Unit 8 - Grammar 4ESO

Gerunds and Infinitives

· We use gerunds as the subject of a sentence.

Studying helps you pass your exams. (Estudiar / El estudiar te ayuda a aprobar los exámenes.)

· We use gerunds after certain verbs (avoid, imagine, regret, keep, finish, mind, etc.) and expressions (feel like, can't stand, it's no use, etc.).

I like playing football.

I don't mind going to the cinema.

· We use gerunds after prepositions

I went to bed, after having a shower.

Are you interested in listening to jazz?

I'm worried about making mistakes.

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.

· We use infinitives after certain verbs (allow, decide, hope, learn, offer, plan, promise, etc).

I decided to go to London.

I forgot to lock the door when I left .

I hope to pass my next exam.

I need to study more.

· We use infinitives after certain adjectives.

We are happy to see you here.

They were sad to hear about his death.

drink (=beber algo)

Sam stopped to drink a cup of coffee because she was thirsty.

drink (=de beber)

Sam stopped drinking coffee because it gave him headaches.

eat

We won't forget to eat fish and chips when we go to London because we heard it's delicious.

eat

We won't forget eating fish and chips when we were in London. It was delicious.

take (=tomar)

Tom didn't remember to take his medicine. Now, he isn't feeling well.

take (=coger)

Tom didn't remember taking his medicine, so he went back home to check.

talk

Jane stopped to talk to their friends.

talk

Jane stopped talking after their argument.

taste (=probar)

Susan remembered to taste the soup before he served it to his friends.

taste (=degustar, disfrutar)

Susan remembered tasting his grandmother's soup when he was a small child.

watch (=ver)

John won't forget to watch the programme.

watch

John will never forget watching her favourite singer on stage when she was 14.