GERUND OR INFINITIVE?

The two groups of verbs below can be followed either by the gerund or by the infinitive. Usually this has no effect on the meaning, but with some verbs there is a clear difference in meaning. Verbs marked * can also be followed by a that-clause.

Example: to prefer
I prefer to live in an apartment. I prefer living in an apartment. A. Verbs !ere t!ere is little or no "i##eren$e in meaning: allow attempt begin bother cease continue deserve fear* hate* intend* like love neglect omit permit prefer* recommend* start

Notes:
1. Allow is used in these two patterns a. Allow + object + to-infinitive: Her parents allowed her to go to the party. b. Allow + gerund: Her parents don't allow smoking in the house. !. Deserve " gerund is not very common, but is mainly used with passive constructions or where there is a passive meaning Your proposals deserve being considered in detail. These ideas deserve discussing. #$ to be discussed%. &. The verbs hate, love, like, prefer are usually followed by a gerund when the meaning is general, and by a to-infinitive when they refer to a particular time or situation. 'ou must always use the to-infinitive with the e(pressions 'would love to' 'would hate to' etc. %ompare: ! hate to tell you but "ncle #i$ is co$ing this wee%end. ! hate looking after elderly relatives& ! love dancing. ! would love to dance with you.

&. Verbs !ere t!ere is a $lear "i##eren$e in meaning Verbs marked with an asterisk' can also be followed by a that-clause. come forget' go on mean' regret' remember' stop try

%ome ( ger)n" is like other verbs of movement followed by the gerund, and means that the sub)ect is doing something as they move 'he ca$e running across the field. %ome ( to*in#initive means that something happens or develops, perhaps outside the sub)ect*s control At first ! thought he was cra(y but !'ve co$e to appreciate his sense of hu$our. How did you co$e to be outside the wrong house) This word has co$e to mean so$ething *uite different. Forget+ regret an" remember: +hen these verbs are followed by a ger)n", the gerund refers to an action that happened earlier ! re$e$ber locking the door +$ I remember now, I locked the door earlier% He regretted speaking so rudely. #$ he regretted at some time in the past, he had spoken rudely at some earlier time in the past.% Forget is fre,uently used with 'never' in the simple future form !'ll never forget meeting $y boss for the first ti$e. +hen these verbs are followed by a to*in#initive the infinitive refers to an action happening at the same time, or later ! re$e$bered to lock the door #$ I thought about it, then I did it.% ,on't forget to buy so$e eggs& #$ -lease think about it and then do it.% -e regret to announce the late arrival of the ./.01 fro$ 2addington. #$ +e feel sorry before we tell you this bad news.%

Go on ( ger)n" means to continue with an action He went on speaking for two hours. ! can't go on working li%e this - !'$ e3hausted. Go on ( to*in#initive means to do the ne(t action, which is often the ne(t stage in a process After introducing her proposal she went on to explain the benefits for the co$pany. #ohn '$ith wor%ed in local govern$ent for five years then went on to become a 4e$ber of 2arlia$ent.

,ean ( ger)n" e(presses what the result of an action will be, or what will be necessary !f you ta%e that job in 5ondon it will $ean travelling for two hours every day. -e could ta%e the ferry to 6rance but that will $ean spending a night in a hotel. ,ean ( to*in#initive e(presses an intention or a plan ,id you $ean to dial this nu$ber) ! $ean to finish this job by the end of the wee%& 'orry - ! didn't $ean to hurt you. -top ( ger)n" means to finish an action in progress ! stopped working for the$ because the wages were so low. 'top tickling $e& -top ( to*in#initive means to interrupt an activity in order to do something else, so the infinitive is used to e(press a purpose ! stopped to have lunch. #$ I was working, or travelling, and I interrupted what I was doing in order to eat.% !t's difficult to concentrate on what you are doing if you have to stop to answer the phone every five $inutes. Tr. ( ger)n" means to e(periment with an action that might be a solution to your problem. !f you have proble$s sleeping you could try doing so$e yoga before you go to bed or you could try drinking so$e war$ $il%. '! can't get in touch with 7arl.' 'Have you tried e-mailing hi$)' Tr. ( to*in#initive means to make an effort to do something. It may be something very difficult or even impossible The surgeons tried to save his life but he died on the operating table. -e'll try to phone at 8 o'cloc% but it $ight be hard to find a public telephone. 2eople have to try to live together in har$ony.