Monday 29 April 2013

The Preposition: phrasal verbs and set expressions (noun + preposition, adjective + preposition)


NOUN + PREPOSITION

 Noun+ for ...

 a demand / a need FOR ...
The company closed down because there wasn't enough demand for its product.
There's no excuse for behaviour like that. There's no need for it.
a reason FOR .. .
The train was late, but nobody knew the reason for the delay. (not reason of)

Noun+ of ...
an advantage / a disadvantage OF ...
The advantage of Living alone is that you can do what you like.
but
there is an advantage in (or to) doing something
There are many advantages in living alone. or ... many advantages to living alone.
a cause OF ...
The cause of the explosion is unknown.
a picture / a photo / a photograph / a map / a plan / a drawing (etc.) OF .. .
Rachel showed me some pictures of her family.
I had a map of the town, so I was able to find my way around.

Noun+ in ...
an increase / a decrease / a rise / a fall IN (prices etc.)
There has been an increase in the number of road accidents recently.
Last year was a bad one for the company. There was a big fall in sales.

Noun+ to ...
damage TO ...
The accident was my fault, so I had to pay for the damage to the other car.
an invitation TO .. . (a party I a wedding etc.)
Did you get an invitation to the party?
a solution TO (a problem) / a key TO (a door) / an answer TO (a question) / a reply TO
(a letter) I a reaction TO ...
I hope we find a solution to the problem. (not a solution of the problem)
I was surprised at her reaction to my suggestion.
an attitude TO .. . or an attitude TOWARDS ...
His attitude to his job is very negative. or His attitude towards his job ...

Noun+ with ... / between ...
a relationship / a connection / contact WITH ...
.... Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
The police want to question a man in connection with the robbery.
but
a relationship I a connection I contact I a difference BETWEEN two t hings or people
The police believe that there is no connection between the two crimes.
There are some differences between British and American English.

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION
lt was nice of you to ...
nice / kind / good / generous / polite / stupid / silly etc. OF somebody (to do something)
Thank you. lt was very kind of you to help me.
lt is stupid of me to go out without a coat in such cold weather.
but
(be) nice I kind I good I generous I polite I rude I friendly I cruel etc. TO somebody
They have always been very nice to me. (not with me)
Why were you so unfriendly to Lucy?

Adjective+ about / with
angry / annoyed / funous / upset ABOUT something/ WITH smb FOR doing smth
Are you annoyed with me for being late?
Lisa is upset about not being invited to the party.
excited / worried / nervous / happy etc. ABOUT a situation 
Are you nervous about the exam?
pleased / satisfied / happy / delighted / disappointed WITH something you receive, or the result of something
They were delighted with the present I gave them.
Were you happy with your exam results?

Adjective+ at / by / with / of
surprised / shocked / amazed / astonished / upset AT or BY something 
Everybody was surprised at (or by) the news.
I hope you weren't shocked by (or at) what I said.
impressed WITH or BY somebody/something
I'm very impressed with (or by) her English. lt's very good.
fed up / bored WITH something
I don't enjoy my job any more. I'm fed up with it. I'm bored with it.
tired / sick OF something
Come on, let's go! I'm tired of waiting. I I'm sick of waiting.
Sorry about / for
sorry ABOUT a situation or something that happened
I'm sorry about the mess. I'll dear it up lat er.
Sorry about last night. (=Sorry about something that happened last night)
sorry FOR or ABOUT something you did
Alex is very sorry for what he said. (or sorry about what he said)
I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday. (or sorry about shouting)
You can also say 'I'm sorry I (did something)':
I'm sorry I shouted at you yesterday.
feel / be sorry FOR somebody who is in a bad situation.
I feel sorry for Matt. He's had a lot of bad luck. (not I feel sorry about Matt)


Adjective+ of (1)
afraid / frightened / terrified / scared OF . ..
'Are you afraid of spiders?' 'Yes, I'm terrified of them.'
fond / proud / ashamed / jealous / envious OF .. .
' Why are you always so jealous of other people?
suspicious / critical / tolerant OF . ..
He didn't trust me. He was suspicious of my motives.

