[I am sorry that this essay is partly in English and partly in Spanish, of course owing to the fact that it is a re-elaboration, at different times, of previous documents in my computer.
Infinitives and gerunds are certainly not always difficult, but this is a complex aspect of English grammar. It is not very hard to basically see what is ‘intermediate’ and what ‘advanced’ here. A good idea is always to concentrate on things that you do not know well, but are not quite unfamiliar to you, and be aware that the best policy is not always to study a whole document – that is, make your study personal: languages are complex and there is always more.]
Choosing between an infinite (with or without to) and a gerund (-ing-form) in English often poses a difficulty for foreigners; of course there are more important and/or basic and/or easy and/or systematic cases and others that are less so. We are going to deal here with some major cases which usually pose problems. For others, like the use of infinitives after nouns, adjectives, indefinite pronouns and interrogative words, just look at these four examples; of course, you can always study aspects not included here in a good book or website.
I have no wish to change.
He was surprised to learn how much he’d spent.
I need someone to do this with.
Did you find out when to pay?
‘Similarly’ to Spanish, it is very common for one verb to be followed directly by another. Usually, the real problem is that choosing between Verb 1 + to-infinitive and Verb 1 + gerund (see points 4 and 7 below) is not clearly predictable at all, so this has to be worked on in every course, usually in a direct way too. Actually, there are not many cases of the second verb being a gerund in Spanish (Va contando siempre cuentos chinos is an example). Typical intermediate and advanced coursebooks include – at least – short lists of verbs followed by the one, the other, and both. Of course, good grammar and usage books certainly include these lists. But really memorising lists is not very practical, although you can always use them (or even better, a good – especially monolingual – dictionary) for reference when writing a composition. In this ‘difficult’ case, the difficulty will actually depend on such factors as your level of English, how common the main verb is, your linguistic intuition (I think, for example, that seeing the gerund as ‘more nominal’ than the infinitive usually helps) and whether it is or is not the same case as in Spanish. In my experience, the mistake is normally using an infinitive when the gerund is required; in this respect, the ‘gerund list’ is more interesting.
Gerunds and infinitives after verbs are also difficult because:
a) There are other many other kinds of subordinate clauses in English, sometimes with a similar meaning (especially that-clauses). You have to say I enjoy playing cards and I hope to see you soon, but We all hoped that he would succeed, and see can be used with many kinds of subordinate clauses: I can see you’re upset / I don’t see why she had to do that / She saw me open her jewel box / She saw me playing with the children / …
b) Again, what has just been stated is similar in Spanish, but of course one verb may have that/que in one language and an infinitive or a gerund in the other. Languages cannot be predicted in this way. There are probably more ‘que’-clauses in Spanish - when there is a subjunctive after que, the typical English equivalent is with an infinitive (points 3b and 5 below).
In what follows, the first cases are some of those predictable cases in which the gerund is used - not after another verb.
[NOTE: For the important, specific use of the to-infinitive and other structures indicating purpose, see “Purpose: for + noun phrase, (in order) to + clause, etc.” in this blog.]
1) Gerund after a preposition
As a gerund is in English the verbal form which behaves like a noun, it is the only right option when a verb follows a preposition. The only problem is that the verbal form acting similarly to a noun in Spanish is the infinitive. This general statement could also be useful for some of the following points. The important thing would be for you to realise that we can use ‘nadar’ (even ‘el nadar’) meaning something like ‘la natación’, and that this is swimming in English. Well, this (which is a bit more complicated) is true for all verbs (except the modals, like can, which only have present and past forms). Some examples:
I’m thinking of going on holiday abroad.
What about seeing them now?
He walked away without looking back.
After drinking three glasses, she felt unwell.
The rule of course also applies to the preposition by; the curious problem here is that this can be used for expressing how something is done, and in this particular case Spanish does make use of the gerund … but without a preposition! So this is a typical students’ mistake … of a different kind. By here is similar to by means of.
We got the job finished by working sixteen hours a day.
