GERUND OR INFINITIVE FOR 10°

GERUND  OR  INFINITIVE

After certain verbs we use the -ing form, and after other verbs we use the infinitive. Sometimes we can use either form and there is no change in meaning. Occasionally we can use either form and there is a change in meaning.

So what’s the rule for whether we use the -ing form or the infinitive?

Sorry, there isn’t a rule. You have to learn which verbs go with which pattern.

The verbs followed by  -ing include enjoy, mind, stop and recommend.

I told him you really enjoy cooking.

 Would you mind helping me?

 It didn't stop raining all day yesterday.

 Daisy recommends trying Alfie’s tiramisu.

The negative is verb + not + -ing.

Imagine not having pizza! I eat it all the time.

Verbs usually followed by -ing

stop     finish     imagine     suggest     recommend      avoid      mind      miss      risk      enjoy

I thought you could say: 'I recommend that you see that film'?

Yes, you’re right, you can. But we’re not looking at the more complex patterns with that or an object today.

OK, what about the verbs followed by the infinitive?

These include decide, want, promise, plan and forget.

She decided to go with Elliot instead.

 I wanted to visit Rome.

 She promised to take me there.

 I planned to go to some real Italian restaurants.

 She didn’t forget to phone.

The negative is verb + not + infinitive.

They decided not to make pizza.

Here are more verbs  that are usually followed by the infinitive:

hope     offer     fail     agree     forget     manage     learn     afford     arrange     ask     expect     would like     decide     plan     promise     want     invite

 

What about the verbs that can be followed by either form?

These include   start  ,  begin , continue and bother.

It started raining. or  It started to rain.

 Don’t bother waiting for me.  or  Don’t bother to wait for me.

The verbs like, love and hate can be followed by -ing or the infinitive when talking about repeated actions.

I love reading long novels.   (British English or American English)

I love to read long novels.    (American English)

But when we are talking about situations, we use the -ing form.

Paulo loves living by the beach in Rio.

Do you like working as a waitress?

So, 'I love learning grammar rules' or 'I love to learn grammar rules' are both OK?

Exactly. But there are some more verbs which can be followed by -ing or the infinitive, but the two options have different meanings, for example remember and stop.

I never remember to lock the door, and my mum gets really angry!

      (remember + infinitive = remember something and then do it)

 I never remember locking the door, but when I go back and check I always have.

      (remember + -ing = remember something you did before)

She stopped smoking three years ago.

      (stop + -ing = to not do something any more)

 It was hot, so we stopped to have a drink.   (we stopped walking)

      (stop + infinitive = to not do something in order to do something else)

 

Let’s stop to have a rest now.

OK, later on you can try to remember all the patterns.

 

ACTIVITY ABOUT PHRASAL VERBS

Activity

Select the best option to complete the sentences

                 
1. I'd like to stop smoking but I just can't ______ it up.

   a)         give

   b)        turn
   c)         put
   d)        hurry

2. I'm getting really unfit. I think I should ______ up a sport.

   a)         speak

   b)        take
   c)         put
   d)        hurry

3. I'm fed up hearing you talk all the time. Why don't you just ______ up and listen for once?

   a)         cheer

   b)        move
   c)         put
   d)        shut

4. He's a really irritating person. I don't see how you ______ up with him.

   a)         speak

   b)        move
   c)         put
   d)        hurry

5. If you don't put any oil in the motor when the warning light comes on, it's likely to ______ up.

   a)         send

   b)        seize
   c)         put
   d)        set

6. There's not enough room for all my papers. I'm going to ask maintenance to ______ up some more shelves.

   a)         cheer

   b)        move
   c)         put
   d)        hurry

7. If you ever come to my city you must ______ me up and we'll have dinner together.

 a)         speak

b)        move
c)         put
d)        look

8. Let's ask Andrew and see if he can ______ up with any good ideas.

   a)         come

   b)        set
   c)         put
   d)        turn

9. It was really embarassing. I'd had too much to drink and when we left the bar I was sure I was going to ______ up.

   a)         cheer

  b)        sign
   c)         throw
   d)        hurry

10. It's a difficult market to enter but we intend to ______ up a small subsidiary anyway.

   a)         cheer

   b)        turn
   c)         throw
   d)        set

11. When I saw that this course was available I rushed to ______ up for it.

   a)         cheer

   b)        sign
   c)         gee
   d)        feel

12. That was a complete surprise - a total ______ up for the books.

   a)         speak

   b)        move
   c)         turn
   d)        throw

13. Stop acting so childishly. ______ up.

   a)         cheer

   b)        move
   c)         grow
   d)        hurry

14. I couldn't afford to buy it but my parents ______ up the money for me.

   a)         cheer

  b)        move
   c)         put
   d)        throw

15. He's always making fun of me. I wish he wouldn't ______ me up like that.

   a)         send

  b)        move
   c)         gee
   d)        hurry

16. I knew he would get promoted. It's good to see him ______ up the ladder.

   a)         speak

   b)        move
   c)         gee
   d)        throw

17. They badly need motivating. Perhaps you can ______ them up?

   a)         cheer

   b)        grow
   c)         gee
   d)        throw

18. They're so miserable. Perhaps you can ______ them up?

   a)         cheer

   b)        grow
   c)         put
   d)        give

19. What's taking them so long? Perhaps you can ______ them up?

   a)         speak

   b)        grow
   c)         give
   d)        hurry

20. We can't hear you at the back. Perhaps you could ______ up a bit?

   a)         speak

   b)        seize
   c)         put
   d)        throw

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 10º

ACTIVITY

Read the text and answer the questions.

