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Tema 21: 
El infinitivo y la 
forma en –ing: Sus 
usos.  

Madhatter 
09/06/2007 
 
 Tema 21:
El infinitivvo y la forma en
n –ing: Sus usoss.
2

Ta
able of contents
1. The nonfin
nite forms of the Verb. ___________________
_________________________ 3
2. The Infinittive._________________
____________________
_________________________ 3
2.1. Historiccal background ____________________________
___________________________ 3
2.2. Characcteristics. ___________________________________
___________________________ 4
2.3. The Plaain Infinitivee. ______________________________
___________________________ 4
2.4. The Inffinitive with
h to._____________________________
___________________________ 6
2.5. Accusative with Infinitive. _________________________
___________________________ 8
2.6. Other uses
u of the In
nfinitive. ________________________
___________________________ 8
2.6.1. Nomminative with Infinitive. ___________________________
______________________________ 8
2.6.2. For + Accusativee-with-Infinitivve. _____________________
______________________________ 9
2.6.3. Anaaphoric to ____
____________________________________ ______________________________ 9
3. The –ing participle.
p ____________
____________________
_________________________ 9
3.1. Gerund
d _________________________________________
__________________________ 10
3.1.1. Geruund verbal feaatures ___________________________________________________________ 10
3.1.2. The gerund vs. thhe to-Infinitivee ______________________
_____________________________ 11
Biibliography __________
_ __________
____________________
________________________ 13
Brrief summarry __________________
____________________
________________________ 14

Iván Matellan
nes’s Notes
 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
3

1. The nonfinite forms of the V.

1. The nonfinite forms of the Verb.
Vs are one of the word finite classes, like Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs and
Prepositions. They form the head of a Verb Phrase.

A VP can be divided into two types according to the verb form:

a) Finite VPs has a finite V as a head:
I will pass this exam; I always pass these exams
b) Nonfinite VPs have a nonfinite V as a head:
Smoking is not allowed; To tell everybody your secret!

Different Fns of finite &

Verb forms have different functions in finite and nonfinite VPs: nonfinite V forms:

- The –s form of the present & the past form –ed are always finite. Finite: -s form present;
Simple past –ed form.
- The –ing participle is always nonfinite: In the PROGRESSIVE (I am Nonfinite: -ing →
Progressive & participle
reading now) and in the –ing PARTICIPLE CLAUSES (Standing by you, I’ll never be clauses

afraid).

- The –ed participle is always nonfinite: In the PASSIVE (I was offered the Nonfinite: -ed →
Progressive & participle
job), in the PERFECT ASPECT (I have studied hard), in the –ed PARTICIPLE clauses.

CLAUSES (Offended by her voice and by her words …).

- The base form may be finite: In the PRESENT TENSE (I work everyday), In BASE FORM.
Finite: present Ind,
the IMPERATIVE (Do it immediately), In the PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE (God save the imperative, subjunctive.

Queen!); or may be nonfinite: In the to-INFINITIVE (I want you to stay with Nonfinite: to-Inf,
Bare Inf.
us), in the BARE INFINITIVE (He won’t let you drive).

2. The Infinitive.
2. The Infinitive.
Historical background.
2.1. Historical background
Initially, there was a fully inflected verbal substantive1. In OE, the verbal
substantive had the ending –an (pullian, hringan …). In ME, due to the erosion
of inflections, the verbal substantive took an identical form to the
present form, which is the same for the present Ind (except for the 3rd pers
sing), pres Subj & Imperative. In ModE, the Inf is admitted to have a
separate form from other tenses.

1
The infinitive has been called verbal substantive by Jespersen and as such it is quite natural
that it very often has the usual function of a substantive.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
4

2.2. Characteristics. Characteristics.

１.!The Infinitive has two forms: Two forms: with or

without to.
a. Inf with to: to pull, to ring …
b. Inf without to: Called either plain Inf 2 or bare Inf 3.
２.!The particle To has three different pronunciations: Diff pronunciations of
to: /tu:/ → /tu/ → /t∂/.
a. STRONG: /tu:/ when stressed

b. MEDIAL: /tu/ before vows

c. WEAK: /t∂/ before Cons

３.!It has nominal functions:

Nominal Fns: As a N,
a. It can function as a substantive: I want to take a walk. Adj & Avb.

b. It can function as an adjective: In days to come.

c. It can function as an adverb: I went to see you.
４.!It does not include time. The temporal aspect is determined … Does not include
time: included in time
a. … by other time markers: I went to see you. markers & context.

b. … by the context: In days to come.

