Gerunds and Infinitives - Idioma Intermedio Intensivo. Material preparado por Prof.

Lorena Ortega

Gerunds and infinitives

Escribir oraciones en Ingls que suenen correctamente requiere ms que el uso correcto de
estructuras gramaticales. El uso correcto de los Gerundios e Infinitivos en Ingls es uno de esos retos
idiomticos para los estudiantes de sta lengua ya que las reglas gramaticales no son de mucha ayuda.
Los gerundios e infinitivos corresponden a la categora de Verbals porque lucen como verbos (y a veces
actan como tales) pero realizan por lo general el trabajo que un sustantivo (nombre) hara.
Un gerund es la forma ing de un verbo (e.g. running, jumping, developing) cuando es usado como
sustantivo.
Un infinitive es to+verb (e.g. to run, to jump, to develop.)
Gerunds and infinitives as Objects.
Ambos gerundios e infinitivos pueden funcionar como objetos directos o recibidores de la accin del
verbo.
The student forgot her books.
subject
verb object of the verb
GERUND
INFINITIVE
Ill never forget visiting the Anas home.

He forgot to exercise yesterday.

verb objeto del verbo
La complejidad al usar gerundios o infinitivos como objetos radica en que existen pocas reglas para
ayudarte a decidir cuando elegir uno u otro despus del verbo principal de la oracin. La eleccin casi
siempre depende del verbo que le antecede. Distintos verbos toman diferentes formas verbales (gerunds
and infinitives) como objetos directos.
verbo objeto del verbo

Gerunds and infinitives 5 Simple Rules

1. Estos verbos pueden ir seguidos tanto de gerundios como infinitivos: begin, continue, like, hate,
love, prefer, start, etc.
They began dancing and singing.
We like to cook dinner but hate to clean the apartment.
2. Estos verbos deben ir seguidos por un gerundio: appreciate, avoid, dislike, enjoy, keep, miss, quit,
etc.
Do you dislike doing homework or just avoid handing it in?
She misses being with her family.
3. Estos verbos deben ir seguidos por un infinitivo: ask, decide, encourage, expect, hope, intend, learn,
plan, seem, tell, want, etc.
He asked her to marry him, and she decided to accept.
I was encouraged to work hard at school and planned to attend university.
4. Estos verbos de 2 y 3 palabras deben ir seguidos por un gerundio: accustomed to, believe in, look
forward to, put off, take care of, think about, etc.
Were looking forward to seeing you in September.
Hes accustomed to working out in the gym and believes in keeping fit.
5. Estos verbos son usualmente seguidos por un pronombre + la forma base del verbo: make, have, let,
and help.
Adnan makes me like the class and has me enjoy Accounting.
Rodrigo let me watch him dance and helped me learn the steps.

Gerunds and Infinitives - Idioma Intermedio Intensivo. Material preparado por Prof. Lorena Ortega

Exercise 1
Match the beginnings with the correct endings.
1. He held a press conference
2. She had cosmetic surgery
3. He wears sunglasses so he can go
shopping without
4. Its illegal
5. Getting old
6. It must be unpleasant
7. He raised money for poor children by

____is a major fear for many movie stars.

____to download copyrighted music without
paying for it.
____holding a charity concert.
____to make her look younger.
____to promote his new CD.
____being recognized.
____to have reporters chasing you all the time.

Exercise 2
1. Im taking this course
2. Smoking
3. I find it difficult
4. She was worried about
5. I am thinking of
6. I can't
7. Its expensive
8. She suggested
9. I went to the supermarket
10. Eating
11. Ive got toothache so I need
12. They always made me.

____taking the train as the traffic was

terrible.
____to see a dentist.
____fresh fruit and vegetables regularly will
help you to stay healthy.
____taking a course in Japanese next year.
____to improve my English.
____is outlawed in restaurants in many
countries nowadays.
____do four hours homework every night.
____to stay in five-star hotels.
____understand why some people find
grammar so difficult.
____to buy some bread.
____failing the exam.
____to remember new words.

Exercise 3
1. He threatened _____________ the police about the accident. (tell)
2. She stopped ___________ to that store when she found out about the managers dishonesty. (go)
3. She hired a boy __________ her grass. (cut)
4. He suggested _____________ another doctor. (consult)
5. He deserved _____________ a medal. (get)
6. He promised ______________ her a gift. (bring)
7. He caused her _______________ the dish. (break)
8. She finished ______________ her homework. (do)
9. He tolerates them ______________ in class. (eat)
10. She struggled ______________ her children. (feed)
11. He persuaded her _____________ the night off. (take)
12. They go ______________ every Saturday night. (dance)

Gerunds and Infinitives - Idioma Intermedio Intensivo. Material preparado por Prof. Lorena Ortega

Gerunds and infinitives Chart

Gerunds and infinitives - Rules

Verbos que pueden ir seguidos por GERUNDS (ej: doing)
Despus de
verbos que
expresan gusto
y desagrado:

like
love
enjoy
dislike
hate
don't mind
can't stand
can't bear

Despus de ciertos verbos, tales como :

admit
appreciate
allow
avoid
advise
consider
deny
delay
understand
finish
fancy
go
involve

mention
mind
stop
waste time/
money
imagine
involve
keep (on)
mention
miss
postpone
permit
practice

suggest
resist
reject
risk
can't help
can't stand

Despus de
preposiciones

Despus de ciertas
expresiones

interested in ...
instead of ...
good at ...
before ...
after ...

it's no use ...

it's no good ...
there's no point in ...
I can't help...
I don't mind...
I can't stand/bear...

Example:
Example:
"I am interested in
collecting stamps."
"After playing
football I drank an
orange juice.

" It's no use convincing

him to revise his
lessons. He's so
stubborn."

Gerunds and Infinitives - Idioma Intermedio Intensivo. Material preparado por Prof. Lorena Ortega

Verbos que pueden ir seguidos por Infinitives (ej: to do)

Despues de verbos que
refierean a evento futuro :

determine

determined

Despus de ciertos
verbos, tales como :

Despus de adjectivos

Despus de "too" y "enough":

afford
agree
help
choose
fail
happen
refuse
manage
need
seem
learn
choose
pretend

glad
pleased
disappointed

too difficult
easy enough
Example:

Example:
"I'm glad to know that you
passed the exam."
"I'm pleased to meet you."
"I'm disappointed to hear
that you flunked maths."

Verbos que pueden ir seguidos por ambos infinitive y gerund:

start
begin
stop
remember...

Example:
"I started smoking when I was young."
"I started to smoke when I left the office."

"It's too difficult to convince

him to be helpful."
" But it's easy enough to fool
him to get what you want."