chose to go to Spain for the holidays)

After adjectives:

After the words:

The subject was too difficult to uncover its meaning (topic was too complex to reveal its meaning)
It was too difficult to understand what they said (it was too hard to understand what they said)
It was interesting enough to see that movie (it was quite interesting to watch this movie)

After dare, you can use the infinitive with or without to

I wouldn't dare to disturb you read your newspaper/ I wouldn't dare to disturb you read the newspaper (I wouldn't dare stop you from reading the newspaper)

Some verbs can be accompanied by either a gerund or an infinitive. In this case, two options are possible: without changing the meaning of the expression and with a change.

Gerund or infinitive after

After these verbs, you can use both the gerund and the infinitive, the meaning of the expression does not change. The only thing to consider is that usually a gerund is not used after a verb with an ing ending, for example: It is starting to rain (they don’t say: it is starting raining)

Gerund or infinitive after

These verbs form a special group because they drastically change the meaning of the whole expression depending on whether the gerund or the infinitive follows them.

Remember, forget

If a verb is followed by a gerund, then the action described by the gerund is performed first.
If a verb is followed by an infinitive, then it is a consequence.
This can be best understood with examples:

John forgot sending an email to his lawyer, so he was surprised when the lawyer called him - John forgot that he sent an email to his lawyer, so he was surprised when the lawyer called him.
(Here, first John sent an email to his lawyer, and then he forgot that he had done it, therefore he was surprised by the lawyer's call. The most important thing to understand here is email was sent lawyer)

John forgot to send an email to his lawyer, so the lawyer did not know the latest facts - John forgot to send an email to his lawyer, so the lawyer did not know the latest facts.

(It follows from this expression that email was not sent lawyer)

Sarah remember telling her husband to buy some milk, but he did not buy it, so she was angry - Sarah remembers that she told her husband to buy milk, but he didn’t buy it, and she got angry.

Sarah remembers to tell her husband to buy some milk, because he likes adding it to his coffee - Sarah remembers to tell her husband to buy some milk, because he likes to add milk to his coffee.

We Regret to inform you that your esse has been unsuccessful - we regret to inform you that your essay has not passed.

Do they Regret not renting a car in Spain? Do they regret not renting a car in Spain?

Good luck to everyone in learning English!

A foreign language is complicated not only by special phonetic and lexical systems, but also mostly by grammatical categories, especially when they do not have a corresponding analogue in native speech. Today we are waiting for one of the most difficult topics - the gerund and the infinitive in English. We will diligently try to understand what role these grammatical constructions play, we will figure out where the boundary of their sphere of use lies, and we will consolidate the assimilation of information by completing the exercise. The material is voluminous and contains many points that require detailed attention and memorization, so be prepared for thorough work. Let's get started!

Gerund vs. Infinitive - differences in application

Let's start by defining the meaning of these categories.

Infinitive - an indefinite form of verbs denoting actions; the basic step for the formation of all other verb constructions. The main question for this grammatical unit: what to do?

Gerund - an impersonal verb form that takes on some of the features of a noun; expresses the processes of action. Interrogative combination to such expressions: doing what?

The logical conclusion from these definitions is that the use of the infinitive and gerund is dictated by the desire to indicate any action. In addition, both concepts do not change in numbers and persons, and do not have a mood category. However, even at the first meeting, you can find a difference in their functions:

• The designation of an action with means implies the brevity of the event. The gerund is associated with more general concepts and processes extended in time.
• As a rule, infinitive actions by their purpose refer to the future tense, as they are a certain goal. Accordingly, processes most often express the present or the past.
• The infinitive has a neutral meaning, while the use of the gerund is dictated by the fact that the interlocutor perceives these actions as a specific case. Therefore, in such sentences, circumstances related to the situation can often be found.
• Due to the fact that the English language always strives for simplification, in modern speech there is a tendency to replace complex –ing forms with infinitives.

When solving exercises for the infinitive and gerund, it is important to remember that the temporary constructions of these grammatical categories are also different. We give examples of them in the general table.

Tense	Infinitive		Gerund
	Active	passive	Active	passive
Simple	to do	to be done	doing	being done
Perfect	to have done	to have been done	having done	having been done
continuous	to be doing
Perfect Continuous	to have been doing

It follows from the table that the infinitive form has much more possibilities for use. But it seems so only at first glance, because in reality everything is much more complicated.