５.!The perfect Inf (to have spoken) indicates either … Perf Inf: What precedes
or the hypothetical.
a. … what has preceded (of both the future & the past): I celebrate to
have finished so soon.

b. … the hypothetical: I thought it wrong to have helped her.

2.3. The Plain Infinitive. The Plain Infinitive.

The infinitive may occur either with or without the particle to. The Inf
without to is known as plain Infinitive. The plain Inf is only used in The plain Inf is only
used in verbal Fn.
verbal, never in nominal function. In cases where other Lgs use a plain
infinitive as subj, obj or nominal predicate, English uses either an Inf with to or
a gerund.
To Know him is to love him. Do you like swimming?

2
By Zandvoort (also bare infinitive)
3
By Jespersen and Quirk (also plain infinitive)

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivvo y la forma en
n –ing: Sus usoss.
5

The plain
p Inf is used either by
y itself, or in com
mbination
n with The
T Plain Infin
nitive.

an
nother V. The latter used, which is comm
monest, will be discusssed first.
Th
he Plain In
nf may be used with
h other Vs
s. The
e plain Inf witth other Vs.

H MODAL VS: can/coulld; may/mi

a. WITH might; must;
t; shall/sho
ould; will/w
would. With Modals
s.

Telll him he mayy go home Willl you open another

a wind
dow?
H to dare
b. WITH e & to need
n , chie
efly in ne
egative & interrogative With to dare
e & to need.

sentences:
How
w dare you come here?? He need
n not re
eturn the lett
tter
H to do when used as
c. WITH a an Aux of empha
asis or pe
eriphrasis
s: With Aux doo (emphasis
or periphrasis.
Oh,
h, do tell us what
w has hap
appened! [Em
mphatic-do]
Shee did not se
eem to notice
ce us
H had bett
d. WITH ter, had best,
be ‘d ratther, ‘d so
ooner.
W/ had bettter, had best,
Ha
ad not we be
etter stop now?
no I’d rather go on,
o if you don
n’t mind. ‘d rather, ‘d
d sooner.

R do nothi
e. AFTER hing but, do
d no morre than an
nd similar phrases.
p After do notthing but,
do no more e than &
He does nothiing but catcch flies He did
d no more
re than seek
k to win similar Phrasses.
f. There
e are few more com
mbinations of a plain
n Inf with another V
V. They
Stereotyped
d
differr from th
he previous ones in
i being RESTRICTED
R D TO a num
mber of
Go hang
g.
more or less S
STEREOTYPE ES.
ED PHRASE They are usually invariab
ble and
Make be
elieve.
canno
ot be comb
bined with other Vs: Make do
o.
Lett it go hang!! [=Express one’s compllete indifference] Hear say
y.
He made me believe
b thatt John was goone. [=pretend]
Shee had to mak
ake do with a day girl. [= =manage] Hear telll.
I hear
he say that at John will co ome back soo
oon. Let + dro
rop/fall/fly/go/
Wee have all of us
u heard te ell of Robin Hood.
H pass/slip
p.
To let + drop/fa
fall/fly/go/passs/slip→Let’s
’s go to thatt rope; Don’t let slip such
ch chance.
Help + V(to).
V
He offered to help
h carry her
he basket. [BBrE]

g. The plain
p Inf may
m also be used in the so called ACCUSATIVE
C -WITH- Acusative-w
with-Inf:
[Inf w/--w/out to]
INFIN
NITIVE CONSTRUCTION
N [V + Objj + V ]: to hear, to feel, Physicaal perception:
hear, fee
el, see, watch.
to se
ee, to wa
atch [Vs deenoting ph
hysical percception]; to
t let; to
o make To let, make,
m have.

use]; to have
[=cau h [=to t get; to experiencce]; to fin
o permit; to ind; to To find, know, help.

know
w [=to experience] and to help
p.
Shee watched the
t postmann cross the street.
st
I won’t
w have you
yo say such
h things. [=peermit]
Theey made him
m repeat eve
verything thee man had to
old him.
I have
ha never kn nown him lo
ose his tempper.