‘Dejamos acabada la faena trabajando dieciséis horas al día.’ [‘mediante el trabajar’, so to say]
A less easy case in this point is that to happens to be an English preposition, not only the ‘mark of the infinitive’. So, there are some cases where you need to use the gerund after to. First, look at some typical cases:
I’m not used to driving on the left.
I prefer riding to walking.
Do you object to working on Sundays?
I’m looking forward to seeing you at Christmas.
If you are not sure whether to (before a verb) is a preposition or not, try putting a noun after it. If you can, it is a preposition (and is followed by the –ing-form):
I’m not used to British traffic conditions.
I prefer coffee to tea.
Do you object to Sunday work?
I’m looking forward to Christmas.
In any case, the probability for a gerund to follow to is low, as compared to to + base form!
2) Gerunds and infinitives as the subject of a sentence
In older English, an infinitive subject could easily be put at the beginning of a sentence, like any other subject:
To err is human, to forgive divine.
In modern English, it is much more common to begin the sentence with the ‘preparatory’ subject it, and to put the infinitive later:
It’s easy to make mistakes. (Instead of To make mistakes is easy.)
It was impossible to explain what I meant. (Instead of To explain what I meant was impossible.)
But it is also extremely common to directly use a gerund in this case, particularly when talking about an activity in general:
Selling insurance is a pretty boring job.
But if we are talking about one particular action, the infinitive structure is more usual:
It was difficult to sell insurance in those days.
But it is not really a ‘mistake’ if you use the other option in either case above:
It is a pretty boring job to sell insurance.
Selling insurance in those days was difficult.
Also, the gerund seems to be preferred with a short, simple subject (e.g. only the gerund, with no object), and the anticipatory-it construction + infinitive with longer subjects:
SWIMMING (IS) NOT ALLOWED
It is forbidden to swim in the whole area in winter.
3) Infinitivo sin to (= forma base del verbo)
Aparte de los verbos modales “puros” (can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must) y algunos modales secundarios como needn’t y dare, llevan esta estructura, pero con el objeto del primer verbo antes del infinitivo:
a) Verbos de percepción como see, notice, watch, hear, listen to, feel. Estos verbos también pueden ir seguidos de gerundio, como verás, aunque el significado difiere.
I always see her go to school. ‘Siempre la veo ir a la escuela.’
We heard him speak to the children. ‘ Le oímos hablar con los niños.’
b) Los verbos comunes make y let:
Don’t make me laugh.
‘No me hagas reír.’ / ‘No hagas que me ría.’
My parents let me go out at night.
‘Mis padres me dejan que salga (= me dejan salir) de noche.’
4) Verbo 1 + infinitivo con to
We hope to see you soon.
‘Esperamos verte pronto.’
They seem to have a lot of money.
‘Parecen tener (= Parece que tienen) mucho dinero.’
According to Michael Swan, the following are the most common verbs which are followed directly by the to-infinitive. I have made some ‘subjective’ grouping for you so that ‘some memorisation’ may be easier:
want
intend
mean
expect
hope
wish
……..
ask
beg
offer
promise
swear
propose
choose
decide
determine
…………
agree
consent
………
prepare
arrange
manage
attempt
try
fail
…….
learn
remember
forget
……….
prefer
would like
like
would love
love
hate
……….
begin
start
……..
appear
seem
happen
…………
(Miscellaneous group)
use [Past Simple only]
help
care
regret
bear
dare
hesitate
pretend
neglect
trouble
afford
Some of these verbs can also be followed by a gerund, often with a difference in meaning (see 9 and 10 below); and some can be also used in the construction verb + object + to-infinitive (point 5 below).
5) Verbo 1 + objeto directo + infinitivo con to
El objeto directo (grupo nominal, que puede estar desempeñado por un pronombre, naturalmente) lo es del primer verbo pero funciona como sujeto del infinitivo que le sigue. Esta estructura es básicamente la de let y make, pero con to, y afecta a muchos más verbos. Empecemos con (para los hispanoparlantes) el verbo más importante de este grupo, junto con el tell de ‘influencia’:
‘Quiero ir luego.’ - I want to go later.
‘Quiero que ella vaya luego’ - I want her to go later.
