Gerund or infinitive?

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • gerunds

Gerund or infinitive? The verbs that change their meaning (remember, forget, stop, try, regret, go on, mean), the verbs that hardly change, and the positions that decide the form. From a taco truck's first year to an interview with your teacher.

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stop doingstop to doremember to

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: one year on wheelsReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Find the patternsGrammar exercise
  5. 5Gerund or infinitive: the rulesGrammar rule
  6. 6Sort the verbsGrammar exercise
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8Good adviceGrammar exercise
  9. 9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11Interview your teacherSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: the first dayGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: things I rememberDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Have you ever thought about starting your own business? What kind?
  2. What is something you used to do every week but don't do anymore?
  3. What is your earliest memory?

Grammar rule

Gerund or infinitive: the rules

The meaning changes

Verb+ -ing+ to + verb
remember / forgeta memory of the past: I'll never forget swimming with dolphins.a job to do: Remember to charge your phone.
stopnot do it anymore: He stopped watching the news.stop in order to do: He stopped to answer the phone.
tryan experiment, to see if it helps: Try calling her at home.an effort, often difficult: I tried to lift the box, but it was too heavy.
regretsorry about the past: She regrets quitting piano.formal bad news: We regret to announce that the museum is closed today.
go oncontinue: The baby went on crying for an hour.the next step: She went on to win three gold medals.
meaninvolve: A new job means moving to Ohio.intend: I meant to reply, but I forgot.

Little or no change

like, love, hate, prefer, begin, start, continue: I love cooking / I love to cook. (After would like / would love, use to: I'd love to come.)

Positions

As the subject: Cooking relaxes me. · After a preposition: I'm tired of waiting. · After most adjectives: It's hard to say no. · After many verbs + an object (tell, ask, want, advise): My coach asked us to stay late.

After a preposition, use -ing, even when the preposition is to: I'm looking forward to seeing you. (not to see)

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