Iván Matellan
nes’s Notes
 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
6

The plain Inf may be used by itself in: The plain Inf by itself.

h. QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH why OR why not. Qs beginning w/ why

and why not.
Why spend such a lot of money?
i. In ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTIONS: Elliptical construction.

(Do you) want some? (I) hope he is there.

j. When there are TWO COORDINATED INFS, the 2ND ONE DOES NOT TAKE to IF Two coordinated Infs.

THE 1ST DOESN’T. She couldn’t do better than resign.

k. An EXCLAMATORY INF may be PRECEDED BY A SUBJ OF ITS OWN. Exclamatory Infs.

Do you think George can write a novel? – George write a novel? Hardly likely

2.4. The Infinitive with to. The Infinitive with to.

The Infinitive with to may have many uses:
Subordination of
A. The Inf with to is used with to be, to have, ought, used and the 1st V to the 2nd.

sometimes with to dare & to need. Be, have, ought to,

used to, dare & need.
I am to see him tomorrow. She used to go there everyday.
You will have to wait a moment. He did not dare to speak.
She ought to have been more careful.
In these constructions the 1st verb is subordinated in meaning (and
usually in stress) to the 2nd. This may also be the case in constructions
Begin, come, fail,
with to begin, to come, to fail, to get, to happen, to seem, to get, happen,
seem & stand.
stand and few other Vs.
The temperature will began to fall. His promises failed to materialize.
One soon gets to like it. I’ve come to see John.
B. When the 1st V is not subordinated in meaning to the 2nd, the Inf with Inf with to serves as an
ADJUNCT or OBJECT to
4
to serves as an ADJUNCT or OBJECT to the preceding V, which may the preceding V.

be intransitive, but is usually transitive.

My uncle decided to sell his business and retire. He thinks(=intend)to deceives us. Decide, intend, try,
We intend to go to Denmark. I tried to open a window. promise, want.

C. It may also serve as an ADJUNCT to a preceding N or Adj (Esp to such Serve as an ADJUNCT to
a preceding N or Adj.
as express feeling).
Noun + to-Inf Adjunct Adj + to-Inf Adjunct
There is no need to worry. I was afraid to seem unrespectful.
It is the right thing to do. I am pleased to come.
He has a large family to keep. Cigarettes are easy to obtain.
It’s time to go to bed. He is a hard man to please.
He is always the [first / last] to get up

4
A clause or phrase added to a sentence that, while not essential to the sentence's structure,
amplifies its meaning, such as for several hours in We waited for several hours

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
7

D. An Inf with to is frequently used as an ADJUNCT expressing purpose. ADJUNCT expressing

purpose.
As such it may qualify a V or a N, though it often qualifies all the rest
of the sentence.
I got up to ask a question. I’ve come here to work.
The idea of purpose may be emphasized by in order or so as placed
before the Inf.
You’d better repeat them every day, in order not to forget them. In order, so as.
I do them very carefully, so as not to spoil them.
E. When preceded by an interrogative pron or adv, or by a Conj, a After an interrogative
pron/Adv, conj or
to-Inf is often equivalent to a dependent clause. The Inf may also relative pron.

be preceded by a relative pron.

I don’t know what to do. [Interrogative Pron]
Tell me where to go. [Interrogative Adv]
He looked at the clock, as if to indicate that the interview was over. [Conjunction]
He gave them land on which to live. [Relative Pron]
F. After the Vs know, forget, learn, teach followed by how, to After the Vs know, forget,
learn, teach followed by
express manner. When the idea of manner is weak or absent, to how, to express manner.

forget, to learn and to teach may take an Inf without a connecting V.

He will know how to manage the problem I will never forget how to do it.
My father taught me how to catch butterflies. You must learn to be patient.
G. It is often used with the present or the past tense of to be, which Used with the present or
the past tense of to be as
then functions as an aux to express arrangement. Such an aux to express
arrangement.
arrangement may be personal or impersonal.
We are to be married next week. [PERSONAL arrangement]
I am not to lay the table before 12 o’clock. [PERSONAL arrangement]
The worst is still to come. [IMPERSONAL arrangement]
H. Like the plain Inf, the to-Inf is used in the ACCUSATIVE-WITH- Used in the ACCUSATIVE-
WITH-INF constructions, in
INFINITIVE constructions, in this case after Vs which express act this case after Vs which
express volition.
of will (volition), like advise, allow, ask, encourage, force, invite, lead,
order, permit, persuade, request, tell, urge … Advise, allow, ask,
encourage, force,
Allow me to congratulate you. We persuade him to withdraw. invite, lead, order,
permit, persuade,
He asked me to sit down. I forced him to come to the party. request, tell, urge…
I. Like the plain Inf, the to-Inf may be used in exclamatory sentences.
Used in exclamatory
These, however, express surprise or indignation [1], or a wish that sentences.

is unlikely to be fulfilled [2].

