The gerund and the infinitive.

4.7.1. With a number of verbs both the gerund and the infinitive can be used without any change of meaning:

He began to turn over (turning over) the pages of the book.

She continued to look (looking) at him.

I can't bear to be (being) alone.

4.7.2. With some verbs the use of gerund or infinitive changes the meaning of the utterance:

A lot of people are afraid to go out at night. (R.Murphy) (They don't go out intentionally because it is dangerous.)

I don't like dogs, I am afraid of being bitten.. (R.Murphy) (It is possible that I'll be bitten)

I remember to lock the door. (I will lock the door.)

I remember locking the door. (I locked the door.)

We can't go on living like this. (= continue living)

After discussing the economy he went on to talk about foreign policy. (= started to say something new) (R.Murphy)

I propose starting early. (=suggest starting)

I propose to start early. (=intend)

ashamed + infinitive expresses a personal attitude to something which has not yet happened: He is too ashamed to look at us.(R.A.Close)

ashamed + gerund shows an attitude to a past action: He is ashamed of losing (having lost) his temper. (R.A.Close)

hate + infinitive refers to a habit or a course of action that is not liked: I hate to see you cry.

hate + gerund lays emphasis on the activity: She hates flying. (R.A.Close)

The gerund after the verb to stop is part of a compound verbal predicate:

He stopped talking. (Он перестал говорить.)

The infinitive after this verb is an adverbial modifier of purpose:

He stopped to talk with us. (Он остановился, чтобы поговорить с нами.)

4.7.3. Some verbs are used only with the gerund. The most important of them are: admit, avoid, carry on, consider, delay, deny, enjoy, fancy, finish, give up, go on, imagine, keep on, mind, miss, postpone, put off, risk, suggest.

4.7.4. Some verbs are used only with the infinitive: arrange, demand, fail, hope, manage, offer, pretend, promise, refuse, threaten, wish.

Some prepositional verbs and phrases used with the gerund.

4.8.1. accuse of, agree to (on), (dis)approve of, complain of, depend on, insist on, feel like, object to, persist in, rely on, succeed in, suspect of, thank for, think of (about), look forward to, congratulate on (for).

4.8.2. aware of, (in)capable of, fond of, guilty of, indignant at, proud of, pleased at (about) smth, (but: be pleased with smb), surprised at (by), angry with smb for, bad (good) at, clever at, responsible for, sorry for (about).

4.8.3. advantage of, cause for, grounds for, difficulty in, experience in, harm in, amazement at, attempt at, irritation at, fantasy about, objection to.

Exercises

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