======Verbs and expressions====== ==========

Image   We considered trying a new restaurant but finally decided to go to our usual one.


Some verbs can only be followed by a gerund and some verbs can only be followed by an infinitive:

            We avoided using the motorways.   Image       We avoided to use the motorways.  Image

            I want to go home early.   Image                        I want going home early.  Image

 

There are some guidelines that might help us decide whether to use a gerund or infinitive. For example:

 

1.     Gerunds often perform exactly the same function as a noun: 

          

This job involves dealing with customers.

This job involves contact with customers.


           We delayed launching the product until January.  

We delayed the launch until January.



2.     We often use infinitives for actions that happen after the action of the main verb:

          He decided to work at the weekend. [The decision was before the work.]

We expect to have the results next week. [The expectation is before obtaining the results.]

 

However, there are no definitive 'rules' without exceptions so we have to learn which to use.

Here are some examples: 

 

Verbs followed by an infinitive

 

Verbs followed by a gerund

 

agree

 

appear

 

arrange

 

ask

 

attempt

 

choose

 

claim

 

decide

 

deserve

 

fail

 

happen

 

hesitate

 

hope

 

learn

 

manage

 

mean

 

offer

 

plan

 

prepare

 

pretend

 

promise

 

seem

 

tend

 

threaten

 

want

 

would like

 

 

She agreed to talk to him.

 

He appears to be ill.

 

They arranged to meet.

 

She asked to leave.

 

He attempted to finish it.

 

They chose not to wait.

 

He claimed to be a doctor.

 

They decided not to wait.

 

He deserves to succeed.

 

He failed to recognise her.

 

She happened to notice it.

 

I hesitated to tell her.

 

Do you hope to work there?

 

Is he learning to drive?

 

I managed not to laugh.

 

I meant to call her.


They offered to help.

 

I plan to talk for one hour.

 

We're preparing to negotiate.

He pretended not to hear.

 

She promised not to be late.


He seemed to understand.


I tend to agree.


He's threatening to leave.


Do you want to go home?

 

He'd like to change jobs.

 

admit

 

advise

 

allow

 

anticipate

 

avoid

 

consider

 

delay

 

deny

 

discuss

 

encourage

 

finish

 

imagine

 

involve

 

keep

 

mention

 

mind

 

miss

 

permit

 

recall/recollect

 

recommend

 

resist

 

require

 

risk

 

suggest

 

urge

 

He admitted stealing a cake.

 

I advise returning it.

 

They allow parking here.

 

I anticipate finishing early.

 

We avoided discussing it.

 

I'm considering not going.

 

We delayed telling them.

 

They denied breaking it.

 

We discussed replacing her.

 

They encourage cycling to work.

 

We finished eating at nine.

 

Can you imagine flying?

 

The job involves travelling.

 

I keep forgetting.

 

He mentioned meeting her.

 

Do you mind waiting?

 

I miss working in a team.

 

She doesn't permit swearing.

 

I recall seeing him in Paris.

 

I recommend eating there.

 

Did you resist eating it?

 

The problem requires investigating.

 

She risks losing her job.

 

He suggested renting a car.

They urged replacing him.

 

 

 

 

=====Gerunds with 'to go'=====

We use the verb 'to go' + gerund to talk about some sports and leisure activities. For example:

            They go swimming on Fridays.

            We went sightseeing in the morning.

            We never go camping in the winter.

            We're going shopping this afternoon. 

            Shall we go skiing next year?


=====Expressions followed by gerunds or infinitives=====

Image   He was proud to accept the award.


There are lots of expressions which use the infinitive after adjectives and nouns.

 

 

After adjectives

 

Subject + 'to be' + adjective + infinitive

             pleased to be here today.

 

These are often about feelings. Here are some examples:

 

To be...

Adjective + infinitive

 

amazed

 

anxious

 

ashamed

 

careful

 

certain

 

compulsory

 

delighted

 

determined

 

eager

 

easy

 

eligible

 

happy

 

hesitant

 

likely

 

lucky

 

possible

 

proud

 

ready

 

reluctant

 

shocked

 

surprised

 

He was amazed to find that she remembered him.

 

I don't want to wait any longer - I'm anxious to begin.

