UNIT 39: Infinitive and gerund

 (là dạng động từ thêm -ing được dùng như danh từ)

 

I.  THE INFINITIVE

The infinitive is the basic form of a verb (động từ nguyên thể là dạng cơ bản của động từ): to go, to do, watch, to see...

In English, there’s the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to") and the to-infinitive (infinitive with "to"). (trong tiếng Anh, có động từ nguyên thể không có “to” và động từ nguyên thể có “to”)

1. To-infinitive

Use a to-infinitive after the following words or phrases (dùng động từ nguyên thể có “to” sau những từ hoặc cụm từ sau)

• agree, arrange, choose, decide, expect, hope, learn, offer, plan, promise, refuse, seem, study, try, want, would like/love.

Examples:

• Sorry, I chose to stay at home tonight.
• I’m learning hard to get good test results.
• Sam promised to wash my motorbike tomorrow.
• Mandy wants to become a lawyer.
• They would like to join your party.

-  some modal verbs

be able to, be allowed to, have to, be supposed to

Examples:

• I have to learn for my exams now.
• My brother isn’t able to concentrate on his homework.

-  verb+object

advise sb., allow sb., ask sb., cause sth., encourage sb, expect sth.., force sb., help sb., invite sb., remind sb., teach sb., tell sth., warn sb, want sth

Examples:

• The teacher allowed the class to leave earlier.
• Can I invite you to drink tea with me?
• She wants him to do what she says..

-  would like/love/hate/prefer sb./sth.

Examples:

• They would prefer to stay here.
• I would like some tea, please.
• He hates to see Gina with her new boyfriend.

-  verbs of thinking, speaking and assuming+object+to be

believe, consider, declare, imagine, know, suppose...

Examples:

• I believe this statement to be untrue.
• My girlfriend declares our relationship to be over.
• Let’s imagine the world to be in peace and harmony.

-  adjective (+for+noun/pronoun)

Examples:

• The problem is easy to solve.
• It was an easy problem to solve.
• The problem was easy enough for the class to solve.
• This question is not too difficult for us to answer.

-    noun (+for+noun/pronoun)

Examples:

• It’s time to go.
• There is a bowl of rice for you to eat on the table.
• She brought a cake for Harry to eat.
• noun/somebody/anybody/something/anything/nobody/nothing... (+for+noun/pronoun) (to replace a relative clause)

Examples:

• We’ve got some work for the volunteers to do.(...that they must do.)
• Is he a man to rely on? (...who we can rely on?)
• There is nothing for her to do. (...that she can do.)
• Sarah is somebody to have fun with. (...who you can have fun with.)

-  the first/the last/the next/the only one (to replace a relative clause)

Examples:

• The captain was the last (person) to leave the ship. (...who left the ship.)
• Neil Armstrong was the first (one) to walk on the moon. (...who walked on the moon)
• I’m the only (one) to kiss my girlfriend.

 

-  Question words and “whether” (instead of relative clause)

Examples:

• We don’t know who to ask. (...who we could/should ask)
• Can you tell me how to get to the museum please? (...how I can get to the museum?)
• I wonder whether to leave or to go. (...whether I should leave or go.)

-  to-infinitive to indicate the purpose of an action

Example: I left very early to catch the first train.

Use also: I left very early in order to catch the first train.

• Special features (một số những điểm đặc biệt):

-  For avoiding repetitions, "to” sometimes stands alone.

Examples:

• Would you like to come to my party?-Yes I’d like to.
• They asked him to join, but he didn’t want to.

2.  Bare infinitive

Use the bare infinitive (without "to") with the following words or phrases:

-    auxiliary/modal verbs

Example:

• Harry can drive a car.
• These students should practise speaking English.
• Tim’s girlfriend doesn’t like football.

-    phrase+bare infinitive

• had better: You had better clean up your room.
• would rather: Susan would rather study for her exam tomorrow.
• would sooner: I would sooner read a book than watch this film.
• rather than: We decided to eat at home rather than spend money in a restaurant.
• why not: Why not ask your neighbour for help?
• why should we: Why should we go by car?
• why should we not: Why should we not go by car?

