Gerunds and Infinitives

Base form (e.g. see, walk) After modal verbs (except ought to)

Daily exercise can improve your health.

I will exercise tomorrow.

After had better and would rather

Since I had more than one glass of wine with dinner tonight, we’d better take a cab home instead of driving.

Actually, since it’s so nice out, I would rather walk home – if you don’t object.

With make and let

Dog are great pets because they always let you pet them.

My dog often makes me smile when he jumps on my bed at 6:00 a.m. – even if I’m tired.

Gerund (e.g. seeing, walking) After prepositions

He finally fell asleep after taking a sleeping pill.

I went to bed after doing the dishes.

After verbs that express likes / dislikes: • Love, hate, enjoy, don't mind • Like, dislike, can't bear, can't stand

He enjoys playing team sports. He hates losing. After certain verbs:

• Imagine, remember, miss • Forgive, suggest, recommend

My doctor suggested exercising more often. Sorry, I don’t remember meeting you.

Infinitive (base form + to – to see, to walk) After past participles and adjectives that express personal reactions or degree of difficulty:

• horrified, surprised, pleased, amazed • afraid, glad, sorry, happy, difficult, hard, easy

Mary was happy to hear that her friend was out of danger.

After certain verbs: • agree, refuse, ask, decide, forget, remember • help, learn, offer, prepare, want, wish

They decided to join the group.

Gerunds and Infinitives

A) Complete the gaps using the gerund, to-infinitive or bare infinitive of the verbs in brackets.

1. You should offer (to get) her some professional advice. 2. I wish (to speak) about the problems that affect young people. 3. You must (wake up) and (find) the right solutions for you. 4. She insisted on (not hiding) the problems you may (have) if you drink. 5. I don’t mind (driving) if you are tired.

6. It´s hard (to imagine) (going) through these difficult situations. 7. She agreed (to take) her best friend to the association. 8. After (failing) a breath test; you must (go) to the police station. 9. He gave up (smoking) two weeks ago. 10. She insisted on not (telling) him the truth. 11. They made him (listen) to their conversation. 12. You can´t (come) in without (asking) permission first. 13. They wanted (to become) experts in technology. 14. Before (going) to bed you must (comb) your hair. 15. Ann is so unfit that she can´t (touch) her toes without (bending) her knees. 16. I don´t mind (getting up) early.

B) Finish the sentences below so that they have a similar a similar meaning to the ones above.

1. I went to the theatre and I liked it. I liked going to the theatre.

2. Would you like to keep me company? Are you interested in keeping me company?

3. You shouldn´t eat so many hamburgers. You had better not eat so many hamburgers.

4. Being a good student is not difficult. It´s easy to be a good student.

5. Mark was allowed to drink alcohol at the party. They let Mark drink alcohol at the party.

6. When I was 16, I was taught to drive. I learned how to drive when I was 16.