Gerund or InfinitiveGerund or Infinitive

GerundsGerunds are defined as the –inging form of a verb. They have several functions.

1. Used as subjects and complements

SkiingSkiing is my favorite sport.

SmokingSmoking can be very dangerous.

SeeingSeeing is believing.

2. Used as objects following prepositions and prepositional expressions

Thanks forfor tending tending my children.

The job consists of typingof typing, filing, and answering the phone.

3. Used as objects following certain verbs.

The children enjoyedenjoyed watching the parade.

Ms. Terrell avoided paying her taxes until it was too late.

Roland is afraid of of making mistakes.

Sandy is consideringconsidering leaving New York.

These verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.:

admit advise appreciate avoid

can’t help consider deny discuss

dislike enjoy finish forget

go keep like love

mind miss postpone prefer

quit recommend regret remember

resist risk start stop

suggest threaten try understand

These verbs are commonly followed by gerunds.:

In the nineteenth century, people used to _____ (ride) horses.

rideride

I am really looking forward to _____ (play) in the tournament.

playingplaying

Billy isn't used to _____ (eat) spicy food.

eatingeating

Kathy is interested in _____ (learn) about her family tree.

learninglearning

Mrs. Latham doesn't object

to _____ (work) overtime.

workingworking

Always double check your equipment before _____ (go) on a camping trip.

goinggoing

"You can't stop me from _____ (go) with you," he said.

goinggoing

This product is very good for _____ (get) rid of ants.

gettinggetting

Why did you leave without _____ (tell) me?

tellingtelling

I can't afford _____ (take) a vacation this year.

to taketo take

He won first contest by _____ (practice) several hours a day.

practicingpracticing

Mr. and Mrs. Houghton decided to remodel their kitchen instead of _____ (go) to Hawaii this year.

goinggoing

Have you ever considered ____ (become) a simultaneous

interpreter?

becomingbecoming

How did you manage _____ (finish) so fast?

to finishto finish

The executive denied _____ (write) the memo.

writingwriting

Some people just can't help _____ (be) rude.

beingbeing

I really enjoy _____ (go) out for dinner.

goinggoing

He refused _____ (provide) the commission with the documents.

to provideto provide

I didn't intend _____ (upset) you; I was just trying to help.

to upsetto upset

I offered _____ (help) with the party.

to helpto help

The young man admitted _____ (hack) into the school's computer.

hackinghacking

You should avoid _____ (eat) immediately after exercising.

eatingeating

I didn't intend _____ (upset) you; I was just trying to help.

to upsetto upset

She said she was worried about living alone, so I suggested _____ (get) a dog.

gettinggetting

I miss _____ (hang) out with all my old friends.

hanginghanging

She hopes ______ (pursue) a career in advertising after

graduation.

to pursueto pursue

I just finished _____(work) on my thesis, and I'm dog-tired.

working

Competition is fierce, and we can't afford ______ (make) a

mistake.

to maketo make

He kept _____ (talk) about how great he was, but nobody paid any attention.

talkingtalking

Do you mind _____ (watch) the kids while I go to the store?

watchingwatching

To prevent _____ (lose) data, be sure to back up your work.

losinglosing

When questioned by police, the thief admitted to _____ (steal) the diamonds.

stealingstealing

My French teacher advised against _______ (translate) the reading.

translatingtranslating

I feel like ________ (get) something to eat. Do you want to come?

gettinggetting

What do you plan on _____ (do) after you graduate?

doingdoing

I apologize for not _____ (tell) you sooner.

tellingtelling

When I was a kid, I used to dream about _____ (take) trips to exotic places.

takingtaking

Prof. Boudreau doesn't object to our _____ (use) a dictionary in his French literature class.

usingusing

I insisted on _____ (speak) to the manager about the defective item.

speakingspeaking

Did you succeed in _____ (fix) your car?

fixingfixing

In addition to ________ (strengthen) your heart, toning muscle, and helping maintain your ideal weight, exercise may strengthen your immunity against some colds and viral infections.

strengtheningstrengthening

I object to _____ (be) forced by politicians to change the way I live.

beingbeing

I look forward _____ (meet) your friend.

to meetingto meeting

She is responsible ______ (implement) new policy.

for implementingfor implementing

Why do I insist ______ (have) my own business?

on havingon having

She has taken part ______ (create) this system.

in creatingin creating

I hope that you appreciate ______ (I / offer) you this opportunity.

my offeringmy offering

I have difficulty ______ (trust) my partner.

in trustingin trusting

She was arrested in customs last night and has been charged _______ (smuggle).

with smugglingwith smuggling

They had to ________ (account) all the money that had gone missing.

account foraccount for

Jane is good ______ (play) the piano.

at playingat playing

Men and women around the world get accustomed ______ (be) overweight.

to beingto being

I don't approve _______ (smoke) in restaurants because it is so upsetting usually for non-smokers.

of smokingof smoking

The publicity campaign was aimed _________ (improve) the eating habits of children.

at improvingat improving

It was a campaign that focused __________ (invest) in better hospitals, schools and roads.

on investingon investing

They admitted ______ (commit) the crime.

to committingto committing

They admitted ______ (commit) the crime.

to committingto committing

They prevented us _______ (win).

from winningfrom winning

They prevented us _______ (win).

from winningfrom winning

Ireland doesn't allow _______ (smoke) in bars.

smokingsmoking

Ireland doesn't allow people _______ (smoke) in bars.

to smoketo smoke

California doesn't permit ______ (fish) without a fishing license.

fishingfishing

California doesn't permit people ______ (fish) without a fishing license.

to fishto fish

The certificate requires _______ (complete) two courses.

completingcompleting

The certificate requires students _________ (complete) two courses.

to completeto complete

She is addicted ______ (watch) TV.

to watchingto watching

I am bored _____ (do) the same old job.

of doingof doing

She is committed ________ (improve) her English.

to improvingto improving

The organization is dedicated _______ (end) poverty.

to endingto ending

The money will be devoted ________ (protect) the environment.

to protectingto protecting

He was discouraged _____ (not / get) the job.

by not gettingby not getting

She is frightened ______ (be) alone at night.

of beingof being

The banker was guilty ________ (steal) money.

of stealingof stealing

She was known _______ (cause) problems.

for causingfor causing

They are opposed ________ (build) a new road in the park.

to buildingto building

The surfer is terrified ______ (be) attacked by a shark.

of beingof being

The delay _______ (process) the visa caused problems.

in processingin processing

His devotion ______ (bike) allowed him to win the competition.

to bikingto biking

His habit _________ (smoke) in restaurants caused many problems in California.

of smokingof smoking

Their memories ______ (travel) in Africa will stay with them forever.

of travelingof traveling

I think his preference ________ (speak) his native language is natural.

for speakingfor speaking

The main reason ______ (take) the course is to improve your language skills.

for takingfor taking

The criminal's regret _______ (commit) the crime did not convince the judge.

for committingfor committing

The magazine's report _______ choose the right car was not well researched.

on choosingon choosing

Her reputation ______ (lie) is well known.

for lyingfor lying

I don't know if I believe his story _______ (see) a UFO.

about seeingabout seeing