[1] To think that all his efforts to help her had gone for nothing!
[2] Oh, to be in England!

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
8

2.5. Accusative with Infinitive. Accusative with Infinitive.

The term ACCUSATIVE-WITH-INFINITIVE is applied to groups consisting V [NP + Inf(to)].

of a N or pron plus an Inf with or w/out to subordinated to another

NP → subj of the Inf
part of the sentence, usually a V: V [NP + Inf(to)]. The “Accusative NP → Obj of the V.

N/Pron” stands to the Inf in the relation of a subject. Moreover, this NP

usually becomes the obj of the governing verb.
The most frequent governing Vs refer to: VOLITION (want, like …) or Most frequent governing
Vs refer to: VOLITION &
COMMAND (force, order, recommend, ask request …). That-clauses constitute an option COMMAND.

to the accusative-with-Inf.
The Accusative still denotes some classical influence:
- Certain Vs of VOLITION (desire, pray, require …) may convey either a VOLITION: durative (that-
clause) or perfective (acc).
durative value (with that-clause [3]) and/or a perfective value
(with the accusative [4])
[3] He desires that you should see him. [4] He desires me to write a poem.

- Vs denoting CONCEPTION (believe, consider, declare, think …) trigger CONCEPTION: trigger acc
w/the V to be, and that-
accusative with the V to be and the that-clause elsewhere. clause elsewhere.

I believe this to be a mistake I believe that he has left.

- Vs of PERCEPTION (feel, find, hear, see, perceive …) often occur with the PERCEPTION: often w/acc.
That-clause indicates a
accusative-with-Inf. The that-clause is used to indicate a resultative value.

resultative value.
I felt it to be true. I felt that it was true. [Resultative value]

2.6. Other uses of the Infinitive.

2.6.1. Nominative with Infinitive. Nominative-with -Infinitive.
As pointed out before, the to-Inf may occur in constructions with To-Inf may occur in
constructions with Acc-
Accusative-with-Inf Vs in the passive. They are labeled as NOMINATIVE- with-Inf Vs in the passive.

WITH-INFINITIVE. Unlike the accusative-with-Inf, the Nominative-with-Inf Nom-with-Inf never

occurs without to.
never occurs without to.
The Nominative-with-Inf construction occurs with the Vs hear, feel, see,
Occurs with:
make [=cause], find, know [=experience] (Acc-with-Inf w/out to) & those Some Acc-with-Inf
w/out to Vs.
Accusative-with-Infinitive w/to (allow, ask, persuade, request …)
Acc-with-Inf w/to Vs.
Acc-with-Inf w/out to Acc-with-Inf w/to
He was made to repeat everything He was persuaded to withdraw.
He has never been known to lose his temper It is requested not to walk on the grass.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
9

2.6.2. For + Accusative-with-Infinitive. For + Accusative-with -Infinitive

As said before, the accusative-with-Inf usually depends on a
N/Adj + for +[NP + Inf(to)].
preceding V. In English, it may also depend on a N or an Adj, esp when
these are used predicatively. In this case it is preceded by for. “Accusative”

I think it is time for something to be done.

It was unusual for anyone to call after ten.
This house is much too small for us to live in.
As with the ordinary accusative-with-Inf, the “accusative” stands as the “Accusative” stands as the
adjunct of the N or Adj &,
adjunct of the N or Adj and, at the same time, as the subject of the at the same time, as the
subject of the following Inf.
following Inf.

2.6.3. Anaphoric to Anaphoric to.

Vs, Ns and Adjs that may take a to-Inf may be followed by to Ns and Adjs that may
take a to-Inf may be
without an Inf to refer to a preceding V or verbal group. This followed by to without
an Inf to refer to a
construction is colloquial. preceding verbal group.
She opened the window, though I had told her not to (open the window).
I’d like to come, but I have no time to.
Don’t go unless you have to.
Does not occur after
Anaphoric to does not seem to occur after for + Acc for + Acc-with-Inf.