En el primer ejemplo, el sujeto de ir es el mismo que el del primer verbo, así que un infinitivo solo es suficiente, pero en el segundo el sujeto de ir es ella, así que se utiliza una cláusula de que con subjuntivo en español y un objeto ante el infinitivo en inglés, algo que también ocurre a veces en nuestra lengua como puedes comprobar también más abajo.
Así que el primer grupo es el de want y similares:
want
need
(would) like
(would) prefer
wish
hate
expect
intend
mean
Como verás en la restante lista, casi todos son verbos de este grupo son los de “influencia” (el estilo indirecto que procede de un imperativo, los verbos ‘causativos’ o de ‘obligar, forzar’, los coercitivos e ideas más o menos similares:
tell (decir)
advise (aconsejar)
recommend
warn (advertir)
ask (pedir)
request (pedir como favor)
beg (suplicar)
persuade (convencer, persuadir)
invite
order, command, instruct (mandar, ordenar)
get, compel, force, oblige, press [variedad de estilos y matices para indicar una ‘imposición’ a actuar]
encourage (animar a)
tempt (tentar)
allow, permit (permitir)
leave
forbid (prohibir)
cause (provocar)
teach
remind (recordar [a alguien que haga algo, pero no ‘rememorar, evocar’, que es remember o recall, por ejemplo])
He told them to be quiet.
‘Les dijo que se quedaran callados.’
They advise us to be early.
‘Nos aconsejan que no nos retrasemos. /... no retrasarnos.’
They allowed/permitted me to stay there.
‘Me permitieron quedarme (= que me quedara) allí.’
I´ll remind the students to do the paper.
‘Les voy a recordar a los estudiantes que hagan el trabajo.’
I’d like you to come with me. ‘
Me gustaría que vinieses conmigo.’
El “gran ausente” de la lista es suggest: *I suggested her to go home is incorrect. The correct structure (with at least two possible subjunctive forms) is I suggested that she (should) go home.
Help admite dos posibilidades: Please help me (to) find the map.
6) for + objeto + infinitivo con to
Con expresiones impersonales que indican posibilidad, juicio de valor, necesidad, etc. tenemos que + subjuntivo en castellano, pero la construcción inglesa típica es for + objeto + infinitivo con to. (con el típico sujeto “anticipatorio”, vacío semánticamente, it).
‘Es imposible que aprueben.’ - It’s impossible for them to pass.
‘Es difícil que el equipo gane hoy.’ - It’s difficult for the team to win today.
‘Era mejor que nos quedáramos en casa.’ - It was better for us to stay at home.
Ciertos verbos preposicionales también tienen una construcción similar:
We are waiting for him to come. ‘Estamos esperando a que venga.’
It depends on us to decide. ‘Depende de nosotros decidir.’
7) Verbo 1 + gerundio
This is the basic list. In this adaptation, I have split it into three parts: (a) is made up of verbs that typically take the gerund directly, while (b) consists of verbs that typically take an object or a possessive before the gerund, and the verbs in (c) are very common with either structure. Note, therefore, that the lists are not rigid or closed. Subjectively, I have tried to basically enlist the verbs in order of frequency.
a)
go (swimming/shopping/fishing/dancing and many others)
finish
give up
keep (on)
suggest
be worth
be no use
admit
deny
avoid
consider
feel like
can’t help
put off
postpone
delay
miss
practise
contemplate
face
risk
escape
He gave up drinking alcohol.
‘Dejó de beber alcohol.’ / ‘Dejó la bebida.’
That film is worth watching.
‘Esa película es digna de verse.’
The car isn’t worth repairing.(= It isn’t worth repairing the car.)
‘No merece la pena reparar el coche. ‘
It’s (=There’s) no use speaking to him.
‘De nada vale hablar con él.’
b)
spend (time) (doing something)
appreciate
excuse
forgive
resent
understand
La diferencia entre el posesivo (John’s, his) y el objeto directo (John, him) es más bien de estilo/registro: el primero es más formal y más común en la escritura.
I really appreciate you/your waiting for me for so long.
