Gerunds vs. Infinitives

• Gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that function as nouns.

Verbs Followed By Infinitives

• Certain verbs are consistently followed by infinitives (to + base form of the verb).
• Examples of verbs followed by infinitives include: agree, ask, decide, expect, hope, learn, need, offer, plan, promise, seem, and want.
• Example: She agreed to help me with the project.

Verbs Followed By Gerunds

• Certain verbs are consistently followed by gerunds (verb + -ing).
• Examples of verbs followed by gerunds include: admit, appreciate, avoid, consider, deny, enjoy, finish, keep, mind, miss, practice, quit, and suggest.
• Example: He enjoys playing the guitar.

Verbs Taking Gerund or Infinitive with a Change in Meaning

• Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive, but the meaning of the sentence changes.
• "Remember, forget, and regret" are common examples
• Remember + to + infinitive: indicates remembering to do something.
  • Example: I remembered to buy milk (I remembered and then bought milk).
• Remember + gerund: indicates remembering something that happened in the past.
  • Example: I remember buying milk yesterday (I have a memory of buying milk).
• Forget + to + infinitive: indicates forgetting to do something.
  • Example: I forgot to buy milk (I didn't buy milk because I forgot).
• Forget + gerund: indicates forgetting something that happened in the past.
  • Example: I'll never forget seeing the Eiffel Tower (I have a memory of seeing the Eiffel Tower).
• Regret + to + infinitive: indicates regret about giving bad news.
  • Example: I regret to inform you that your application was rejected.
• Regret + gerund: indicates regret about something that happened in the past.
  • Example: I regret saying that to him (I said something and now I regret it).
• "Try" is another example
• Try + to + infinitive: indicates an attempt or effort to do something.
• Example: I tried to fix the car, but I couldn't.
• Try + gerund: indicates experimenting with or testing something.
• Example: Try adding salt to the soup.

Possessive + Gerund

• A possessive pronoun or noun can come before a gerund to clarify who is performing the action.
• Examples include: his, her, my, their, John's, etc.
  • Example: I appreciate his helping me with the work.
  • Example: They insisted on John's paying for dinner.

Simple and Past Gerunds

• Simple Gerund: gerund in its base form (verb + -ing).
  • Example: Swimming is good exercise.
• Past Gerund: having + past participle.
  • Example: He thanked her for having helped him.

Passive Gerunds

• Present Passive Gerund: being + past participle.
  • Example: He doesn't like being told what to do.
• Past Passive Gerund: having been + past participle.
  • Example: She appreciated having been invited to the party.

Passive Infinitives

• Present Passive Infinitive: to be + past participle.
  • Example: She wants to be respected.
• Past Passive Infinitive: to have been + past participle.
  • Example: The criminal claimed to have been framed.

Sense Verbs

• Sense verbs include: see, hear, watch, feel, smell, and taste.
• These verbs can be followed by either the base form of a verb or a gerund, with a slight difference in meaning.
• Sense Verb + Base Form: indicates completing the whole action.
  • Example: I saw him cross the street (I saw him from start to finish).
• Sense Verb + Gerund: indicates seeing an action in progress.
  • Example: I saw him crossing the street (I saw him while he was in the process of crossing).