3. The –ing participle. 2. The –ing participle.

Words derived from a V stem by means of the suffix –ing may be

used in a variety of meanings and functions, according to the contexts in which
they occur. In the first place, such words may be used as VERBAL NOUNS, GERUND (Verbal Ns):
Verbal meaning & Fn.
that is, as Ns with a verbal meaning. In addition to its verbal meaning,
such a form in –ing may have a verbal Fn: It may take an obj (I am fond of
smoking a pipe), or be qualified by an adv (He educated himself by reading widely).

Ns in –ing with verbal meaning, or with verbal meaning and Fn

combined, are called GERUNDS.
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
In the second place, such words may be used as VERBAL ADJECTIVES, either (Verbal Adjs): Attributive
or predicative.
attributively (burning house, playing children) or predicatively (the house was
burning). In this case they are called PRESENT (or IMPERFECT) PARTICIPLES.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
10

Gerund.
3.1. Gerund

Syntactic properties of a Noun.

Art.
A Gerund may exhibit all the syntactic properties of a N. Thus, it Poss Pron
Demons. Pron.
+ Gerund
may be preceded by an article, a possessive or demonstrative pron, a N Genitive N
Adj
in the genitive or an adj, or followed by a N-Adjunct with of (or other
Gerund + of-N-Adjunct
Pp). It may also function as subject, object, or nominal predicate of a Function as subj, obj,
predicate & part of a PpP.
sentence and from part of a PpAdjunct. It may also occur in the plural.
plural.
His handling of the situation was masterly. [Art, of-Adjunct & subj] In bold the properties that
His chief hobby is gardening. [Predicate] SHARE GERUND & to-INF.
I detest all this quarreling. [Adj, demonstrative & Obj]

Syntactic properties of a V.
A gerund may also exhibit the syntactic properties of a V. Thus, it Be qualified by an AdvP.

may be qualified by an adv or an AdvP, and in the case of a transitive V Govern a DO(transitiveV).

Take a subj.
may govern an obj. It may also take a subject of his own. It may be used
Used in the perfective
in the perfect sense (having written) & in the passive voice (being written). sense & passive voice.

He began reading slowly and … [AdvP]

I object to being treated like a child. [Passive]

Gerund verbal features.

3.1.1. Gerund verbal features
Morphologically: Morphologically:

- May be inflected in the perfect: Having smoked two cigars. Perfective.

- May be inflected in the passive: Being hurt on his knee … Passive voice.

Syntactically: Syntactically:

- May take a subject: I saw him smoking.

Take a Subj.
- May take an Object: I saw him playing cards. Take an Obj.

- May take a clause complement: Loving you is wonderful. Take an clause compl.

- May take an adverbial: Flying from Malaga to London. Take an Adv.

Fn as adjunct to like,
- It may function as an adjunct to like, worth & there is no. worth, there is no.

- With expressions like Go/come+shop=Gerund: I go shopping everyday. Go/Come + shopping.

Spend/waste + time
- With expressions like spend/waste + time marker + Gerund: marker + gerund.
He wasted hours looking for the house.
- Prons and Poss adjs can be used with gerunds: Prons and Poss adjs
can be used w/Gerunds.
She doesn’t mind my coming late.
- Ns denoting people are put into possessive case (genitive) when Ns denoting people are
put into the Genitive
when used w/Gerunds.
used w/Gerunds [formal English]: I dislike my mother’s interfering in the affair.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
11

3.1.2. The gerund vs. the to-Infinitive Gerund vs. to-Inf.

It will be noted that the gerund shares many of its syntactic
properties with the to-Inf. So, both can occur as the subj, obj and Gerunds & to-Inf share
many syntactic properties.
predicate of a sentence, though only the gerund can take Noun-qualifiers.
Both may be qualified by an AdvP, take an obj or a subj and be used in
the perfective and the passive. It will be necessary to define their
respectively territories.
The Gerund is used, to the exclusion of the Inf, in the following cases: Gerund is used (not Inf):

a. As a part of a PpAdjunt As a part of a PpAdjunct.