Adjective+ of (2)
aware / conscious OF ...
'Did you know he was married?' 'No, I wasn't aware of that.'
capable / incapable OF ...
I'm sure you are capable of passing the examination.
full / short OF ...
Amy is a very active person. She's always fuLL of energy.
I'm short of money. Can you lend me some?
typical OF ...
He's late again. it's typical of him to keep everybody waiting.
certain / sure OF or ABOUT ...
I think she's arriving this evening, but I'm not sure of that. or ... not sure about that.

Adjective+ at / to / from / in / on / with / for
good / bad / brilliant / better / hopeless etc. AT ...
I'm not very good at repairing things. (not good in repairing things)
married / engaged TO ...
Louise is married to an American. (not married with)
but Louise is married with three children. (=she is married and has three ch ildren)
similar TO ...
Your writing is similar to mine.
different FROM or different TO ...
The film was different from what I'd expected. or ... different to what I'd expected.
interested IN ...
Are you interested in art?
keen ON ...
We stayed at home because Chris wasn't very keen on going out.
dependent ON ... (but independent OF .. . )
I don't want to be dependent on anybody.
crowded WITH (people etc.)
The streets were crowded with tourists. (but ... full of tourists)
famous FOR ...
The Italian city of Florence is famous for its art treasures.
responsible FOR . ..
Who was responsible for all that noise last night?




Excersices

Elementary

 Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 1
Gap-fill exercise
Ex 2, 3
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 3
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 4
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 5
Match the halves of the sentences
Ex. 6
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 7


 Intermediate
Choose the correct answer
Ex 1
Choose the correct answer
Ex 2
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 3
Match the lines
Ex. 4
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 5
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 6
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 7


 Advanced

Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 1
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 2
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 3, 4
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 5
Choose the correct answer
Ex. 6
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 7
Gap-fill exercise
Ex. 8


Some more exercises (advanced)

Fill in the right preposition into the gaps
Ex. 1
Fill in the right preposition into the gaps
Ex. 2
Fill in the right preposition into the gaps
Ex. 3
The prepositions in these sentences are wrong - find them and correct them
Ex. 4
Prepositional Phrases - Quiz
Ex. 5
Prepositional Phrases - Quiz
Ex. 6
Prepositional Phrases - Quiz
Ex. 7
Prepositional Phrases - Quiz
Ex. 8
Prepositional Phrases - Quiz
Ex. 9


TEST

Keys

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Monday 22 April 2013

The Preposition: meaning, classification and use.


Prepositions of Time

Elementary Level:  

We use:

at = a PRECISE TIME
in = MONTHS, YEARS, CENTURIES and LONG PERIODS
on = DAYS and DATES 

Examples: 

I have a meeting at 9am.
The shop closes at midnight.
Jane went home at lunchtime.
In England, it often snows in December.
Do you think we will go to Jupiter in the future?
There should be a lot of progress in the next century.
Do you work on Mondays?
Her birthday is on 20 November.
Where will you be on New Year's Day?

Intermediate Level:

We use: 

in = in months, year, seasons, part of the day, duration.
at = part of the dat, time of day, celebrations, fixed phrases.
on = days of the week, daye, special holidays, a special part of a day.
after = later than smth.
ago = how far smth. happened in the past.
before = earlier than smth.
between = time that separates two points.
by  = not later that a special time.
during = through the whole of a period of time.
for = period of time.
from...to = two points of a period.
from... = two points of a period.
till/until = two points of a period.
past = time of the day.
since = points of time.
till/until = no later than a special time.
to = time of the day.
up to = not more than a special time.
within = during a period of time.