-  Let/make + object+bare infinitive

• let: Sandy let her child go out alone.
• let's: Let's go for a walk through the park.
• make: She made Peggy and Samantha clean the room

-   After verbs of perception + object

feel, hear,listen to, notice, see, smell, watch...

Examples:

• I heard Peter sing a song until he stopped.
• Mandy noticed the boy climbing the tree until the top.
• He watched Anna drive a car.

II. THE GERUND

A gerund is the ing-form of a verb with the function of a noun. (Gerund là dạng động từ thêm –ing của động từ với chức năng như danh từ)

I’m speaking English. (verb) I’m good at speaking English. (noun)

Readingis fun. Do you like reading. I get a lot of pleasure from reading.

1.  Forms

- driving (present active), being driven (present passive), having driven (perfect passive), having been driven (perfect passive)

Example:

• Simon likes driving his old car. (Simon thích lái chiếc xe cũ của anh ta)
• He also enjoys being driven in his girlfriend’s new Mercedes. (anh ta cũng thích được chở trong chiếc xe Mercedes của bạn gái anh ta)
• He is proud of having driven without an accident for one year. (anh ta tự hào lái xe trong một năm mà không có vụ tai nạn nào)
• But he denies having been driven by his girlfriend for most of that time. (nhưng anh ta phủ nhận được chở trong xe của bạn gái anh ta trong hầu hết những lần như thế)

-  Negative form: "not" before the gerund

    Example:       When you’re drunk, not driving is more secure.

2.  Use a gerund as object after the following verbs (dùng động từ thêm –ing như tân ngữ sau những động từ sau)

• to admit: He admitted having driven too fast.
• to avoid: They avoid going on holiday on Saturdays.
• to carry on/go on: Let’s go on reading this text.
• to consider: Ralph is considering buying a new house.
• to delay: I delayed telling Max the news.
• to deny: She denies reading the book.
• to dislike: We dislike reading poems.
• to enjoy: I enjoy playing chess.
• to finish: They finished working in the garden.
• to give up: Susan gave up playing ice-hockey.
• to imagine: He imagined driving a new car.
• to include: Your responsibility includes taking reservations on the phone.
• to involve: The project will involve growing plants.
• to justify: I cannot justify paying 100 Dollars for this ticket.
• to keep (on): They keep on running.
• to mention: Did Alex ever mention playing baseball?
• to mind: I don't mind sleeping on the couch.
• to miss: They miss playing with their friends.
• to practice: She practised playing hockey.
• to risk: You risk catching a cold.
• to stop/quit: Mary stops singing because her brother enters the room.
• to suggest: She suggested flying to Cairo.

3.  Use a gerund after these special phrases (dùng động từ thêm –ing sau những cụm từ đặc biệt sau)

• to be busy: He is busy reading the paper.
• can't help: He couldn't help falling in love with her.
• it’s hopeless: It’s hopeless trying to convince her.
• how about: How about walking home instead of taking the car?
• it's (no) good: It's no good loving this girl, she will break your hearth.
• it's no use: It's no use talking to this man, he won’t listen to you.
• to spend one's time: They spend their time reading.
• there's no: There's no cheating anymore.
• there's no point: There's no point in complaining further.
• what about: What about going to the zoo?
• worth: The book is worth reading

4.         Determiners+gerund

• the: All the learning makes me tired.
• this: I hate this arguing. Let’s be friends again.
• no: No parking in this area.

5.         Noun+gerund

Examples:

• It’s bad luck loosing your keys in front of your door.
• It wasn’t much fun standing in the rain for 4 hours.
• I had a hard time after loosing my parents through an accident.

6.       Preposition+gerund

After a preposition (single or compound prep.) the following verb is always a gerund and not an infinitive. (here only single prep., see UNIT 40 for phrasal verbs)

Examples:

• After eating lunch he took a short nap.
• Before opening your mouth, you should think about the things you want to say.
• I passed the exam by studying very hard.
• We sat together for more than 1 hour without speaking.

