Prepositional Object

This function is performed only by the gerund after certain verbs and adjectives (See 9).

a) After some verbs and adjectives we can use either a preposition+gerund or an infinitive, with no difference in meaning.

I’m proud of having won / to have won.

The people voted for joining/to join the European Community.

Some of these verbs and adjectives are:

aim at doing / to do ready for

amazed at satisfied with

angry at thankful for

annoyed at surprised at

content with vote for

grateful for plan on

pay for long for

hesitate about

b) But sometimes the infinitive has a different meaning from the preposition + gerund.

1) Agree with + gerund means to think that something is right, agree + infinitive means to make a decision.

We all agreed to meet the next day.

I don’t agree with cutting down trees.

2) We use tell about and remind of to report statements and thoughts.

I told you about losing my credit card, didn’t I?

But tell/remind smb to do smth reports an order/reminder.

I told you to keep that card safe.

Why didn’t you remind me to bring a compass?

3) Keen on/interested in usually means a general interest, but keen / interested + infinitive means a wish to do a particular thing.

Simon is keen on/interested in cycling.

Simon is keen to go on this trip.

Simon is interested to hear about your cycle tour.

4) afraid + infinitive can only express unwillingness caused by fear. Afraid of + gerund can express fear about what might happen.

Many old people are afraid to cross the road in case they have an accident.

Many old people are afraid of having an accident when they cross the road.

5) anxious+infifnitive means “wanting to do”; anxious about + gerund means “worried about”.

I’m anxious to get this business settled quickly.

Rodney was anxious about making a mistake.

6) ashamed of + gerund expresses shame about smth.; ashamed + infinitive expresses unwillingness caused by shame.

I feel rather ashamed of having told Lucy a lie.

Roy is ashamed to admit his fault.

7) sorry about/for + gerund or sorry to have done expresses an apology for an earlier action. Sorry to do expresses an apology for a present action.

I’m sorry for causing / to have caused all that trouble yesterday.

Sorry to disturb you, but can I have a word?

Sorry to do also expresses regret about what we say or hear.

I’ sorry to have to say this, but your work is far from satisfactory.

8) Certain/sure of is used to refer to the feeling of the person one is talking about.

You seem very sure of passing the exam.

Certain/sure +infinitive refers to the speaker’s/writer’s own feelings.

The repairs are sure to cost more than you think.

c) To can be a particle or a preposition.

I hope to see you soon. (to-infinitive)

I look forward to seeing you soon. (prep. +gerund)

We use a gerund, but not an infinitive, with the verbs admit to, confess to, face up to, look forward to, object to, resort to, take to,; the adjectives opposed to, resined to, etc.; the preposition in addition to.

Used to + infinitive expresses a past habit or state.

I used to come here when I was a child. (at one period I came here regularly but then I stopped).

I used to have a bicycle, but I sold it.

Be used to + gerund means “accustomed to”.

We are used to living in the country now.

Attribute

The infinitive is used to modify indefinite and negative pronouns, ordinal numerals, class nouns, the adjectives last and next. The infinitive expresses necessity or possibility.

In this function, the infinitive is also used after abstract nouns:

ability demand plan

agreement desire preparation

ambition determination promise

anxiety eagerness proposal

arrangement effort refusal

choice failure reluctance

decision need request

offer scheme willingness

wish

There will be an opportunity to inspect the plans.

Our decision to oppose his scheme was the right one.

But some abstract nouns are modified by a preposition + gerund, not an infinitive. (see 9)

There’s no hope of getting there in time.

I hate the idea of getting old.

After some nouns we can use either a gerund or an infinitive with no or little difference in meaning: chance, opportunity, way, attempt, intention.

We have a chance of making/to make a profit.

After indefinite pronouns for+gerund can be used to explain the purpose of an object or material.

I need something for killing flies.

This pattern is used mostly to talk in general about types of objects and material. The infinitive is normally used after the noun or pronoun to talk about an individual’s purpose in using a particular object.

I must find something to kill that fly.

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