Unfortunately, English grammar does not have a single rule for when to use a gerund or an infinitive. But there are a number of exceptional cases in which only one of the forms is used. These can be both syntactic roles in a sentence, and stable connections with certain verbs. In order to understand the correct use of these structures, we compare the norms characteristic of them in another table.

The use of gerund and infinitive in English
№	Infinitive	Gerund
1.	In the role of a direct object, revealing the reason or purpose of the action. they came to congratulations me. They came to congratulate me.	In the role of the subject, denoting the process as a generalized concept of action. Teaching is a stressful job. Teaching is hard work.
2.	In the constructions of a complex (objective) complement ( objective case noun or local + verb infinitive). She Jack knows to be a cool guy. She knows that Jack is a cool guy.	As an object following a preposition or phrasal verb. Excuse me for breaking your Chinese decanter. Pardon me for breaking your Chinese decanter.
3.	As an action verb for "for+noun/pronoun" combinations. For her to talk with foreigners is difficult. It is difficult for her to communicate with foreigners.	The circumstance of time in combination with prepositions. Instead of cooking a cake, she is watching a soap opera on television. Instead of making a cake, she watches some kind of "soap" series on TV.
4.	Predicate after adjectives. It is difficult to listen to such things about parents. It's hard to hear things like that about parents.	As a definition after nouns with prepositions. Her way of driving is very dangerous. Her driving style is very dangerous.
5.	Predicate after verbal nouns. your decision to sell our house is unreasonable. YoursolutionsellourHouseunreasonably.	Predicate after words and expressions worth, don'tmind, can'thelp and etc. The film is worth seeing. This movie worth watching.

This information is extremely important, so the table must be, if not learned, then at least printed out and carried with you during the practical exercise.

It is no secret that both the gerund and the infinitive have stable connections with some verbs. There are so many such examples, they will require a separate table.

Verb combinations
№	Infinitive	Gerund
1.	Verbs of thought and sensory processes: watch, expect, hear, hope, choose, notice, decide etc. At the same time, with some verbs, the infinitive used without the to particle. We heard Nick say that. We heard Nick say it. I hope to pass the exam. I AMhopepassthisexam.	Expression of emotional feelings felt constantly: hate, dislike (like), can't bear, detest, can't stand . I detest cleaning and cutting fish. I hate cleaning and cutting fish. My father likes smoking these cigars. My father loves to smoke these cigars.
2.	Verbs of planning, desires, preferences : intend, wish, manage, want, desire, plan, mean, prepare, would like . They wanted to become actresses. They wanted to become actresses. You managed to learn English. To yousucceededlearnEnglish.	Verbs of gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance, recognition: thanks , forgive , admit , excuse . Forgive me talking about this case. Forgive my chatter about this case. My daughter admitted writing that letter. My daughter admitted that she wrote that letter.
3.	Modal and auxiliary verbs: do, will, shall, can, may, have to, would, should, must, keep etc. What should I do ? What should I do? He can play a guitar. He can play on guitar.	Suggestions, opportunities, need: recommend , advise , permit , propose , allow . She recommends swimming for two hours. They proposed celebrating my birthday in their house. They offered to celebrate my birthday at their house.
4.	Transmission of direct speech: agree, propose, offer, arrange, promise. She agreed to leave Moscow. She agreed to leave Moscow. they promise to call me tomorrow. Theypromisecallto metomorrow.	Long processes: begin, finish, get up, resume, stop, cease . It began snowing again. Againstartedfallsnow. She ceased singing a year and a half ago. She stopped singing a half ago.

We learned how the gerund and the infinitive are distinguished in modern English. But, it is too early to do the exercises, since we have not considered one important point - the interaction of both forms with the same verbs. Sometimes, this is a positive fact, allowing you to use both categories without changing the meaning. But, there are cases when the meaning of the phrase is radically different. Let's consider them.

Gerund and infinitive in English with common verbs

In order to clearly show the dependence of the context on the grammatical structure used, we present examples of such situations also in the form of a summary table.

