INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS
3 basic verb forms: V-ING. Gerund or Present Participle.
|
TO-INF. Infinitive ( with "to" )
|
INF. Infinitive ( without "to" )
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USES OF THE GERUND: (V-ING)
1.- The gerund is used as a noun:
Smoking is bad for your health.
Her hobby is painting.
2.- It´s used after prepositions:
Touch your toes without bending your knees.
After swimming I felt cold.
He is thinking of NOT going abroad.
3.- After verbs such as:
IMAGINE INVOLVE PRACTISE
|
ENJOY DENY MISS POSTPONE
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MIND AVOID ADMIT SUGGEST
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* DENY / REGRET / SUGGEST + THAT + SUBJECT + VERB
4.- After certain idiomatic expressions:
THERE / IT´S NO USE ( non paga a pena)
CAN´T HELP (non poder evitar)
BE FED UP WITH (estar farto de)
CAN´T STAND (non poder soportar, aturar)
CAN´T BEAR (non poder soportar)
FEEL LIKE (apetecer)
GO +ing (para actividades de recreo): Go hiking/ dancing.
IT´S ( NOT ) WORTH sightseeing ( non merecer a pena)
THERE IS (NO) POINT IN (no hai necesidade de)
TO BE/GET USED TO (estar acostumado a/acostumarse a)
LOOK FORWARD TO (desexar)
PREFER+gerund TO+gerund (preferir__________ a __________)
NEED (en sentido pasivo): Your car needs cleaning.
It´s no worth wasting your time.
She was used to getting up early.
I´ m looking forward to hearing from you.
I prefer going out to staying here.
USES OF TO-INFINITIVE
1.- Infinitive of purpose.
Why did you go out? To post a letter.
We shouted to warn them of the danger.
*Knives are for cutting. (in a general sense)
2.- SomeVerbs with to-infinitive.
AGREE MANAGE HOPE AFFORD
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REFUSE DECIDE APPEAR LEARN
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PROMISE PLAN SEEM
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OFFER ARRANGE PRETEND
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I hope to pass my exams.
We decided not to go to Paris.
3.- Verb +( Complement ) + TO-INF.
WANT HELP INVITE WOULD LIKE
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ASK TELL WARN WOULD PREFER
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ADVISE EXPECT REMIND ENCOURAGE
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She wanted to stay instead of going.
She wanted me to stay.
4.- TO-INF with some constructions.
4.1.- Pronoun/noun + to-infinitive:
We have some homework / something to do.
4.2.- Too + adjective + to-infinitive:
This is too hot to drink.
4.3.- Enough + noun + to-infinitive:
There is enough water for everybody to drink.
4.4.- Adjective/adverb + enough + to-infinitive.
This boy is old enough to watch this film.
5.- Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive.
5.1.- Stop
He stopped smoking last year. (deixou de fumar).
He stopped to smoke a cigarette. (Parou para fumar).
5.2.- Try
He tried adding salt and water.(probar, experimentar)
Martin tried to pass the test. (tentar, facer o esforzo)
5.3.- Remember /forget / regret.
A.- She will never forget visiting London. (a acción de visitar é anterior)
David always forgets to visit his aunt. (a acción de visitar é posterior á
de esquecer)
B.- I remember closing the door.( a acción de pechar é anterior/ lémbrome
de ter pechado a porta)
I remembered to close the door. (a acción de pechar é posterior / lembro
que teño que pechar a porta).
C.- She regrets wasting so much money. (xa gastou os cartos e laméntao)
She regrets to waste so much money. ( Lamenta ter que gastalo)
5.4.- Con advise, allow, permit y recommend.
Se o nome ou pronome non se menciona ponse o xerundio. Se se
menciona ponse o infinitivo con to.
I advised him to sell the car.
I advised selling the car.
5.5.-Like , love, hate e prefer van normalmente seguidos de xerundio cando se disfruta facendo algo (= enjoy). Tamén as veces significa que a acción xa se realizou.
She likes swimming.
But I like to have a shower everyday. (Non disfruta facéndoo senón que cre que é o que se debe facer)
Cando estes verbos van en condicional úsase o infinitivo con to.
She would like to go abroad.
5.6.- Finish, Begin, start. Van seguidos de xerundio ou infinitivo sen cambio no significado.
USES OF THE BARE INFINITIVE (INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO).
1.- Modal verbs (except : have to / ought to / need)
2. MAKE: They made me pay.
3.- LET: Let me go!
4.- WOULD RATHER:I would rather go than stay. (prefer)
5.- HAD BETTER: you had better study English .(advise).
to-infinitive or bare infinitive
Help is a verb that can be used with or without to and with or without an object before the infinitive. When we use it without an infinitive it sometimes sounds more informal. Compare the following:
- Could you help me to look for my car keys? I can't find them anywhere.
- Could you help me look for my car keys? I can't find them anywhere.
- Would you like to help to cook dinner tonight? It's late and I'm feeling tired.
- Would you like to help cook dinner tonight? It's late and I'm feeling tired.
EXERCISES
1. PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS IN TO-INFINITIVE,
INFINITIVE OR GERUND.
1. I´d
like_______________in bed today. ( STAY
)
2. After_______________ten
hours, he resumed the journey. ( SLEEP
)
3. I
regret_______________you that I won´t help you. ( TELL )
4. Stop_______________that
stupid noise. ( MAKE )
5. It´s not
worth______________about that. (WORRY
)
6. The teacher usually
allows____________class if you are in a hurry. ( LEAVE )
7. Allow
me_______________myself. ( INTRODUCE
)
8. I used to walk this way
with my sister. I remember_______________hide and
seek with her. ( PLAY )
9. I can´t
stand_______________said what I have to do. (BE )
10. I forgot
how_______________this machine. ( USE
)
2. WRITE THESE VERBS IN TO-INFINITIVE, INFINITIVE OR GERUND.
SPEND LOSE
BUY ARRIVE DRIVE
SWIM
SWITCH GO
WORK HAVE
1. He
suggested_______________at the bus station at half past six.
2. They wanted
me_______________in the evening and I refused.
3. I can´t
afford_______________so much money on that T.V. set.
4. We
stopped_______________a rest because we had driven too long.
5. It´s no
good_______________after meals.
6. I´ve decided_______________weight.
So, I´m on a diet.
7. Would you
mind_______________the radio off?
8. My mother reminded
me_______________bread on my way back home.
9. Do you
like_______________sightseeing?
10. Avoid_______________so
fast.
