This document discusses the differences between using gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that can be used as subjects or objects. They commonly follow verbs expressing likes/dislikes and prepositions. Infinitives use "to" before the verb and are used to express purpose or after adjectives and cognitive verbs. Both gerunds and infinitives can follow verbs like start, stop, and finish. Examples are provided to illustrate their proper uses.

1. GERUND
or INFINITIVE

2. GERUND
I like GOING to the cinema.
I stopped SMOKING 15 years ago.
INFINITIVE
I’d like TO GO to the cinema.
She stopped TO HAVE a deep breath
of fresh air.

3. GERUND – is used as/after
a subject
an object
after verbs of perception
after verbs expressing LIKES and
DISLIKES
prepositions (by, at, in, after etc.)
in certain phrases (look forward to, be
fond of, etc.)

4. SUBJECT or OBJECT
in a sentence:
Sunbathing can be dangerous.
Do you really enjoy making the teacher hit
the roof?

5. After verbs of PERCEPTION
SEE, HEAR, LISTEN TO, WATCH,
SMELL
I saw him FEELING really down.
We can hear him PLAYING the piano every evening.
LIKES and DISLIKES,
Don’t you like DANCING?
Michael hates BEING told what to do.

6. I N F I N I T I V E is used:
To express
PURPOSE:
(answers to “WHY?”)
She came to
deliver the goods.
I shouted to draw
his attention.

7. After ADJECTIVES:
It is difficult TO BE the best student in
class.
Don’t you think he is so hard TO
PLEASE?
I was reluctant TO TALK to her.

8. After COGNITIVE verbs:
seem, agree, choose, expect,
manage, decide, arrange, remember,
plan, predict, forget…
e.g.They agreed to meet in the afternoon
Don’t expect me TO FORGIVE you.

9. Both GERUND or INFINITIVE can
be used after these verbs:
START, STOP, FINISH
Please, stop arguing!
They stopped in the middle of the road to
argue again.
REMEBER, FORGET
He remebered her swimming naked at night.
She forgot to take the key again.

10. EXERCIES:
1. _______ (learn) grammar rules is too
difficult for me.
2. Is there any point in ________ (try) to
persuade you?
3. Don’t even think of _______ (leave)
before midnight!
4. Oh, God! I forgot ______ (turn off) the
computer last night.

11. More practice
The robbers forced the manager
_____(open) the safe.
I’m really tired of _______(explain) the
same grammar rules all over again.
He’s working too hard. He’s too tired
______(do) anything after work.
Donna stopped_______(drink) and now
she completely recovered.
We stopped_______(drink) a glass of
water from the well in the woods.