Examples: 

In July, in September.
In 1985, in 1999.
In summer, in the summer of 69.
In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening.
In a minute, in two weeks.
At night, at 6 o'clock, at midnight.
At Christmas, at Easter
On Sunday, on Friday.
On the 25th of December.
On Good Friday, on Easter Sunday, on my birthday.
On the moring of September the 11th.
After school
6 years ago.
Before Christmas.
Between Monday and Friday.
By Thursday.
For three weeks.
From Monday to Wednesday. 
23 minutes past 6 (6:23)
Since Monday.
Till tomorrow. Until tomorrow.
23 minutes to 6 (5:37).
Up to 6 hours a day.
Within a day.

 Advanced Level:
We use:

AS FROM / AS OF = unknown duration from a given time
BETWEEN = from one specific time to another
DURATION = A. period, or length, of time B. event within a certain period
FOR = duration, or a given length of time
FROM... TILL = duration between two given points
IN = specified duration
SINCE = duration from a given time until the present
THROUGHOUT = from the beginning to the end
TILL = duration to a given point
UNTIL = same as till
UP TO = same as till
WITHIN = specified duration
Examples: 
The new tax law will be in force as from 31 January.
As of today, I'm on a diet.
I often go for a coffee between my morning and afternoon classes.
The weather was horrible during our holiday; it rained everyday.
He twisted his ankle during the game and walks with crutches now.
He taught English for 25 years before he retired.
From the time he wakes up till the time he goes to bed he's on the move.
Wait a minute, will you? I’ll be back in just a few minutes.
That bakery has been in business since 1947.
Throughout his life, Gandhi advocated peaceful resistance.
She lived her till 1985, then she moved to Chicago.
Until the day he died, the prisoner insisted he was innocent.
Up to now, I've visited four shoe stores looking for new shoes.
The train will arrive within the next few minutes.

Prepositions of place.


Elementary level:
We use:


At/on = We use at for a point: We use on for a surface.
*At =  1. We say that someone is at an event.  2. We say at with buildings when we say where the event (film, concert,...). 3. We say at someone's house. 4. We say at for a place which is a part of our journey:
In = We use in for an enclosed space. 1. We say in when we talk about a building itself. 2. We usually say in with towns and villages.
On = 1. We use on with small islands. 2. We say that a place is on the coast / on a river / on a road.
Note expressions:
AT 
at home - at work - at school - at university - at college - at the station - at an airport - at the seaside - at sea (on a voyage) - at reception - at the corner of a street - at the back / front of a building / cinema / group of people, etc. - arrive at with other places or events
IN 
in the newspaper - in bed - in hospital - in prison - in the street - in the sky - in an armchair (sit) - in a photograph - in a picture - in a mirror - in the corner of a room - in the back / front of a car - arrive in a country or town
ON 
on a farm - on the left - on the right - on the ground floor - on the first, second,... floor - on the way - on the chair (sit) - on the radio - on television - on a horse - on the corner of a street - on the back / front of a letter / piece of paper etc.

Examples:

At the window - at the entrance - at the door on the wall - on the ceiling - on the floor - on a page. 
At the end of the street - at the station - at the top on a cover.
Bill is waiting for you at the bus stop. 
Have you seen the notice on the notice board?
In the garden - in the house - in London - in the water. 
In her bag - in a row - in a town. 
There is nobody in the room. She lives in a small village. 
She spent her holiday on a small island. 
London is on the river Thames.
Portsmouth is on the south coast of England.
The rooms of Tom's house are small. His parents live in York.

Intermediate level:


We use:


To = We say go / come / travel / fly / walk / return / drive / have been etc. to a place or event.
Into = We say go into / come into etc. = enter a room / building etc.
By = We say by to say how we travel.
But = we say on foot, we cannot use by if you say my car / the train / a taxi.

                                                                            Examples: 
Last year we flew to London. We went to work at seven. He opened the door and went into the room.
We went to Paris by plane. I usually go to work by bike / by car / by underground / by bus.
Then use in for taxis and cars. 
Then use on for bike / public transport.