7.       Gerund and Infinitive with no difference in meaning (động từ thêm –ing và động từ nguyên thể không khác nhau về nghĩa)

• to begin: He began talking OR he began to talk.
• to continue: They continue smoking OR they continue to smoke.
• to hate: I hate working on Saturdays OR I hate to work on Saturdays.
• to like: I like swimming OR I like to swim.
• to love: She loves painting OR she loves to paint.
• to prefer: Pat prefers walking home OR Pat prefers to walk home.
• to start: They start singing OR they start to sing.

8.       Gerund and Infinitive with difference in meaning (động từ thêm –ing và động từ nguyên thể khác nhau về nghĩa)

• to forget:

He'll never forget spending so much money on his first computer.

Don't forget to send me postcards when you are on holidays.

• to go on:

Mr. Jones went on talking about his son.

When he finished, he went on to talk about his daughter.

• to remember:

I remember locking the doors when I went out.

Remember to lock the door when you go out.

• to stop:

Stop reading the text.

Stop to read the text.

• to try:

Why don't you try running after the dog?

I tried to run after the dog, but I was too slow.

• to regret:

I regret telling you the truth. You are unreliable.

I regret to tell you that you missed the train.

9.       Say it in a different way

Cherry was happy about getting a mobile phone. (gerund)

Cherry was happy with her mobile phone.

Cherry was happy to get a mobile phone.

Cherry was happy when she got a mobile phone.

The reason for Daniel behaving badly couldn’t be found.

The reason for Daniels bad behaviour...

The reason why Daniel behaved badly...

III.       Exercises

1. What stands after these verbs? a) gerund, b) infinitive+to, or c) both are correct. Choose the best answer.

1. finish
2. like
3. hope
4. feel
5. seem
6. forget
7. start 
8. manage 
9. agree
10. avoid

2.   Put the verbs in brackets in the gerund or the infinitiveTop of Form

a. They promised (sell) the old comics.

a.    He'd like (fly) an air plane.

b.    I enjoy (write) picture postcards.

c.    Do you know what (do) if there's a fire in the shop?

d.    Avoid (make) silly mistakes.

e.    My parents wanted me (be) home at 11 o'clock.

f.     I dream about (build) a big house.

g.    I can't imagine Peter (go) by bike.

h.    He agreed (buy) a new car.

i.     The question is easy (answer).

j.     The man asked me how (get) to the airport.

k.    I look forward to (see) you at the weekend.

l.     Are you thinking of (visit) London?

m.   We decided (run) through the forest.

n.    The teacher expected Sarah (study) hard.

o.    She doesn't mind (work) the night shift.

p.    I learned (ride) the bike at the age of 5.

q.    We are going out to dinner. Would you like (go) with us?

r.     Lana avoids (meet) her boyfriend because something happened between them.

s.     Peter didn’t have any money, so he decided (get) a job.

t.     The teacher reminded the students (do) their homework.

u.    Do you enjoy (play) soccer?

v.     Mrs. Van promised (come)  tomorrow.

w.    My boss expects me (take) this job as soon as possible.

x.    I don’t mind (lend) you some money.

y.     John and Jo were considering (get) married in June.

z.     I forgot (send) you the letter.

3.  Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets

a.    Barry enjoys (go) to the circus.

b.    Nathan doesn’t like (watch) football but he likes (watch) football watches on the TV.

c.    I hate (get up) early in the winter days.

d.    My grandfather loves (talk) about the days when he was young.

e.    After (learn) by heart the new English words, Hoa often writes them into her litter notebook.

f.     My younger brother is very good at (imitate) the voices of the other people.

g.    My mother likes (decorate) the house.

h.    Before (go) to bed, I often read a newspaper.

4.  Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

a.  Where do you want (go)?

b.  What have you decided (do)?

c.  Don’t forget (send) me a postcard when you are on holiday.

d.  You must stop (work) so hard. It is bad for you.

e.  I don’t mind (travel) by train but I prefer (fly).

f.   I hate (get) up early in the morning.

g.  The weather was nice do I suggested (go) for a walk by the river.

h.  Have you finished (clean) the kitchen?