INFINITIVES OR GERUNDS (TOEIG FOR STARTERS)

Infinitives

A.Use a to - infinitive after the following verbs: agree, decide, expect, happen, pretend, promise, manage, tend (for example, decide to do)

B.Use a to – infinitive without “to” after the following verbs plus their object: advise, allow, expect, forbid, want, force, tell  (for example, allow him to do)

C.Use an infinitive without “to” after the following verbs plus their object: have, let, make, feel, see, hear, smell, find (for example, let Tom do it)

Gerunds

Use an –ing form after the following verbs: avoid, can’t help, deny, feel like, give up, imagine, mind, postpone, enjoy (for example, deny giving up)

Choosing between infinitives and gerunds

The following verbs allow both a to – infinitive form and an –ing form: remember, forget, stop, regret, try.

1.The choice of a to-infinitive or an –ing form depends on the meaning

2.I forgot to turn the light off (I didn’t turn it off, I forgot to do it)

3.I forgot turning the light off. (I actually turned it off. I forgot that I had done that.)

Choosing subjects

A.Use objective case pronouns with a to-infinitive.

Expect him to help her

Allow them to do it

B.Use a possessive pronoun with a gerund

Enjoy their singing

Mind my smoking

EXERCISES

A.Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

1.He expects …………….soon

a.arrive   b.arrival      c.to arrive   d.arriving

2. All I want is …………….. to return safe.

a.he                 b.him           c.of him      d.for him

3.I’m sorry about ……………their feelings.

a.hurt              b.to hurt     c.hurting     d.I hurt

4.Christine promised to meet …………… at the theater.

a.Our               b.us             c.we            d.ours

B.Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

A smoke detector is an easy way to protect your family. It is very easy to install one. Most people expect a.to wake up b.woke up c.wake up d.waking up poisonous fumes from smoke kill hundreds of people every year. A.Putting b.Fixing c.Installing d.Hanging a smoke detector will give your family a chance to escape in the case of a fire. Ask at your local fire station for advice.

c.Fill the blank with the appropriate word.

1.He is making every possible effort to …………… his opponent.

a.best              b.well          c.good         d.better

2.When ‘……………… to resign his position, the manager reacted badly.

a.ask                b.to ask       c.asking       d.asked

3.When we arrived, the film was about ……………

a.start             b.starting    c.to start    d.started

4.The prince was married to the Dutchess of Kent and ………….. by his brother.

a.to succeed    b.succeeded         c.succeeding        d.successfully

KEY

A

1.C, 2.D, 3.C, 4.B

B

1.A, 2.C

C

1.A, 2.D, 3.C, 4.B