Prepositions of movement.

Elementary level:
We use:


Across = "He threw the ball across the court."
Along = "They drove along the road."
Around = "The bees buzzed around his head."
Back to = "He had to go back to square one."
Down = "He skied down the mountain."
Into = "The man poured the sand into the timer."
Off = "The man ran off the cliff."
Onto (on to) = "The chiropractor jumped onto his back."
Out of = "The money flew out of the window."
Over = "The cow jumped over the moon."
Past = "The wheel span past the winning line."
Round = "The arrow is moving round the ball."
To = "He carried the rubbish to the bin."
Through = "The train came through the tunnel."
Towards = "The meteor was heading towardsthe planet."
Under = "She limboed under the pole."
Up = "They went up the escalator."

Intermediate level:
We use: 

Prepositions are used to show movement to or from a place.
To = We use to to show movement with the aim of a specific destination.
Through = We use through to show movement from one side of an enclosed space to the other. 
Across = We use across to show movement from one side of a surface or line to another.

Examples:

I moved to Germany in 1998.
He's gone to the shops.
The train went through the tunnel.
She swam across the river.

Mind these examples*:

She ran...
-across the road. (from one side to the other)
-along the road. (The length of the road.)
-around the playground.
-away from the policeman.
-back to the shop.
-down the hill.
-into the room.
-off the stage.
-onto (on to) the platform.
-out of the theatre.
-over the bridge. (from one side of an open space to the other)
-past the opening.
-round the track.
-through the tunnel.
-to the door.
-towards the bus stop.
-under the shelter.
-up the hill.
Note* - a lot of sites say that around and round are the same, but there can be a difference, especially in BrE. If someone says "they were running around", it implies the movement is erratic.

Advanced level:
We use:

Prepositions of movement passing through are used like all other prepositions. The list that follows contains definitions and idiomatic uses.
ACROSS = to go from one side to the other (usually on surface).
ALONG = to pass the length of something.
DOWN (UP) = The whole length of something.
PAST = A. to pass from one side to the other (laterally) B. to avoid someone or something (idiomatic).
THROUGH = between the parts of smth.
OVER = Go from one side to the other (similar to across, but usually above).

Set phrases:
Pace up and down a room, a street, a cage, etc. (similar to back and forth)

Examples: 

We took two days to get across Lake Superior.
**BUT** The dog jumped across the small stream.
They went along Fifth Avenue and stopped at Central Park.
She walked [ up / down ] the road to the corner and then went out of site.
A. I saw our cat's shadow go past a window in the darkness.
B. I don't know what her problem is; she walked past me as though I had the plague.
I didn't think Id get the car through that narrow gate.
I flew over Canada on the way to England. 


Exercises:
Prepositions of Time.

Elementary level: 
Intermediate level: 
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2947
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/preposition-exercises.html
Advanced level:

Prepositions of place.

Elementary level:
Intermediate level: 
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/preposition_quiz1.htm
http://english-the-easy-way.com/Prepositions/In_On_At_Place_Quiz.htm
http://www.softschools.com/manage/themes/knowledgetest2

Advanced level:



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Monday 15 April 2013

Participle II: forms, meaning, features, functions in the sentence, use.


Participle II

General Characteristics
Participle II is a non-finite form of the verb with verbal and adjectival features. Participle II stands apart from the other non-finites in that it does not possess their morphological categories. The main meanings of participle II are those of a state as a result of some action or an action itself. One of the most essential characteristics of participle II is that when it is used as part of the sentence, participle II of a transitive verb is passive in meaning, participle II of an intransitive verb is active.

The Formation of Participle II
The past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding the suffix-ed to the infinitive verb without the particle to. Read this suffix as the suffix-ed last indefinitely regular verbs.
to finish end-finished finished
to civilize civilize-civilized civilized
The past participle of irregular verbs is formed mostly by changing the root vowel or all of the verb stem:
to write writing - written written
to see to see - seen seen
to teach teach - taught by trained
The dictionary after the indefinite form of irregular verbs are usually given past form indefinitely, and the past participle.
On the Russian language the past participle is usually translated by a passive participle perfect or imperfect form.