The doctor began by feeling my pulse. The sun is near setting.

b. As an Obj or Adjunct to a number of Vs and verbal phrases. Obj or Adjunct of a
number of verbal VPs:
Denny denied knowing the plan Would you mind opening the window? Admit, adore, avoid,
She enjoyed hearing him talk For God’s sake, stop talking? consider, defer, delay,
deny, describe, dislike,
Have you finished cooking? It’s no good talking to him endure, enjoy, explain,
fancy, finish, go, imagine
Avoid, burst out, detest, enjoy, escape, fancy, give over or up, (I) cannot held, keep keep, lie, mind, report,
(on), mind (interrogative & negative IPs), postpone, put off, resent … stand, stop, suggest …

c. After like and worth, which may also take non-verbal Ns and after the Like, worth, there is no.

phrase there is no.

It’s worth not looking at. This does not look like lasting forever.
There is no accounting for tastes.

d. After some Phrasal Vs or Phrasal-prepositional Vs.

After sm PhrV/PhrPpVs:
I give up smoking. Looking forward to hearing from you. Give up, go on, leave off,
put off, carry on, keep on,
Carry on doing that. I cannot leave off playing cards. [=stop] looking forward to ….

VP + ?Gerund or to-Inf?.

After a number of other Vs & VP, either the gerund or the Inf may
occur:
1. After begin, continue, start both nonfinite Vs can occur without any Begin, start & continue:
No reference → BOTH
reference, but the Inf is more frequently used than the gerund After Vs of knowing or
understanding→ INF.
after Vs of Knowing & Understanding.
I began working. [No reference] I began to understand.
I began to work. [No reference] *I began understanding
2. After remember & forget, the Inf refers to the future and the Remember & forget:
INF → Refers to the future.
gerund refers to the past.
GER→ Refers to the past.
I must remember to ask him. [Future]
I remember seeing him when he was a child. [Past]
I will never forget seeing him when he was a child. [Past]

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos.
12

3. After try, the Inf means “make an attempt” and the gerund “make Try:
INF→ make an attempt.
an experiment”. GER→Make an experiment.
They have tied to kill me. [=attempt] Try doing this at a hotel! [=Experiment]
4. After mean, the Inf means intend & the Gerund means entailed. Mean:
INF→ Intend.
He really meant not to do it again. [=intend]
Doing it right doesn't always mean doing it yourself. [=entail, imply] GER→ Entail, imply.

5. After hate, like, love & prefer, the Inf is mostly used with Hate, like, love & prefer:
INF → Special occasion.
reference to a special occasion and the gerund being more
GER→ General statement.
appropriate to a more general statement.
I prefer walking to cycling. Would you like to join us for dinner?
She hates driving fast. I hate to disappoint you
6. After stop, the Inf means a break or pause in order to do Stop
INF → pause/break in
something and the gerund means a complete stop of the action. order to do smthing.

Every half an hour I stop work to smoke a cigarette. [Pause to smoke] GER→ complete stop.
I really must stop smoking or it will kill me someday. [give up smoking]
7. After go on, the gerund means continue and the Inf refers to a Go on:
INF → change of activity.
change of activity. GER→ continue.
She went on talking about her illness till we all went to sleep.
She stopped talking about her illness and went on to tell us about her job.
8. After regret, the gerund refers back to the past and the Inf is Regret:
INF → announce bad news
mostly an announcement of bad news. GER→ refers to the past.

I regret leaving school at 14. It was a big mistake.

We regret to say that we are unable to help you
9. After advice, allow, permit & forbid, the gerund is used when Allow, advice, permit &
forbid:
there is no object, and the Inf otherwise. INF → has obj.

We don’t allow/permit smoking here. GER→ does not have obj.

We don’t allow/permit people to smoke here.
10. After see, watch & hear, the gerund suggests that one pays
See, watch & hear:
attention to events that are already going on (PROGRESSIVE tense) INF(to) → event seen as
completed.
and the Inf refers to complete event/actions which are seen as GER→ event going on.
completed (SIMPLE tense)
As I passed his house, I heard him practicing the piano.
I once heard Brendel play all the Beethoven concertos.
11. After learn & teach, the gerund refers to lessons or subjects to learn & teach:
INF→ results of study.
study and the Inf refers to the result of the study.
GER→ lessons or subjects
She goes to college twice a week to learn typing. to study.
She learnt to read German at school, but she learnt to speak it in Germany.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes

 Tema 21:
El infinitivvo y la forma en
n –ing: Sus usoss.
13

12. After Used to, the Inf indicates

i ability or
o habit, and the g
gerund Used to:
INF→ ability or habit.
mean
ns “to be accustom
med to”.
GER→ be acccustomed to.
I used
us to play
y football I am
m used to standing
st in ccues

Bibliogra
aphy
Adjunct: http://dicctionary.referencce.com/search?q=adjunct
Edittorial MAD
CED
DE y CEN

T –ing particip
3. The ple:
Swaan, M. Practicall English Usage.

