This document discusses the use of gerunds and infinitives in English. Gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, after prepositions, and after certain verbs like "like" verbs. Infinitives are used after adjectives to express purpose or reason, and normally after another verb. Some verbs like "begin" and "prefer" can take either a gerund or infinitive. There are also differences in meaning when using try, remember, or forget with a gerund or infinitive.

1. GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

2. GERUNDS
 When a verb is the subject of a sentence:
Ex.: Smoking is bad for you.
 After prepositions:
Ex.: I’m tired of studying
 After go+many activities and sports: go swimming, go
shopping:
Ex.: Did you go shopping last weekend?
 After some verbs:
1) “Like” verbs: like, dislike, hate, enjoy, love, mind, fancy.
Ex.: I love coming to class.
2) Other verbs: finish, practise, spend, suggest, stop, risk,
miss, consider, imagine, avoid, delay, postpone, involve
and some expressions like can’t help, to be worth.
Ex.: I suggest going to London in summer.

3. INFINITIVES
 After adjectives:
Ex.: It’s important to study every day.
 For reason or purpose:
Ex.: I study English to get a better job.
 Normally after another verb:
Ex.: I want to be rich.
 After would like, would love, would hate:
Ex.: I’d like to be rich.

4. INFINITIVE OR GERUND
 After some verbs: begin, continue, prefer, start.
 Ex.: When did you start studying/to study?

5. INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO
 After modal verbs.
Ex.: You must study every day.
 After make, let and, optionally, help.
Ex.: Make me feel good!

6. DIFFERENCES IN MEANING
 TRY:
1)+infinitive: make an effort
Ex.: I’ll try to do the homework.
2)+gerund: do it as a test or experiment
Ex.: The photocopier doesn’t work. Try pressing the
red button.
 REMEMBER/FORGET
1)+infinitive: for an action you’ll do later: first you
remember or forget, then you do the action:
Ex.: Remember to phone him/Don’t forget to phone
it.
2)+gerund: for an action you did in the past: first you
did the action, now you remember it (or you forgot
about it).
Ex.: I don’t remember talking to him last night. I was
really drunk!