Why People Get Tattoos

Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by Tony's bravery and his tattoo that he decided to get one too. Getting a tattoo because your friends and peers have them is just one of the reasons why a lot of young people in North America get tattoos. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.

The desire to be part of a group, to be accepted by one's friends or peers, can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. For example, in one gang all the members may wear green army jackets and have large 'Xs' tattooed on their arms. It is not only gangs that have this type of special 'uniform'. Young people often belong to a certain group of friends. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Some wear only black clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person's friends are all doing something, such as getting a tattoo, that person is more likely to do the same thing, and get a tattoo too.

The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos. Tattoos can be seen on people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars. Famous sports heroes with tattoos are shown in magazines. Fashion models are often seen in magazines and on TV wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colourful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.

It is not always the influence of other people or the media that results in a person getting a tattoo. Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings -- in other words, to show their individuality. A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. Lovers may tattoo each others' names over their hearts. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.

As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform. It can be a sign of fashion. It can be an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.

1. According to the essay, what are the three most common reasons why a person gets a tattoo?

a. pressure from their peers

b. it is healthy

c. influence from the media

d. a way of personal expression

2. According to the essay, which of the following are common ways that people show they belong to a certain group?

a. wearing a tattoo

b. wearing special clothes

c. wearing a special uniform

d. wearing a special kind of socks

3. According to the essay, which of the following are ways that the media uses tattoos in advertising?

a. to sell cars

b. by using fashion models

c. by using sports stars

d. by using endangered species

4. According to the essay, media images are linked to _____________. Choose all that apply.

a. wealth

b. status

c. success

d. debt

5. According to the essay, which of the following are possible artistic reasons for getting tattoos?

a. to show membership in a band

b. to show a lover's name

c. to show pictures of animals that may become extinct

d. to show which language you speak

6. Jack was stabbed for thirty minutes with a needle because _____________.

a. he was getting a tattoo

b. he was getting acupuncture

c. he is was getting his ears pierced

d. he was getting a nose ring

7. According to the essay, some people get tattoos because ____________.

a. they think it is fashionable

b. they like pain

c. they think it will wash off in the bath

d. they are religious

8. According to the essay, Jack thinks people who get tattoos are ____________.

a. brave

b. cowardly

c. old fashioned

d. nitwits

9. The reason Jack wanted to get a tattoo was ____________.

a. the influence of friends

b. the influence of the media

c. a desire to express himself

d. all of the above

READING COMPREHENSION FOR 10º

ACTIVITY

Read the texts and answer the questions.

SELLING HUMAN EGGS

A twenty-five-year-old English woman has advertised 1) __________ own eggs for sale 2) __________the internet to pay off her credit card debt. She 3) __________ that she has three jobs - a day job and two part-time jobs in pubs 4) __________ the evening, but thinks selling her eggs would be a better way to 5) __________ out her money problems.

Last year, the law changed and children 6) __________ from donated eggs can be told 7) __________their biological mother is. Since then, fewer women have been donating eggs. Critics 8) __________that it is dangerous to donate eggs and also say that people should do it for free and not for money. Despite the critics, it is likely that paying for eggs will become more common in the future.

 1. a. the            b. her          c. hers

2. a. in               b. at             c. on

3. a. tells           b. says        c. speaks

4. a. in              b. on             c. at

5. a. sorting      b. sorted      c. sort

6. a. born          b. be born    c. are borned

7. a. that            b. whom       c. who

8. a. saying       b. say           c. says

KENYAN FISH

Researchers in Kenya have found 1) __________ a fish could be an effective weapon in the fight to reduce the spread of malaria. A fish that is 2) __________ eaten was introduced to several places 3) __________ the west of the country.  The fish eats mosquito larvae,4) __________ are young mosquitoes before they have wings.

People have known 5) __________ a long time that this fish eats mosquitoes, but this was 6) __________ first time that researchers had looked at how the fish could be used 7) __________ control malaria, which 8) __________ 300 million people ill and causes a million deaths worldwide every year.

Questions

1. a. which                b. who                       c. that

2. a. normal              b. normality              c. normally

3. a. on                      b. in                           c. at

4. a. which                b. where                    c. that

5. a. since                 b. for                         c. from

6. a. at                        b. his                         c. the

7. a. for                      b. to                           c. under