This document discusses the use of gerunds and infinitives after certain verbs in English. It provides lists of verbs that can be followed by infinitives or gerunds, examples of each structure, and notes cases where verbs can be used with either structure but have different meanings. It also includes translations of example sentences from Spanish to English to demonstrate these structures. The overall topic is how to properly use gerunds and infinitives after verbs in English sentences.

1. Gerunds & Infinitives
Ricardo Forner 2011

2. Verbs + to infinitive
 Afford
 Expect
 Hope
 Need
 Pretend
 Seem
 Agree
 Fail
 Want
 Offer
 Promise
 Would like
 Learn
 Plan
 Decide
 Wish
 Manage
 Refuse
Ricardo Forner 2011

3. Examples.
 They want to stay at home.
 She needs to study more.
 The criminal refused to cooperate.
 I want to call back later.
 We have decided to buy a new house.
 He learned to do it last year.
 She promised to be there.
Ricardo Forner 2011

4. Verbs + object + to infinitive
 Advise
 Order
 Allow
 Expect
 Forbid
 Permit
 Teach
 Ask
 Force
 Persuade
 Tell
 Want
 Encourage
 Invite
 Recommend
 Warn
 Enable
 Prefer
Ricardo Forner 2011

5. Examples.
He advised me not to do it.
My parents expect us to behave properly.
They have forbidden him to stay with us.
He can teach you to play billiards.
We want them to come with us.
I told them to be quiet.
I encouraged him to work harder.
Ricardo Forner 2011

6. Adjective + to infinitive
It's interesting to learn languages.
It's boring to stay here all day.
It was very kind of you to help the old lady.
It was very difficult for us to find out the truth.
Ricardo Forner 2011

7. Wh words + infinitive.
I didn't know what to say.
She doesn't know where to go.
He will tell when to go.
Exception: why.
Why do it now? / Why not come back later?
Ricardo Forner 2011

8. Verbs + infinitive without to.
1. Modal verbs ( except have to and ought to)
You must study tonight / they cannot swim.
2. Had better, would rather, would sooner:
You’d better go home now.
I’d rather do it now. / I’d rather you did it now.
I’d sooner be rich than poor.
Ricardo Forner 2011

9. Verbs + infinitive without to.
3. Let and make:
- They didn’t let me go out yesterday.
- They made me do my homework.
(*) - I was made to go to bed very early.
4. Help.
- He helped me paint my flat / He helped me to paint my flat.
Ricardo Forner 2011

10. Gerund after preposition.
 I watched TV after doing the washing up.
 Don’t leave without saying goodbye.
 Before going to bed brush your teeth.
 We’re in favour of voting at the age of 18.
 She’s interested in doing Pilates.
Ricardo Forner 2011

11. Gerund as subject
 Smoking is not very healthy.
 Studying maths is difficult.
 To study maths is difficult.
 Listening to kids involves a lot of patience.
Also in short prohibitions:
No smoking / no parking.
Ricardo Forner 2011

12. Verbs + gerund
 Admit
 Consider
 Fancy
 Give up
 It’s worth
 Practise
 Avoid
 Deny
 Feel like
 Go on
 Mind
 Resent
 Suggest
 Can’t help
 Imagine
 Keep
 Resist
 Hate
Ricardo Forner 2011

13. Verbs + gerund
 Can’t stand
 Enjoy
 Finish
 Involve
 It’s no use
 Risk
 Continue
 Get used to
 Look forward to
 Miss
Ricardo Forner 2011

14. Examples.
- He gave up smoking last year.
- They missed seeing each other.
- Would you mind opening the window.
- I feel like swimming now.
- It’s worth studying when you’re young.
- I can’t stand listening to this music.
- I can’t help laughing when I see him.
Ricardo Forner 2011

15. Verbs + gerund (or) infinitive with the same
meaning.
Ricardo Forner 2011
 Begin
 Start
 Propose
 Intend
 Forbid
 Like ( I like to dance / I like dancing )
 (*would like) ( I would like to dance )
 Hate

16. Verbs + gerund (or) infinitive with different
meaning.
Stop
He stopped talking as soon as he saw him.
He stopped to have a look around.
Remember
I remember buying the tickets yesterday.
Remember to take your passport.
Ricardo Forner 2011

17. Verbs + gerund (or) infinitive with different
meaning.
Forget
I’ll never forget seeing her for the first time.
I forgot to buy the newspaper.
Regret
He regrets staying at home.
I regret to tell you that we can’t do anything.
Ricardo Forner 2011

18. Translate the following sentences:
El no puede permitirse comprar un coche nuevo.
El finge ser más inteligente de lo que es.
Quiero que ellos vengan a mi fiesta.
Me gustaría que vosotros vinierais.
Ricardo Forner 2011

19. Translate the following sentences:
El no puede permitirse comprar un coche nuevo.
He can’t afford to buy a new car.
El finge ser más inteligente de lo que es.
He pretends to be more intelligent than he is.
Quiero que ellos vengan a mi fiesta.
I want them to come to my party.
Me gustaría que vosotros vinierais.
I would like you to come.
Ricardo Forner 2011

20. Translate the following sentences:
El me aconsejó no hacerlo.
El me recordó que llevara el pasaporte.
Fue muy valiente de tu parte decir eso.
Prefiero ser rico a pobre.
Ricardo Forner 2011

21. Translate the following sentences:
El me aconsejó no hacerlo.
He advised me not to do it.
El me recordó que llevara el pasaporte.
He reminded me to take my passport.
Fue muy valiente de tu parte decir eso.
It was very brave of you to say that.
Prefiero ser rico a pobre.
I’d rather be rich than poor // I’d sooner be rich than
poor.
Ricardo Forner 2011

22. Translate the following sentences:
Déjales salir esta noche.
Sería mejor que te fueras a la cama ahora mismo.
¿Me puedes ayudar a cerrar la puerta?
El dejó de entrenar hace una semana.
Ricardo Forner 2011

23. Translate the following sentences:
Déjales salir esta noche.
Let them go out tonight.
Sería mejor que te fueras a la cama ahora mismo.
You’d better go to bed right now.
¿Me puedes ayudar a cerrar la puerta?
Can you help me (to) close the door?
El dejó de entrenar hace una semana.
He gave up training a week ago.
Ricardo Forner 2011

24. Translate the following sentences:
No puedo soportar ver esto.
¿Te importaría cerrar la boca?
Es inútil hablar con él.
El no admitió haberlos matado.
Ricardo Forner 2011

25. Translate the following sentences:
No puedo soportar ver esto.
I can’t stand watching this.
¿Te importaría cerrar la boca?
Would you mind closing your mouth?
Es inútil hablar con él.
It’s no use talking to him.
El no admitió haberlos matado.
He didn’t admit / denied killing them.
Ricardo Forner 2011

26. Translate the following sentences:
Tengo ganas de bailar.
Vale la pena ver esa película.
¿Te apetece comerte un helado?
El sugirió que fuéramos a un italiano.
Ricardo Forner 2011

27. Translate the following sentences:
Tengo ganas de bailar.
I feel like dancing.
Vale la pena ver esa película.
That film is worth watching.
¿Te apetece comerte un helado?
Do you fancy eating an ice cream?
El sugirió que fuéramos a un italiano.
He suggested going to an Italian restaurant.
Ricardo Forner 2011