Context difference
Verbs	Infinitive	Gerund
stop	We stopped to talk . We stopped to talk. A direct object indicating the reason: Why did you stop? (to do what?) - to talk.	We stopped talking . We have cut off communication. Completion of the process. Stopped what? - communication. (doing what? - communication)
remember	Remember to send this postcard to Granny. Remember to send this postcard to your grandmother. The action is related to the present or the future.	I remember talking with her for the first time. I remember the first time I spoke to her. Action is related to the past.
forget	Don't forget to call your father! Don't forget to call your father! Present or future tense.	She will never forget taking her first exam. She will never forget passing her first exam. Past event.
regret	I regret to say that he isn't your brother. I'm sorry to say, but he's not your brother. Regret about the present/future.	We regret not saying it. We regret not saying this. Regret for the past.
need	We want to wash our car. We want to wash our car. It's about the action, not the state of the machine. It is not known whether it is really dirty or clean, but it is clear that they want to wash it.	This car needs washing . The car needs a wash. The emphasis is on the state of the object, while it is not known whether the action will be performed. The expression has a passive meaning, despite the construction of the active voice.

You will now be able to confidently complete the gerund and infinitive exercises used in English. Good luck in your practice!

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How to distinguish between the infinitive and gerund in English, in what cases they are used, what affects it, what groups of verbs exist and how to figure it all out. And is it possible?

Of course available. Although the theme of the infinitive and gerund is one of the most extensive in the English language and has many nuances, there is no need to be afraid of it. Consistent study and analysis of examples will help to assimilate it and accurately use both forms.

To cover all the details of this topic is not an easy task. The difficulty lies in the fact that for the choice of verb ing or infinitive, the rule cannot be unambiguously established. The choice may differ in each individual case, and it is determined by the verb on which the infinitive / gerund depends. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the analysis of specific sentences in order to better remember what is used with what. But let's start with a general theory: what each of the two forms is.

Infinitive

The infinitive for native Russian speakers is familiar. This is a verb form that does not change for persons and numbers. It carries the general meaning of the situation, so this particular verb form is recorded in the dictionary. For example, the verb to run is to run. You can find out the form of the infinitive by the particle to, which comes before the verb.

The infinitive in English is similar to Russian and is often translated in the same way.

I want to become an actor - I want to become an actor.

Gerund

With the advent of the gerund, difficulties begin. There is no equivalent for the gerund in Russian. Depending on the sentence, it can be translated in various ways: as a verbal noun, infinitive, gerund, or subordinate clause.

I enjoy listening to music - I like listening to music / I enjoy listening to music / I enjoy listening to music

The gerund is formed from the stem of the verb by adding the ending -ing. The -ing form can also indicate a participle: for example, "a crying child" (crying child). However, the participle differs from the gerund in its meaning, in addition, it is directly related to the noun and depends on it.

Gerund occupies an intermediate position between a noun and a verb and combines the features of these parts of speech. In meaning, it is close to the noun, which contains the idea of ​​the process of action (reading - reading, walking - walking, walking). However, the gerund cannot be used with an article and does not have a plural form.

Swimming is good for your health - Swimming is good for your health.

This form also has verbal features. The infinitive and gerund in English are similar in that both are impersonal: they do not change in person or number. On the other hand, they can change over time and, for example, have perfect forms (to have done - infinitive / having done - gerund).

After having lived in one room for a year we can completely trust each other - After we have lived in the same room for a year, we can completely trust each other.

The gerund and the infinitive in English are also brought together by the fact that they can occupy the same position in a sentence. Then the question arises: which form to choose? The situation is complicated by the fact that in English there is no specific rule that would unambiguously determine which form should be used.

The choice depends on the verb that precedes the infinitive or gerund form. For example, for the verb allow: infinitive or gerund? This is determined by the verb allow itself, which here subordinates the next word. It is the preceding verb that serves as an indicator of choice, and in order to know which form to put, you need to remember its requirements. So in English there are two groups of verbs: those that are used with the infinitive, and those that are followed by a gerund.

Verbs with infinitive

First, we will analyze those verbs that require the infinitive form after them. For each verb, we will give an example of usage in order to better remember it and learn the context.