Participles function in a sentence
The past participle can be used in a sentence in the following functions:
a.        Author of the predicate:
Russia's climate is as varied as her scenery.
Климат России такой же разнообразный, как и пейзаж.
b.        Definitions:
The Professor did not exaggerate when he spoke of the widespread Interest excited by His New Psycho-Physiological experiment.
Профессор не преувеличивал, когда говорил о широко распространившемся интересе, вызванном его новым психофизиологическим экспериментом.
c.         Circumstances:
When discussed by the meeting the Appeal to All the Women of the World was adopted by it.
После того, как «Воззвание ко Всем Женщинам Мира» было обсуждено собранием, оно было принято.
d.        In conjunction with the forms of the auxiliary verb to be past participle forms the shape of the passive voice:
The flat of Hercule Poirot was furnished in a modern style.
Квартира Эркюля Пуаро была обставлена в современном стиле.
e.         In conjunction with the forms of the auxiliary verb to have past participle forms of perfectly times:
Europe has twice this century been the scene of a destructive war that has spread to global proportion.
В течение этого столетия Европа дважды была местом разрушительной войны, которая распространилась на весь мир.

New exercises:
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
Exercise 10

Advanced level: 
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
Exercise 10

Test/Answers

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Monday 8 April 2013

Participle I

General Characteristics
The participle is a non-finite form of the verb which has a verbal and an adjectival or an adverbial character.
There are two participles in English — Participle I and Participle II, traditionally called the Present Participle and the Past Participle.
These traditional terms are open to objection on the ground that Participle I does not necessarily refer to the present, just as Participle II need not refer to the past. The difference between them is not a difference in tense, but chiefly a difference in voice.

The Formation of Participle I
Participle I is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the verb; the following spelling rules should be observed:(a) If a verb ends in a mute e, the mute e is dropped before adding the suffix -ing: to give — giving, to close — closing.
(b) If a verb ends in a consonant preceded by a vowel rendering a short stressed sound, the final consonant is doubled before adding the suffix -ing: to run — running, to forget — forgetting, to admit— admitting.

A final l is doubled if it is preceded by a vowel letter rendering a short vowel sound, stressed or unstressed: to expel—expelling, to travel — travelling.(c) The verbs to die, to lie and to tie form Participle I in the following way: dying, lying, tying.

A final у is not changed before adding the suffix -ing: to comply — complying, to deny — denying.

Verbal Characteristics
  

1. Participle I of a transitive verb can take a direct object.Opening the door, he went out on to the terrace. (Galsworthy)
2. Participle I and Participle II can be modified by an adverb.
  Leaving the room hurriedly, he ran out. (Thackeray)
3.  Participle I has tense distinctions; Participle I of transitive verbs has also voice distinctions. In Modern English Participle I has the following forms:
-Active:  writing(Indefinite), have writing( Perfect);
Passive: being written( Indefenite), having been written( Perfect)

New exercises
Exercise 1  (Multiple choice)
Exercise 2 (multiple choice)
Exercise 3  (combining two parts of the sentence by using participle)
Exercise 4  (multiple choice)
Exercise 5 (gap fill)
Exercise 6  (multiple choice)
Exercise 7 (multiple choice)
Exercise 8 (multiple choice)
Exercise 9 (gap fill)
Exercise 10 (multiple choice)

 Advanced level
Exercise 1 (gap fill)
Exercise 2 (gap fill)
Exercises 3 (multiple choice)
Exercise 4 (multiple choice)
Exercise 5 (multiple choice)
Exercises 6  (correct the following sentences)
Exercises 7 (multiple choice)
Exercise 8 (multiple choice)
Exercise 9 (gap fill)
Exercise 10 (multiple choice)


Test
Key
Test's Results

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Monday 1 April 2013

The gerund and the infinitive compared

The gerund and the infinitive have much in common since they both have some nominal and some verbal features. However, in the infinitive the verbal nature is more prominent, whereas in the gerund the nominal one.

