Grammar

To-infinitive
GERUND
To-infinitive + Gerund
The to-infinitive after a verb often describes a future event.
Eg: after hope, expect, promise, want, the event in the to-infintive comes after the activity or thought in the main verb:
I hope to see you next week.

Gerund describes an activity.
We enjoyed seeing you last weekend.
G1- afford / agree
G2 – learn / need
G3 – ask / decide
G4 – promise / refuse
G5 – expect / fail
G6 – tell / want
G7 – hope / wish
G8 – want / decide
afford / agree

I agree to go to the Beijing trip this summer holiday.
I can afford to buy this picture.

learn / need
We should learn to do housework.
Human need to drink water.
Hope / wish
I hope to meet Beckham in England.
I wish to fly up high in the sky.

Want / decide
I want to do the homework today.
I decide to buy this book.
Expect / fail
We expect to pass the English exam.
We failed to do the homework.

Tell / want

He wanted to tell her about his feelings.
Ask / decide
I asked my mum to go shopping with me.
I decided to go hiking this Sunday.

Promise / refuse
I promised my mother to finish my homework by 6pm.
I refuse to invite Yumiko to my party.
No major difference in meaning
Some verbs can be followed by either the to-infinitive or the gerund without any major difference in meaning:

Mother Teresa started to live/living in the slums of Calcutta from 1948.
Though she faced many problems, Mother Teresa continued to work/working for the poor.
Gerund (general),
to-infinitive (particular situation)
Some verbs are generally followed by the gerund when used in a general sense
The to-infinitive is often used for a particular situation.

(I like swimming) but I don’t like to swim (on cold days).

The Gerund is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the base form of a verb.
swim  swimming
eat  eating
run  running
The Gerund can be used –
As a noun

E.g
Running is my favourite sport. (subject)
He tried running faster. (object)
She was afraid of losing. (object of preposition)

Exercise
(swim) _________is a very good form of exercise.
I have some (shop) ______to do this afternoon.
(learn) _________English takes a long time.
After adjectives + preposition
accustomed to capable of
fond of afraid of
successful in good at
tired of interested in

E.g
She is accustomed to training for many hours.
He is good at running the 200 meters race
Exercise
Mary is fond of _______ (sing).
The boy soon became accustomed to _______ (work) hard.
Are you afraid of _______ (play) the exciting electronic games.
She is never tired of _______ (talk) about her clever son.
G1 – admit
G2- avoid
G3 – delay
G4-deny
G5-enjoy
G6-finish
G7 – keep
G8-mind
Admit
My brother admitted breaking the vase.
Avoid
I avoid walking on busy streets.
Delay
The school delayed opening this morning.
finish
I finish doing my homework.
Keep
After 4 hours, he keeps standing there.
Mind
Would you mind lending your pen to me.
deny
I deny that I am not good at singing.
I deny doing a wrong thing
I deny being late to school every day.
I deny talking during the lesson.

Enjoy
I enjoy playing computer games.

After verbs
admit can’t help dislike
keep try finish
advise keep enjoy
appreciate mind avoid
understand suggest forgive

E.g
John has finished repairing his bicycle.
They enjoy walking in the evening.
Mary dislikes swimming in winter.

Exercise

He kept ________(run) till the end.
She enjoys _______ (run) for competition.
They dislike _______(drive) small cars.
He avoided ________(answer) my question.
Would you mind me ________ (smoke) in this room.
Bare infinitive
Infinitive form without “to”
After modal verbs (should, could, must..etc), “had better” and “would rather”
We should respect people who are selfless and kind.
You’d better prepare for the interview as you’ll be asked lots of questions.
I’d rather go for a walk.
Bare infinitive – p111
2. After “let” and “make”
Mother Teresa let the poor die in dignity.
The teacher made him stay behind after school.
3. After
She saw a man enter the room.
I heard the boys quarrel with each other.
Bare infinitive
Infinitive form without “to”
After modal verbs (should, could, must..etc), “had better” and “would rather”
We should respect people who are selfless and kind.
You’d better prepare for the interview as you’ll be asked lots of questions.
I’d rather go for a walk.
1 I enjoy to swim.
Which is correct ?
2 I 　enjoy swimming.
right
1 I want to study .
Which is correct ?
2 　 I want studying.
right
1 I finish to eat .
Which is correct ?
2 　 I finish eating.
right
1 I need to study .
Which is correct ?
2 　 I need studying.
right
1 I hope to study .
Which is correct ?
2 　 I hope studying.
right
1 I stopped to smoke.
Which is correct ?
2 　 I stopped smoking.
right
Summary table for
to-infinitive and gerund
Summary table for
to-infinitive and gerund
Summary table for
to-infinitive and gerund