• expect (expect): This must be what people expect to hear - This must be what people expect to hear.
• agree: They agreed to support this project - They agreed to support this project.
• claim (claim): The administration claims to act in a disinterested way - The administration claims that it will act impartially.
• threaten (to threaten): He threatened to end his career - He threatened to destroy his career.
• offer (offer): She offered to coach him in the evenings - She offered to coach him in the evenings.
• arrange (settle, organize): I arranged to meet Steven at ten o "clock - I arranged to meet Steven at 10.
• refuse: He refused to take responsibility for any problem - He refused to take responsibility for any of the problems.
• promise (promise): He promised to cooperate with the investigation - He promised to cooperate with the investigation.
• deserve (deserve): She deserve to be happy - She deserves to be happy.
• afford (to afford): She cannot afford to pay for this - She cannot afford to pay for it.
• hope (hope): My mother really hopes to see them again - My mother really hopes to see them again.
• learn (teach): He has learned to live with it - He has learned to live with it.
• decide: He decided not to waste any more time - He decided not to waste any more time.
• pretend (pretend): He pretended to believe her - He pretended to believe her.
• plan (plan): She loved animals and planned to be a vet - She loved animals and planned to become a veterinarian.

The infinitive may be preceded by an allied word that introduces a subordinate clause: how (how), where (where), what (what), when (when), whether (unless). Some of these verbs are:

• ask: Most visitors ask where to find unusual plants - Most visitors ask where to find unusual plants.
• decide (decide): I "m trying to decide whether to become a journalist or a politician - I'm trying to decide whether to become a journalist or a politician.
• know (to know): I know when to stop - I know when to stop.
• remember (remember): I couldn't remember where to go - I can't remember where to go.
• explain: The letter explains how to make the payments - The letter explains how to make the payment.
• understand: You should understand how to deal with problems - You should understand how to deal with problems.

Adding a member

Verbs with to and ing can introduce another participant in the situation into the sentence. This is most typical for constructions with an infinitive. Such a participant in the situation (in the examples analyzed above this situation has not yet happened) appears when the verb and the infinitive refer to different actors. Then this participant takes the position of the complement and is placed before the infinitive.

I want to improve - I want to develop.
I want you to improve - I want you to develop.

Translated into Russian, this participant can often turn out to be the subject in a subordinate sentence:

I don "t want you to make the same mistakes - I don't want you to make the same mistakes.

An indication of another person is necessary for the verbs make (force), let (allow): their very meaning makes it necessary to indicate to whom the action is directed. At the same time, the infinitive in this construction is used without the particle to.

He may let you do everything you ask - He may let you do whatever you ask.
She always makes me laugh - She always makes me laugh.

The participant's expression is also characteristic in constructions with verbs:

• ask (ask): I ask you to help me - I ask you to help me.
• forbid (forbid): I forbid you to talk to them - I forbid you to talk to them.
• help (help): Can you help me to find the book? - Can you help me find the book?
• beg (beg): I beg you to leave this place - I beg you to leave.
• expect (expect): He expected me to be happy - He expected me to be happy.
• teach (teach): They teach children to be kind and honest - They teach children to be kind and honest.

Verbs with gerund

We have analyzed the class of verbs that force the use of the infinitive. Another type includes words after which the gerund form is required, and not the infinitive:

• finish (finish): When you "ve finished writing, put it away for two or three days - When you finish writing, put it off for a couple of days.
• enjoy (love, enjoy): I always enjoy walking the streets - I always like walking the streets.
• suggest (offer): I suggested waiting - I suggested waiting.
• avoid (to avoid): You avoid seeing me - You avoid meeting with me.
• consider (consider, consider): You should consider building a new house - You should think about building a new house.
• put off (postpone): She wished she could put off telling him until tomorrow - She wishes she could put off talking to him until tomorrow.
• delay (delay): We delayed sending the documents - We delayed sending the documents.
• deny: She denies attempting murder - She denies attempted murder.
• risk: He risked losing everything - He risked losing everything.
• imagine (imagine): I can hardly imagine him marrying anyone - I can hardly imagine him marrying anyone.
• give up (quit): She has recently given up smoking - She recently quit smoking.

The gerund and the infinitive in English differ in their scope of use and have their own typical contexts. The gerund is characterized by the use after prepositions: instead of (instead of), without (without), before (before), after (after), besides (except) and others.

Instead of criticizing the others he is focused on his own success - Instead of criticizing others, he focuses on his own success.

He has already made a decision without consulting any of us - He has already made a decision without asking any of us.