The basic difference in their meaning is that the gerund is more general, whereas the infinitive is more specific and more bound to some particular occasion. When they combine with the same verb the difference in their meaning and use should be fully realized.


 With the verbs to like, to hate, to prefer the gerund expresses a more general or a habitual action, the infinitive a specific single action:

I like swimming (I am fond of swimming).                I wouldn’t like to swim in this lake
I hate interrupting people.                                       I hate to interrupt you, but I have to

They prefer staying indoors when the weather is cold.
I’d prefer to stay at home in this cold weather.

With the verbs to begin and to start either form may generally be used, but again the gerund is preferable when the action is more general.

She began singing when a child.   She went over to the piano and began to sing.

No gerund is used:

when the finite verb is in the continuous form.

He is beginning to study French. 

It’s beginning to rain.


with the verbs to understand and to see (meaning to understand).

He began to understand how it was done.

when the subject denotes a thing, not a living being.

The doors began to creak. 

The clock began to strike.

The verb to remember is followed by a gerund when it means a prior action (to recall, to keep in one’s memory some past event), and by an infinitive when it means a simultaneous action (the working of one’s memory).

I remembered posting the letters.                 I remembered to post the letters. = I remembered and posted

(Я помнил, что опустил письмо)       (Я не забыл опустить письмо)


The same refers to the verb to forget.

I shall never forget hearing him sing.           Don’t forget to post the letters! 

(Я никогда не забуду, как он пел)                                                          (Не забудь опустить письма). 

                                                                            I didn’t forget to post the letters. 

                                                                            (Я не забыл опустить письма)

The verb to regret is followed by the gerund to suggest priority, whereas the infinitive suggests a simultaneous action.

I regret not having worked harder at the language as a boy.     I regret to inform you.
(Я сожалею, что не учил, как следует языка в детстве).    (С сожалением сообщаю вам это)

I regret following his advice.                                                      I regret to have to inform you.
(Я сожалею, что последовал его совету)             (Сожалею, что вынужден сообщить вам это)

a) after to stop the gerund is used when it suggests the end of the action denoted by the gerund, whereas the infinitive is used as an adverbial of purpose.

Stop arguing!                                                    I stopped to talk to a friend of mine
(Перестань спорить!)                                    (Я остановилась, чтобы поговорить с другом)


I stopped talking. 

(Я замолчал).

b) The phrasal verb to go on with a gerund suggests the continuation of the action, denoted by the gerund and forms part of a compound verbal predicate; an infinitive points out a new stage in the sequence of actions.

The teacher went on explaining the use of verbals (continued). 
(... продолжал объяснять ...)

The teacher went on to explain the use of the gerund after some verbs. 

(... объяснял одно правило за дру­гим .... т. е. употребление герун­дия после разных глаголов)


The verb to allow is used with a gerund when it is not followed by an indirect object.

They don’t allow smoking here.                                                    They allowed us to smoke. 

(Здесь курить запрещено).                                                       (Они разрешили нам курить).


In the English language there are verbs followed by infinitive (They agreed to come), other verbs followed by gerund (Did you enjoy flying?) and there are also verbs followed by infinitive and gerund (She began to work - She began working).

The verbs followed by infinitive only: 

agree, appear, arrange, ask, choose, decide, demand, encourage, fail, forbid, force, hope, instruct, invite, learn, manage, offer, order, permit, persuade, plan, prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, remind, seem, swear, warn

He decided to study at university. We hoped to find it. Did he seem to like it? I ordered my son to send it.

