Gerund or Infinitive with no change in meaning
| Begin hate regret can’t stand like start continue dread love try prefer |
Hestarted to studyafter dinner.ORHestarted studyingafter dinner.
Verb + preposition
Adjective + preposition + V ing
Noun + preposition
Verb + preposition
| Approve of be better off count on depend on give up insist on keep on put off Rely on succeed in think about think of worry about |
Pay attention!
| Object to look forward to confess to |
Examples
John gave up smoking because of his doctor’s advice.
Mary insisted on taking the bus instead of the plane.
Fred confessed to stealing the jewels.
We are not looking forward to going back to school.
Henry is thinking of going to France in August.
You would be better off leaving now instead of tomorrow.
Adjectives + preposition
| Accustomed to afraid of capable of fond of intent on interested in successful in tired of |
Examples
Mitch is afraid of getting married now.
We are accustomed to sleeping late on weekends.
Jean is not capable of understanding the predicament.
Alvaro is intent on finishing school next year.
Craig is fond of dancing.
We are interested in seeing this film.
Nouns + preposition
| Choice of excuse for intention of method for (method of) possibility of reason for |
George has no excuse for dropping out of school.
There is a possibility of acquiring this property at a good price.
There is no reason for leaving this early.
Connie has developed a method for evaluating this problem.
Adjectives + infinitive
| Anxious boring dangerous hard eager easy good strange pleased prepared ready able usual common difficult |
Examples
Mohammad is eager to see his family.
It is dangerous to drive in this weather.
We are ready to leave now.
It is difficult to pass this test.
It is uncommon to find such good crops in this section of the country.
Ritsuko was pleased to be admitted to the college.
Gerund or Infinitive with change in meaning
| Stop remember forget |
John stopped studying. = John is not going to study anymore.
John stopped to study. = John stopped doing something in order to study.
Pronouns before the Gerund or Infinitive
  Subject + verb + complement form pronoun + infinitive noun |
Examples
Joe asked Mary to call him when she woke up.
We orded him to appear in court.
I urge you to reconsider the decision.
They were trying to persuade him to change his mind.
  Possessive form of noun Subject + verb + possessive pronoun + Ving |
Examples
We understand your not being able to stay longer.
He regrets her leaving.
We are looking forward to their coming next year.
Ex.1 Choose the correct form of the verb. Gerund or Infinitive?
1. The teacher decided (accepting/to accept) the paper.
2. They appreciate (to have/having) this information.
3. His father does not approve of his (going/to go) to Europe.
4. We found it very difficult (reaching/to reach) a decision.
5. Donna is interested in (to open/opening) a bar.
6. George has no intention of (leaving/to leave) the city now.
7. We are eager (to return/returning) to school in the fall.
8. You would be better off (to buy/buying) this car.
9. She refused (to accept/ accepting) the gift.
10. Mary regrets (to be/being) the one to have to tell him.