The use of the gerund is also characteristic for verbs with prepositions:

• believe in (to believe in something): I believe in providing the most natural conditions for animals - I believe in providing the most natural environment for animals.
• think of (think, think about): You wouldn't think of doing it years ago - You wouldn't have thought of doing it before.
• succeed in: He had succeeded in pleasing her in spite of everything that had happened - He managed to please her despite everything that happened.
• dream of (dream about): I can only dream of living in Australia - I can only dream of living in Australia.
• persist in (persist on): That "s why you persist in calling him? - Is that why you keep calling him?
• complain about: She always complains about working so hard - She always complains about working so hard.
• accuse of (accused of): Mark is accused of working for a terrorist organization - Mark is accused of working for a terrorist organization.

The gerund is used after constructions with the verb to be, describing the internal state:

• to be afraid of (be afraid): I "m not afraid of falling - I'm not afraid to fall.
• to be proud of (proud): You should be proud of being a father - You should be proud that you are a father.
• to be tired of (tired): I "m tired of living in this city - I'm tired of living in this city.
• to be good at (to be able): Don "t be surprised, she is good at remembering faces - Don't be surprised, she remembers faces well.

Many set expressions with the verb have require a gerund:

• have fun (have fun): I "m going to have fun pretending to be your husband - I'll have fun pretending to be your husband.
• have a good time (have a good time): We had a good time watching movies - We had a good time watching movies.
• have problems (to have problems with something): I have problems losing weight - I'm not good at losing weight.
• have difficulty / a difficult time: You see your aim but have difficulty getting there - You see the goal, but you can't reach it.

An additional participant in a sentence with a gerund is less common than with an infinitive, but is also possible.

Do you accuse me of being conceited and arrogant? "Are you accusing me of being smug and arrogant?"

I could imagine them looking at each other - I could imagine how they look at each other.

Verbs with gerund and infinitive

There are verbs in English in which both forms can be used interchangeably: for example, continue doing or to do. Remembering such verbs is not difficult, they include: continue (continue), intend (intend), begin (start), start (start), bother (worry, bother).

I started to pay attention to such things / I started paying attention to such things - I started paying attention to such things.

He did not bother to publish any of his work / He did not bother publishing any of his work - He did not bother to publish any of his work.

But if the first verb is in the Continuous form, it is better to give preference to the infinitive in order to avoid piling up the -ing forms.

I "m intending to sell the house - I intend to sell the house.

The verb prefer (prefer) can be attributed to the same group of verbs. With the verb prefer, the infinitive or gerund are equivalent. However, in the conditional construction would prefer (would prefer), the infinitive is used.

I prefer living in the country to living in the city center / I prefer to live in the country rather than in the city center - I prefer to live in the countryside rather than in the city center.

I would prefer to live in the country rather than in the city center - I would rather live in the countryside than in the city center (only with the infinitive).

Determining what to put with like - a gerund or an infinitive, is quite simple. The verb like (like), just like love (love) and hate (hate), can attach both the infinitive and the gerund. But only the gerund can be used when the event is unfolding at the moment of speech. The infinitive refers to a typical situation.

I hate talking to strangers / I hate to talk to strangers - I hate talking to strangers(this is a constant quality, the situation in general).

I like working in this company - I like working in this company(that is, I already work there, the event is already happening - which means that only the gerund can be used).

The addition of a participant in the situation can lead to a difference in forms. For example, in the usual case, after the verbs allow (allow), recommend (recommend), permit (allow), advise (advise), both the gerund and the infinitive are possible. However, adding a subject affects the choice of the subsequent form: when referring to a participant, the infinitive must be chosen. If there is no additional character - gerund.

We advise you to visit The National Gallery - We advise you to visit the National Gallery.

We advise visiting National Gallery - We advise visiting the National Gallery.

There are more complex cases: for example, when the meaning of the verb before it changes depending on the choice of gerund / infinitive. The following table will help you understand:

When choosing, for example, a gerund or an infinitive for the verb stop, or for regret to do or doing, first pay attention to the semantic difference: what meaning you want to give to your sentence.

Variety of shapes and designs

The infinitive and gerund can occur not only in the form we have considered them. They can be used in the perfect form or in the passive. The passive voice is formed by adding the verb to be, which takes on the form of an infinitive or gerund. And the semantic verb in this case is used in the third form. For example: to be done / being done (to be done).