 2. The expressions and phrasal verbs followed by infinitive: 

be about, do one's best, make up one's mind, set out, turn out
                           
He was about to start. I did my best to learn it. I haven't made up my mind to start yet. It turned out to be your car. We set out to cut the tree.

3. The verbs followed by gerund only: 

admit, consider, delay, dislike, enjoy, escape, excuse,          finish, forgive, imagine, insist, keep, mind, miss, practise, prevent, risk, suggest, understand

She admitted telling him. Did you escape writing the test? I don't want to risk coming late.

Excuse, forgive and prevent are used with three different forms: 

Excuse my being late. Excuse me being late. Excuse me for being late.

4. The expressions and phrasal verbs followed by gerund:

be against, be interested in, can't stand, can't help, care for, give up, look forward to, it's no use/good, it's worth

I can't stand waiting for hours. I can't help laughing. Don't give up studying this chapter. It's no use working so late. Is the film worth seeing?

5. The verbs followed by infinitives and gerunds.
  
A. With the same meaning: 
begin, advise, allow, can't bear, continue, intend, it requires, it needs, it wants, permit, recommend, start

Did you continue driving/to drive? He can't bear smoking/to smoke.

If the verbs advise, allow, permit, recommend are used with the indirect object, they are followed by infinitive. If not, gerund must be used.

They didn't allow us to eat there. They didn't allow eating there.
She recommended John to read this book. She recommended reading this book.

After the expressions it needs/requires/wants gerund is more common than infinitive.

The car needs washing/to be washed. The flower wants watering/to be watered.

B. The verbs that have a different meaning with gerund or infinitive.

Remember

I remember watching the match. It was fantastic. (We use gerund to talk about earlier actions).


I remembered to watch the match. And so I sat down and switched on the TV. (The infinitive is used to talk about following actions).


Try

I tried calling him because I needed to test my new mobile phone. (I made an experiment with my mobile).
I tried to call him because I needed to meet him. (I made an attempt to get in touch with him).

The infinitive is used when we want to describe an activity that follows a previous action and is somehow connected to it.

Mean

I didn't mean to hurt you. I say that I didn't do it on purpose.
We can go to Spain. But it means spending more money. In this sentence we describe the consequences.

Be afraid

She was afraid of getting married. Any marriage is something that frightens her.
She was afraid to marry Bill. She doesn't mind getting married, but the marriage with Bill frightens her.

I'm sorry

I'm sorry for telling you. I apologize for a previuous action.
I'm sorry to tell you that your flight will be delayed. I apologize for something that will happen.

The infinitive with this expression can also mean sorrow.

I'm sorry to hear that your wife is ill.                            

Note
There are a lot of verbs and expressions that are used with gerunds and infinitives. In this chapter we only tried to mention the most frequently used ones.

Elementary level

Exercise1 Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to)

Exercise2 Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses

Exercise3 Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses

Exercise4 Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund)

Intermediate level

 Exercise 1Correct the verb forms. If the form is OK, copy it.

Exercise2 Choose the correct form.

Exercise3 Complete the correct verb forms.

Exercise4 Infinitive or gerund?
  
Exercise5 Put the verb into either the gerund (-ing) or the infinitive (with 'to')

Exercise6 Put in the verbs in brackets in the Gerund or the to-infinitive.

Exercise7 Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund)

Advanced level

Exercise1 Write down expressions that are followed by gerund. Keep the same order as you can see in the list.

Exercise2 Write down expressions that are followed by gerund. Keep the same order as you can see in the list.

Exercise3 Infinitive or Gerund? - Which is correct?

Exercise4 Decide whether to use Infinitive (with/without to) or Gerund

Exercise5 Test

Exercise6 Choose the correct form (infinitive with or without to or gerund).

Exercise7 In each gap, type either the gerund or the infinitive form of the verb in parentheses

Exercise8 Decide whether each verb is followed by gerunds, infinitives or both

Exercise9 Use the cues to make simple past tense sentences, using the correct form of the second verb (gerund or infinitive).
Exercise10

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