Verb complementation (2)
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This document discusses the use of gerunds and infinitives after verbs and expressions in English. It provides examples of when to use gerunds or infinitives after certain verbs like "like" verbs, "finish", and "start". It also discusses any differences in meaning between using a gerund or infinitive, such as with the verbs "try", "remember", and "need". Gerunds are generally used after prepositions and expressions involving "to", while infinitives are used after adjectives, other verbs/nouns, and questions words. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used after some verbs.
Verb complementation (2)
- 1. VERB COMPLEMENTATION (2) INFINITIVES AND GERUNDS
- 2. GERUNDS (1) • When a verb is the subject of a sentence: Ex.: Smoking is bad for you. • After prepositions: Ex.: I’m tired of studying • After go+many activities and sports: go swimming, go shopping: Ex.: Did you go shopping last weekend? • After some verbs: 1) “Like” verbs: like, dislike, hate, enjoy, love, mind, fancy. Ex.: I love coming to class. 2) Other verbs: finish, practise, spend, suggest, stop, risk, miss, consider, imagine, avoid, delay, postpone, involve , deny Ex.: I suggest going to London in summer.
- 3. GERUNDS • After some expressions: • It’s no use, there’s no point, it’s not worth, can’t help, can’t stand Ex.: It’s no use studying the day before the exam. It’s worth coming to class. • After some expressions with “to”, as it’s a preposition: Get used to, be used to, look forward to Ex.: I can’t get used to getting up so early.
- 4. INFINITIVES (1) • After adjectives (in impersonal sentences, FOR+person or pronoun to refer to the subject of the infinitive) Ex.: It’s important (for me) to study every day. • For reason or purpose: Ex.: I study English to get a better job. • Normally after another verb or a noun from one of these verbs: Ex.: I want to be rich/A plan to be rich • After would like, would love, would hate: • Ex.: I’d like to be rich.
- 5. INFINITIVES (2) • After expressions with quantifiers (too much, enough, etc.) and something, anybody, anywhere, etc.: Ex.: There is too much to do/nothing to do • After questions words (except why): Ex.: I don’t know where to go now. • After superlatives and ordinal numbers: Ex.: Who was the first person to come to class today?
- 6. INFINITIVES OR GERUNDS • After some verbs: • Begin, start, intend, continue, bother Ex.: I started working/to work last week. • BUT infinitive after -ing: Ex.: It’s starting to rain
- 7. COMPLEX GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES • PASSIVE: for actions done to the subject Ex.: The house needs to be redecorated I love being told how marvellous I am. • PERFECT: 1) to emphasize a finished or past action: Ex.: It’s great to have finished all our exams. • BUT sometimes there’s no difference: Ex.: He denied stealing the money/He denied having stolen the money. 2) after would like, would love, etc. For a finished action: Ex.: I’d like to have travelled round the world. • CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE: for an event in progress: Ex.: I’d love to be sleeping right now.
- 8. DIFFERENCES IN MEANING (1) • TRY: 1)+infinitive: make an effort Ex.: I’ll try to do the homework. 2)+gerund: do it as a test or experiment Ex.: The photocopier doesn’t work. Try pressing the red button. • REMEMBER/FORGET/REGRET 1)+infinitive: for an action you’ll do later: first you remember or forget, then you do the action: Ex.: Remember to phone him/Don’t forget to phone it. 2)+gerund: for an action you did in the past: first you did the action, now you remember it (or you forgot about it). Ex.: I don’t remember talking to him last night. I was really drunk!
- 9. DIFFERENCES IN MEANING (2) • NEED: 1) +infinitive: regular active meaning: Ex.: I need to study a lot for my exam. 2) +gerund: passive meaning: Ex.: My house needs redecorating.