Gerunds & Infinitives — advanced/complex uses
B2 • reference
All forms at a glance
| Function | Active | Passive | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinitive (simple) | to do | to be done | present/future or general |
| Infinitive (continuous) | to be doing | — | in progress around a time |
| Infinitive (perfect) | to have done | to have been done | earlier/finished action |
| Infinitive (perfect continuous) | to have been doing | — | duration up to a time |
| Gerund (simple) | doing | being done | any time (context decides) |
| Gerund (perfect) | having done | having been done | earlier/finished action |
The gerund behaves like a noun phrase; infinitives behave like clauses of purpose/result or complements. Negatives: not doing, not to do.
Perfect vs. simple gerunds
- Often interchangeable when the timing is obvious: He denied stealing it (=before the denial) ~ denied having stolen it.
- Use the perfect form to insist on a previous time: She denied having been married (=at some time in the past).
Perfect vs. simple infinitives
- Use the perfect infinitive for earlier events relative to the main verb: I’m glad to have worked here (past) vs glad to work here (now).
- After evaluative patterns (It was foolish of me …) either form is possible; the perfect adds “earlier”: to have said.
Continuous infinitive
Describes an action in progress around a reference time: You shouldn’t be doing this now; Nice to be spending the weekend together.
Perfect continuous infinitive
Expresses duration up to a point: They are thought to have been hiding in the mountains; I’m happy to have been working with you.
After reporting passives
With passive reporting verbs (is said, is believed, is thought): use a simple/continuous infinitive for present or future; use the perfect infinitive for past.
- She is believed to be living in Brussels (now) • They are believed to have been lovers (earlier).
After would like / would rather / would prefer
For earlier events, use the perfect infinitive:
- I’d like to have seen the show (=but I didn’t).
- She’d rather have been with you (earlier preference).
Passive gerunds & infinitives
- This gate needs to be fixed • I don’t mind being told what to do.
- Perfect-passive: He denied having been offered a bribe.
Verbs with a meaning change
| Verb | + gerund | + to-infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember / forget | recall a past action: I remember locking the door. | think of a duty/new action: Remember to lock the door. |
| regret | feel sorry about a past action: We regret telling you this. | formal announcement about the future message: We regret to inform you … |
| stop | quit an activity: She stopped smoking. | pause one activity to do another: She stopped to smoke. |
| try | experiment/solution: Try restarting the app. | attempt/effort: Try to finish before 5. |
| go on | continue the same activity: He went on talking. | move to a new topic/action: He went on to talk about costs. |
| mean | involve/result in: Doing this means working weekends. | intend: I didn’t mean to hurt you. |
| need | passive sense (BrE): The car needs washing (=to be washed). | ordinary necessity: The car needs to be washed. |
Key verb patterns (advanced)
V + object + to-infinitive
- advise, allow, ask, enable, encourage, expect, help, invite, need, persuade, tell, want
- They persuaded us to stay • I want you to meet Sara.
V + object + bare infinitive
- make, let, have (causative) • They let me leave • passive → I was made to leave.
Perception verbs
- see/hear/feel/watch/notice + object + V-ing (in progress) vs + bare V (complete event).
V + gerund (as complement)
- admit, avoid, consider, delay, deny, enjoy, finish, imagine, keep, mind, miss, practise, recommend, suggest.
- He suggested going by train.
Dual pattern (similar meaning)
- begin, start, continue, hate, like, love, prefer: either form is possible; the infinitive often sounds more specific.
Useful structures with the infinitive
- Purpose (in order) to do • Result only to find …
- Adjective + to: easy/too difficult/enough + to • It was kind of you to help.
- the first/next/only + to: the first person to arrive.
- for + object + to: It’s unusual for children to be so quiet.
- be to + inf (plan/official instruction): The President is to address the nation at 9.
- Split infinitives? Acceptable in modern English when it improves clarity: to really understand.
Gerund as a noun phrase
- Takes determiners & possessives in formal English: Her arriving late / his refusing. In everyday English, an object pronoun is common: him arriving.
- Prepositions require gerunds: after finishing, without asking, by changing.
- Fixed frames: It’s no use/It’s (not) worth doing; be busy doing.
Quick recap: use -ing after prepositions and as subjects/objects; use the to-infinitive after adjectives, to express purpose, and after many “control” verbs (want, plan, hope). The perfect forms (having done / to have done) point to earlier time; the continuous forms (to be doing) show an action in progress.
Exercises:
Gerunds & infinitives: advanced/complex uses
Choose the correct gerunds and infinitives to complete the sentences below.
1
Please remember
the file before you close the app.
2
We regret
you that your application was unsuccessful.
3
If the laptop won’t start, try
the other charger.
4
She stopped
the phone and then continued driving.
5
After outlining the risks, the speaker went on
the mitigation plan.
6
These curtains need
before the guests arrive.
7
I prefer
at home to eating out on weeknights.
8
I saw him
the keys on the desk.
9
My parents wouldn’t let me
out after midnight.
10
The task is too complex
in an hour.
Gerunds & infinitives: advanced/complex uses
Choose the correct gerunds and infinitives for the sentences below.
1
We regret ____ you that your application was unsuccessful.
A.
B.
C.
2
Remember ____ the door before you leave, please.
A.
B.
C.
3
I clearly remember ____ the lights, so the house shouldn’t be lit.
A.
B.
C.
4
On the way home we stopped ____ some bread and milk.
A.
B.
C.
5
This problem needs ____ immediately if we’re to ship on time.
A.
B.
C.
6
After the Q&A, the speaker went on ____ the next steps for the project.
A.
B.
C.
7
I can’t help ____ when I see that puppy.
A.
B.
C.
8
The teacher made us ____ the experiment again until we got it right.
A.
B.
C.
9
I’m not used to ____ with so little sleep.
A.
B.
C.
10
Being a team lead means ____ tough decisions.
A.
B.
C.
Gerunds & infinitives: advanced/complex uses
Rewrite the sentences using a form of gerund or infinitive so that they mean the same.
1
Original: I did not forget to post the letter; I posted it yesterday.
Transform: I the letter yesterday. (remember)
2
Original: I still recall that I met him at a conference in 2018.
Transform: I him at a conference in 2018. (remember)
3
Original: We are sorry to tell you this: your application has been unsuccessful.
Transform: We you that your application has been unsuccessful. (regret)
4
Original: I am sorry that I posted that comment.
Transform: I that comment. (regret)
5
Original: We took a break so that we could buy some snacks.
Transform: We some snacks on the way. (stop)
6
Original: I gave up sugar last year.
Transform: I sugar last year. (stop)
7
Original: She made an effort to restart the server, but it failed.
Transform: She the server, but it failed. (try)
8
Original: Perhaps experimenting with turning it off and on will help.
Transform: it off and on. (try)
9
Original: The windows are dirty; a cleaner should clean them soon.
Transform: The windows urgently. (need)
10
Original: Public speaking still feels unfamiliar to me.
Transform: I in public. (be used to)