Special cases of different verbs with gerunds and infinitives

With a change in meaning

Gerunds and Infinitives With a change in meaning

Gerunds and Infinitives Процко Н.В., МАОУ «Лицей» г.Реутов

Suggest (ideas or plans)

• Suggest + gerund

(mention an action but do not mention the person who will do it, because it is understood in the context / if we need to mention the person who receives the suggestion, we use a  to- construction:)

• Suggest + noun phrase

(the object of  suggest )

• Suggest  +  that -clause

(suggest an action to someone; in informal situations,  that  is often left out / when  suggest  is in the past, we can use  should  in the  that -clause)

Suggest + gerund

She  suggested travelling  together for safety, since the area was so dangerous.

Suggest + noun phrase

Can you  suggest a good restaurant (to us) in this part of town?

Suggest  +  that -clause

Her doctor  suggested   that  she ( should)  reduce her working hours and take more exercise.

offer smth / to do smth

• to ask someone if they would like to have something or if they would like you to do something

She was offered a job in Paris.

Can I offer you (= would you like) a drink?

My father offered  to  take us to the airport.

used

• used + to do smth (infinitive)

I used to eat meat, but now I’m a vegetarian.

(done or experienced in the past, but no longer done or experienced)

• be / get used + to doing smth (gerund)

She’s used to working hard.

(familiar with a condition or activity, have a habit)

I used to eat meat, but now I’m a vegetarian.

She’s used to working hard.

stop

• stop + gerund

They stopped talking when the bell rang.

(to end an activity)

• stop + infinitive

We stopped to buy petrol on our way to Bristol.

(the reason for stopping)

They stopped talking when the bell rang.

We stopped to buy petrol on our way to Bristol.

remember

• remember + gerund

I remember singing funny songs with my grandfather

(a memory / doing things in the past / we did it)

• remember + infinitive

I remembered to put the rubbish outside

(remember things we have to do)

I remember singing funny songs with my grandfather.

I remembered to put the rubbish outside.

forget

• forget + gerund

I forget reading this book before.

( I read it but I have no memory of it)

• forget + infinitive

I forgot to turn my car lights off and ended up with a flat battery.

(I didn’t do it / usually smth bad happened)

I forget reading this book before.

I forgot to turn my car lights off and ended up with a flat battery.

try

• try + gerund

I have tried taking paracetamol and having a massage but my neck still hurts

(the various processes tried to reach an aim, experiment, not difficult)

• try + infinitive

I tried to catch the mouse but it was too quick

(something difficult)

I have tried having a massage but my neck still hurts

I tried to catch the mouse but it was too quick.

regret (hate)

• regret + gerund

I regret dropping out of university.

(I wish I hadn’t done it)

• regret + infinitive

I regret to tell you/to inform you that your application wasn’t successful

regret/hate to tell/inform

I regret dropping out of university.

I regret to inform you that your application wasn’t successful.

go on

• go on + gerund

She went on talking even though I had asked her to be quiet

(to continue doing something)

• go on + infinitive

They went on to open five more branches after the success of their first restaurant.

(what they did afterwards)

She went on talking even though I had asked her to be quiet.

He went on to open five more branches after the success of their first restaurant.

like *

• like + gerund

I like walking in the countryside

(enjoy the activity in general)

• like + infinitive

I like to do the house work before breakfast

(prefer to do it by yourself)

*the difference is very small

I like skiing in the countryside.

I like to do the house work before breakfast.

mean

• mean + gerund

We have to be at the airport by 7am. It means getting up at 5am.

(give the result of an action, may be replaced by “involve”)

• mean + infinitive

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to tear the paper.

(to have an intention or plan to do smth)

We have to be at the airport by 7am. It means getting up at 5am .

Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to .. .

need

• need + Infinitive

I need to clean my car

(active)

• need + gerund

My car needs cleaning

(passive)

I need to clean my car.

My car needs cleaning.

Allow (the same meaning)

• allow + sb to do smth (infinitive)

I would not  allow a child to have a TV or a computer in their room.

(give permission)

• allow + sb doing smth (gerund)

Sorry, we don’t allow walk ing on the grass.

(give permission)

* Permit is more formal than allow.  

* Allow is more formal than let.

I would not  allow a child to have a TV or a computer in their room.

Sorry, we don’t allow walk ing on the grass.

Литература

• Картинки из общего доступа
• Учебник Афанасьевой, Михеевой “English-8”