‘Aprecio sinceramente que me haya(s) esperado tanto tiempo.’
Please excuse me/my being so late.
‘Disculpad/Disculpen que llegue tan tarde.’
They will never forgive their son(‘) not visiting them.
‘Nunca le perdonarán a su hijo que no les visitara.’
c)
enjoy
mind
imagine
can’t stand
dislike
involve
mention
detest
(can’t) resist
endure
Do you mind staying here?
‘¿Te importa quedarte aquí?’
Do you mind me/my making a suggestion?
‘¿Le importa si hago (=que haga) una sugerencia?’
I can’t stand having to get up at 6 every day.
‘No soporto tener que levantarme a las 6 todos los días.’
I can’t stand my husband getting up at 6 every day when there’s no point.
‘No puedo soportar que mi marido se levante a las 6 todos los días cuando no hace ninguna falta.’
An important special case is prevent someone (from) doing something [‘evitar que alguien haga algo’], or prevent something (from) happening [‘evitar que algo suceda’]. Besides, stop can replace prevent in an informal style:
The police prevented him from taking the money away.
‘La policía evitó que [él] se llevara el dinero.’
I stopped Jack following me by covering myself with a huge coat, a cap and dark glasses.
‘Evité que Jack me siguiera envolviéndome entero con (…)’
8) More about perception verbs
Los verbos estudiados en el punto 1-a pueden ir seguidos también de un gerundio, si es que estamos interesados en el aspecto progresivo de la acción. Si por contra estamos interesados en la acción como ya acabada, se usa la forma base del verbo.
Compara:
I saw him crossing the road. ‘Le vi cruzando (=mientras él la cruzaba) la calle.’
I saw him cross the road. ‘Le vi cruzar la calle.’ [Vi toda la acción de cabo a rabo]
I heard them arriving. ‘Les oí que llegaban / (que estaban) llegando.’
I hear them arrive. ‘Les oí llegar.’ (O sea: ‘Les oí que llegaron’.)
9) Verbo 1 más infinitivo con to o bien gerundio (indistintamente)
Algunos pocos verbos comunes pueden indistintamente tener la construcción del punto 4 o la del 7. En realidad, puede haber diferencias de matiz, de frecuencia, etc. Ejemplos comunes: begin, start, continue, intend (‘tener la intención de’), like, love (‘encantarle a uno’), prefer, hate (‘odiar’).
It suddenly started/began raining/to rain. ‘De pronto empezó a llover.’
Con los cuatro últimos estarás acostumbrado a que la regla sea usar el gerundio. En realidad, la situación es compleja y poco importante. Algunas pistas: si dudas, usa el gerundio, pero nunca si se trata de would like, would, prefer, would love… Esto último es lo que sí que hay que tener en cuenta (claras situaciones concretas); por lo demás, simplificando, el infinitivo (algo más común en americano) solo se prefiere en casos de elección consciente concreta y similares:
I heard you talking and I didn’t like to disturb you, so I went away.
I hate to mention it, but you owe me some money.
‘Can I give you a lift?’ ‘No, thanks. I (would) prefer to walk.’
10) Verbo 1 más infinitivo con to o bien gerundio (con significado distinto)
Con estos pocos verbos muy comunes y otros pocos el significado cambia mucho según se use bien el gerundio o bien el infinitivo con to: remember, forget, regret, stop, go on, try.
En el caso de los cinco primeros, la diferencia está relacionada con el tiempo; el gerundio apunta al pasado, hacia atrás en el tiempo, mientras que el infinitivo apunta al futuro, o hacia adelante en el tiempo.
I remembered to correct him. [remember what one has/had to do]
‘Me acordé de corregirle.’
I remembered correcting him. [remember what one has/had done, or what
has/had happened]
‘Yo recordaba haberle corregido. ‘
She’s always forgetting to give me my letters.
‘Siempre se le está olvidando darme las cartas.’
I’ll never forget seeing the Queen.
‘Nunca se me olvidará el haber visto a la Reina.’