She refused to be interviewed - She refused to be interviewed.

I didn't want to risk being destroyed - I didn't want to take the risk of being destroyed.

The particle to may not always indicate the use of the infinitive form: it may be part of the previous verb. For example, with look forward to there can only be a gerund form, despite the presence of to. The particle here belongs to the verb construction look forward to (to look forward to, anticipate) and is inseparable from it.

I look forward to hearing from you soon - I hope to hear from you soon.

The situation is similar with the be / get used to construction. The particle refers to the construction itself and does not serve as a means of attaching the infinitive. Both options - to be used to (have a habit) and to get used to (get used to, acquire a habit) - require a gerund after themselves.

They are used to working together - They are used to working together.

We "ll get used to living in this city - We will get used to life in this city.

But do not confuse these constructions with the expression used to in the sense of a situation that was familiar in the past, but does not occur in the present. Here, used is not preceded by the verb to be, and the expression is followed by an infinitive.

I used to wake up at 6 a.m., but now I don't need to do it - I used to get up at 6 a.m., but now I don't have to.

Constructions with infinitive and gerund can be used in negation. At the same time, negation can apply not only to the whole situation as a whole (I don "t want to become an actor - I don't want to become an actor). Negation can act directly on the gerund or infinitive. In this case, the particle not should come after the first verb. Then for the gerund, the negation scheme looks like not V-ing, and for the infinitive it looks like not to V:

I hope not to be like that - I hope that I won't be like that.
I enjoy not being famous - I enjoy not being famous.

An alternative to constructions with an infinitive and a gerund can be two-part sentences with a link that. They can convey the same meaning, but use a structure with a subordinate clause for this. Most often, verbs of speech or judgments appear in such a construction, such as deny (deny), suggest (offer), admit (admit).

At first they denied that they had said such words / At first they denied saying such words - At first they denied that they had said such words.

Well, girls, boys, take a deep breath, exhale, because today is a rather difficult topic, which is called the terrible word "Gerund". We deal with the rule, examples and tables below.

Education and significance

Gerund in English, this is not an animal at all, but a form of a verb that coincides with participle I(the ending is added to the verb –ing). Wherein:

• If the verb ends with –ie → appears y(lie-lying)
• If the verb ends in –e → e drops out (take - taking)
• If a monosyllabic verb ends in a consonant, then the final consonant is doubled (sit - sitting)

Since the gerund is a verb form, it has the characteristics of a verb. But it can also be compared with a noun. Gerund means doing something, For example: swimming (swimming), knitting (knitting), reading (reading), and so on:

Smoking is not good for your health. Smoking is bad for your health.

The negative form is formed by adding the particle not.

Sandra suggested not going to the cinema. Sandra suggested not going to the movies.

BUT #1 : Unlike a noun, a gerund does not have a plural and is not used with an article.

BUT #2 : Gerunds are used with possessive pronouns and prepositions:

Do you mind my smoking here? Do you mind my smoking here?

I see no other way of doing it. I don't see any other way to do this.

Gerund after verbs. Correct use.

• The gerund form is often found in colloquial speech. And there is also often confusion between the gerund and the infinitive (among language learners, of course). The infinitive gives speech a philosophical sound, which, however, does not mean that these forms are interchangeable. What to choose - gerund or infinitive - determines the main verb in the sentence. Those. in other words, some English verbs require a gerund after them. A table of such verbs can be seen below:

