Gerund, Infinitive and Participle
These are non-finite verb forms.
1. Verb + gerund (-ing)
enjoy, avoid, finish, mind, deny, admit, stop (the activity), practise, can't help, it is no use, worth.
2. Preposition + gerund
fond of, good at, insist on, thank you for, interested in. Here "to" is a preposition: look forward to meeting, be used to working, object to working, committed to helping.
3. Verb + to-infinitive
want, decide, promise, agree, refuse, hope, fail, seem, plan, wish. Also: purpose (went to buy), too … to, the first/last/only … to, how/what/where to.
4. Bare infinitive (no "to")
- make / let + object: made me laugh, let him go. (Passive: He was made to leave.)
- see, hear, watch + object: saw him cross (or crossing).
- modals, had better, would rather, do nothing but.
5. Meaning changes
| Verb | + -ing | + to-infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| stop | stop smoking = quit the activity | stop to drink = pause in order to drink |
| remember | remember meeting = recall the past | remember to switch off = not forget a duty |
| forget | forget meeting = forget a past event | forget to post = fail to do |
6. Participles
- Present participle (-ing) = active/continuing: a crying child, a rolling stone.
- Past participle (-ed/V3) = passive/completed: a broken glass, fallen leaves.
- -ing adjective for the cause (an interesting film); -ed adjective for the person who feels (I was interested).
- Having + V3 = completed before: Having locked the door, he went out.
- have/get something done: had his car repaired, got my hair cut.
7. Dangling participle (common error)
The participle must refer to the subject of the main clause. Wrong: Walking along the road, a snake bit him. Right: While he was walking along the road, a snake bit him. Wrong: Being a rainy day, we stayed home. Right: It being a rainy day, we stayed home.
8. Gerund vs participle
Gerund = works as a noun (Swimming is good exercise). Participle = works as an adjective or describes an action (The boy swimming in the pool).