I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you employment. [be
sorry for what one is going to say]
I don’t regret telling her what I thought, even if it upset her. [be sorry for
what one has done or has happened)
Stop y go on son mucho más comunes con gerundio. Fíjate en la diferencia de significado:
We stopped resting at that moment. ‘Dejamos de descansar (…)’
‘We stopped to rest. ‘Paramos para descansar.’ [the infinitive of purpose]
How long do you intend to go on playing those bloody records? [continue
with what one has been doing]
He welcomed the new students and then went on to explain the college
regulations. [change; move on to something new]
Try con infinitivo es algo más común e implica hacer un esfuerzo, probar a hacer algo difícil. Con gerundio es hacer un experimento, hacer algo para ver qué ocurrirá.
Please try to understand. ‘Haz el favor de intentar comprender.’
Try putting in some more vinegar - that might make it taste better.
‘Prueba añadiendo algo más de vinagre: eso podría hacer que supiera
mejor.’
EJERCICIO CON LA CLAVE. Traduce. Si te resulta difícil, lo cual es bien normal, repítelas una vez estudiadas las soluciones, o empieza por ir del inglés al español…
1. Le vi comprar la revista.
2. Le oigo cantar todas las mañanas.
3. El médico me ha prohibido fumar.
4. Sus padres no le han dejado ir al campo.
5. No quiero que te vayas sin verle.
6. Dile a la niña que no chille tanto.
7. Fue inútil buscarlo.
8. Sigue probando.
9. He decidido dejar de fumar.
10. Por favor, deja de interrumpirme.
11. El domingo que viene empezaremos a decorar.
12. Me encanta verte bailar.
13. Es natural que ella quiera saberlo.
14. Me pidió que la ayudara.
15. Prefiero que la televisión no funcione.
16. No les importa esperar.
17. Debemos evitar herirles.
18. Es imposible que te oigan.
19. La máquina empezó a funcionar por sí sola.
20. Recuerdo haber estado aquí.
21. Debes acordarte de cerrar la puerta con llave.
22. No intentes engañarme.
23. No quiero que te vistas así.
24. Disfruto comiendo.
25. No me hagas pensar ahora.
26. Nuestro amigo nos ha aconsejado que leamos ese libro.
27. No nos dejó movernos.
28. No podemos soportar oír ese ruido.
29. La policía tiene que seguir investigando.
30. A veces olvidas devolverme el dinero.
31. Lamento mucho interrumpiros, pero es urgente.
32. Le escuché gritar.
33. No puede evitar criticarme.
34. Lamenta haberte hecho daño.
35. No me autorizaron a marcharme.
36. Me di cuenta de que se caía.
37. Recuérdale a Antonia que la llame a su madre.
SOLUCIONES. (Nota que, por supuesto, hay otras correctas a veces.)
1) I saw him buy the magazine.
2) I hear you singing every morning.
3) The doctor has forbidden me to smoke.
4) His parents haven’t let him go to the countryside.
5) I don’t want you to leave without seeing him.
6) Tell the little girl not to scream so much.
7) It was no use looking for it.
8) Keep on trying.
9) I’ve decided to give up smoking.
10) Please stop interrupting me.
11) Next Sunday we’ll start to decorate / decorating.
12) I love to see you dancing.
13) It’s natural for her to want to know about it.
14) She asked me to help her.
15) I prefer the television not to work.
16) They don’t mind waiting.
17) We must avoid hurting them.
18) It’s impossible for them to hear you.
19) The machine started to work / working by itself.
20) I remember being here.
21) You must remember to lock the door.
22) Don’t try to cheat me.
23) I don’t want you to dress like that.
24) I enjoy eating.
25) Don’t make me think now.
26) Our friend has advised us to read that book.
27) She didn’t let us move.
28) We can’t stand hearing that noise.
29) The police have to go on investigating.
30) You sometimes forget to give my money back.
31) I very much regret to interrupt you, but it’s urgent.
32) I listened to him shout.
33) He can’t help criticizing me.
34) She regrets hurting you.
35) They didn’t permit me to leave.
36) I noticed him falling.
37) Remind Antonia to phone her mother.