Abhor	despise, abhor
Acknowledge	admit, allow
Admit	To admit
Advise	Advise
allow	allow, allow
Anticipate	expect, count
Appreciate	appreciate, be grateful
Avoid	To avoid
Can't help	Can't avoid, can't resist
Cease	Suspend, stop
Celebrate	Celebrate
complete	finish, finish
confession	Confess, repent
Consider	consider, contemplate
Defend	defend, protect
Delay	detain
Deny	Deny
Despise	Can't stand, hate
Detect	find, discover
Detest	Can't stand, hate
discount	stop, interrupt
Discuss	Discuss
Dislike	Don't love, don't like
Dispute	discuss, argue
Don't mind	Don't mind, don't mind
Dread	be afraid, be afraid
Encourage	encourage, approve
endure	endure, endure
Enjoy	Have fun, enjoy
Escape	Run away, slip away
Evade	Dodge
explain	Explain
Fancy	imagine, suppose
Fear	Be afraid, be afraid
Feign	Pretend
Finish	finish, finish
Forgive	Forgive
Imagine	imagine, imagine
involve	imply, suppose
keep	Keep doing, don't stop
Mention	Mention
Mind	object, be against
Miss	Miss
Necessitate	demand, make necessary
need	need, require
Neglect	Missing, not doing something right
Omit	miss out, neglect
Pardon	Forgive
Permit	allow, allow
picture	portray, draw
Postpone	Postpone (until a future time)
practice	practice, exercise
Prevent	prevent, warn
Recall	remember, resurrect (in memory)
Recollect	Reminisce, recollect
Recommended	Recommend, advise
report	inform, report
Require	Demand
Resent	Resent, resent
Resist	abstain
Summary	resume, sum up
risk	To risk
Shirk	Dodge, dodge
Shun	Beware, avoid
Suggest	Offer
Support	To help
Tolerate	endure, allow
understand	Understand
Urge	To convince
Warrant	Guarantee

The following are verbs followed by both the gerund and the infinitive. There is no or little difference in meaning:

In this table verbs followed by an infinitive and a gerund, but there will be a significant difference in meaning:

Compare the following sentences:

He stopped to take a photo of the lake.– He stopped to take a picture of the lake (= interrupting one action for a while for the sake of another).

What is the best way to stop smoking? What is the best way to quit smoking? (= stop something altogether)

• The gerund is also used after any verb or adjective requiring a preposition after itself:

to depend on- depend

To rely on- to rely on

To object to- oppose

To blame for- blame for

Thank you for- give thanks for

To praise for- praise for

To be responsible for- to be responsible for

To be fond of- love something

To be tired of- be tired of

To be afraid of- afraid

To look forward to- look forward to

To feel like- to be inclined

Other! The list can be continued))). The main thing is to know which preposition follows the verb.

Tom is afraid of going to the dentist's. Tom is afraid to go to the dentist.

I just don't feel like doing anything. I do not want to do anything.

• Gerund used after abstract nouns:

Opportunity of- opportunity

Idea of- hope

Way of- way

Experience in- experience

Interest in– interest

Reason for- cause, basis

It is hard for an old man to change his way of thinking. It is difficult for an elderly person to change their worldview.

• After prepositions - after, before, on, by, without, instead of, besides.

After finishing his work, he desided to order pizza. After finishing work, he decided to order a pizza.

• After expressions: it is (of) no use , it is useless, it is no good.

It is of no use talking about it. It's useless to talk about it.

Gerund translation

In russian language no such form, therefore, it can be translated in different ways ( verb, gerund, infinitive, subordinate clause, noun) .

I remember hearing this song in my childhood. I remember hearing this song as a child. ( subordinate clause)

Does your son like swimming? Does your son love to swim? (verb )

A wedding involves negotiating with everyone in the family.- Marriage means agreement (negotiations) with every member of the family. ( noun)

He can't go to bed without cleaning his teeth. He can't go to bed without brushing his teeth. ( gerund).

We have no objection to inviting him to the party too. We don't mind inviting him to the party too. (infinitive)

If you already know what a passive voice is (Passive Voice)

By the way, you can get acquainted with this topic in detail. And the rest of the article will be useful at a more advanced level, i.e. if you are already well enough versed in tenses and pledges.

	Active	passive
non-perfect	Taking	Being taken
Perfect	Having taken	Having been taken

Perfect forms of the gerund mean completeness action and precedence, and imperfect forms — simultaneity actions. Compare the following sentences:

We are proud of being her students. We are proud to be her students (simultaneity of action)

We are proud of having been her students. We are proud to be her students (action precedence)

Note: after verbs toneed,towant,torequire and after the adjective worth The gerund is used in the Active form, but has a passive meaning:

The exhibition is worth seeing(the exhibition is worth seeing).

Your hair needs cutting(you need to cut your hair).

I think you have caught the main idea of ​​this phenomenon in English, and you can figure out the details by reading this article a couple more times. And now, according to tradition, we consolidate the theory.

Online test on the topic

Good luck with your future work on the language!