 

He was ashamed to admit the truth.

 

He was careful not to mention the problem.

 

She's certain to succeed.

 

It's compulsory to wear protective clothing in the plant.

 

I'm delighted to inform you that we are offering you the job.

 

I'm determined to finish this by the end of the day.

 

He's eager to start his English course.

 

It isn't easy to negotiate with people from different cultures.

 

Are you eligible to vote?

 

We're happy to accept your offer.

 

She was hesitant to reply.

 

We aren't likely to succeed.

 

I'm so lucky to have this job.

 

It isn't possible to park here.

 

I'm very proud to announce the launch of our new vehicle.

 

Are you ready to leave?

 

I'm reluctant to employ someone with so little experience.

 

He was shocked to discover the truth.

 

They were surprised to hear the news.

 

 

 

Note that the same rule applies to comparative adjectives. For example:

 

            This computer is easier to use than my old one.

             It's better to go out to lunch than eat at your desk.

 

 After nouns

 

Expression with a noun + infinitive

They were disappointed with the decision to close the factory.

 


Here are some examples:

 

 

Noun + infinitive

 

attempt

 

chance

 

decision

 

motivation

 

opportunity

 

permission

 

plan

 

refusal

 

tendency

 

way

 

Their attempt to expand into North America was unsuccessful.

 

I didn't get a chance to speak to him.

 

We were unhappy with the decision to delay production.

 

Motivation to succeed is essential for this job.

 

We have an opportunity to make a lot of money.

 

Can I have your permission to deal with this myself?

 

I have a plan to reorganise the teams.

 

His refusal to deal with this immediately is causing problems.

 

He has a tendency to lose concentration.

 

We have to find a way to solve this.

 


Expressions with prepositions are followed by gerunds.

 

            She's worried about travelling alone.

            I have fond memories of travelling in India.   

 

Here are some more examples: 

 

 

'to be' + adjective/noun + preposition + gerund

 

Adjectives

accustomed to

addicted to

afraid of

capable of

committed to

excited about

famous for

guilty of

proud of

responsible for

worried about

 

Nouns

advantage of 

credit for

dedication to

delay in

fear of

interest in

knowledge of

love of

memory of

process of

reason for

reputation for

story about

 

 

 

 He's accustomed to working with Asian people.

She's addicted to shopping online.

He's afraid of failing.

We're capable of dealing with the situation without help.

They're committed to finding a solution.

Are you excited about going to Australia?

He's famous for designing lots of the buildings in this city.

He's guilty of lying to the government.

He's proud of achieving these results.

Who is responsible for making this mess?

 I'm not worried about losing the contract.

 

 

My office has the advantage of being on the ground floor.

He took the credit for introducing the new measures.

I admire his dedication to modernising the company.

I don't want any delay in investigating this problem.

He has a fear of flying.

I have no interest in competing with him.

His  knowledge of sailing is impressive.

We share a love of travelling.

I have no memory of getting home last night.

We're in the process of updating the files.

I don't agree with your reason for delaying.

They have a reputation for delivering on time.

I don't believe his story about forgetting the date.

 

 

Note that 'to' in these expressions is a preposition. It is not part of an infinitive and that is why we see 'to shopping' etc. 

            They're committed to finding a solution.       They're committed to find a solution.   Image


'Before' and 'after'

Whether we are talking about the past, present or future, 'before' and 'after' can be followed by the gerund as an alternative to a subject and verb:  

            I always check the electrics before giving a presentation. ['I give']

            After speaking to him yesterday, I decided to cancel the order. ['I spoke']

            Before leaving this afternoon, could you call Tom for me? ['you leave']

 

 

Suggest

We never use the infinitive with 'suggest' - with or without an object:

           I suggest to have a presentation Image     I suggest you to have a presentation. Image

 

If it is necessary to use an object in order to specify 'who' the suggestion was made to, we use 'to'.

These are the correct ways to use this verb:

 

+ noun or gerund

+ object + bare infinitive

 

I suggest a presentation.

I suggest having a presentation.

I suggested a presentation (to Thomas/him).

 

I suggest (that) we have a presentation.

 

I suggest (that) you go to the presentation.

 

I suggested (to Thomas/him that) we have a presentation.

 

 


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