Iván Matellan
nes’s Notes
 Tema 21: Brief summary.
14
Brief summary: El infinitivo y la forma en –ing: Sus usos
1 - THE INFINITIVE:
1A - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Initially, there was a fully inflected verbal substantive. In OE, the verbal substantive had the ending –an
(pullian, hringan …). In ME, due to the erosion of inflections, the verbal substantive took an identical form to the present form. In
ModE, the Inf is admitted to have a separate form from other tenses.

1B - CHARACTERISTICS: ♦ to has 3 diff pronunciations: ♦ to has nominal functions:

１.! STRONG: /tu:/ when stressed １.! As a subs: I want to take a walk.
♦ Two forms: with to or without (also ２.! MEDIAL: /tu/ before vows ２.! As an adj: In days to come.
called PLAIN INF or BARE INF). ３.! WEAK: /t∂/ before Cons ３.! As an adv: I went to see you.

♦ Does not include time: included ♦ Perf Inf (to have spoken) indicates:
in time markers & context. １.! What has preceded → I celebrate to have finished so soon
２.! The hypothetical → I thought it wrong to have helped her
1C - THE PLAIN/BARE INF: The plain Inf is only used in verbal, never in nominal function. In cases where other Lgs use a plain
infinitive as subj, obj or nominal predicate, English uses either an Inf with to or a gerund → To Know me is to love me.

PLAIN INF USED WITH OTHER VS: PLAIN INF USED BY ITSELF:

♦ With Modals → Tell him he may go home ♦ Qs beginning w/ why and why not.

♦ With to dare & to need → How dare you come here? ♦ Elliptical construction
→ (Do you) want some?
♦ With Aux do (emphasis or periphrasis).
♦ Two coordinated Infs
♦ With had better, had best, ‘d rather, ‘d sooner. → She couldn’t do better than resign
♦ After do nothing but, do no more than & similar Phrases ♦ Exclamatory Infs
→ He does nothing but catch flies. → Do you think George can write a novel? –
George write a novel? No!
♦ Accusative-with-Infinitive construction [V + Obj + bare Inf]
__to hear, to feel, to see, to watch [=physical perception].
__to let; to make [=cause]; to have [=to permit; to experience]
__to find; to know [=to experience]

♦ With some other stereotyped phrases: Go hang, make do, hear say, hear tell, let + drop/fall/fly/go/pass, help + VERB.
→ He made me believe that John was gone
1D - THE INF WITH TO: The Infinitive with to may have many uses:
st
TWO VS WHICH OCCUR ATTACHED ♦ When the 1 V is not subordinated in meaning
nd
st nd
to the 2 , the Inf with to serves as an adjunct
♦ Subordination in meaning and usually in stress of the 1 to the 2 V: or object to the preceding V: Decide, intend, try,
(a) Be, have, ought to, used to, dare & need → I am to see him tomorrow. promise, want.
(b) Begin, come, fail, get, happen, seem & stand → The temperature will began to fall → My uncle decided to sell his business and retire.
♦ It may also serve as an ADJUNCT to a preceding N or Adj → There is no need to worry → Cigarettes are easy to obtain.

♦ ADJUNCT expressing purpose → I got up to ask a question; Purpose may be emphasized by in order or so as placed before the Inf

♦ Preceded by an inter pron or adv, a Conj or a relative pron:

→ I don’t know what to do → Tell me where to go. → He gave them land on which to live
→ He looked at the clock, as if to indicate that the interview was over.

♦ After the Vs know, forget, learn, teach followed by how, to express manner:
→ My father taught me how to catch butterflies. → You must learn to be patient. → I will never forget how to do it.

♦ Like with bare Inf, it is used in the Accusative-with-Inf constructions, in this case after Vs which express volition, like
Advise, allow, ask, encourage, force, invite, lead, order, permit, persuade, request, tell, urge…
→ Allow me to congratulate you → He asked me to sit down. → I forced him to come to the party.
♦ Like the plain Inf, the to-Inf may be used in exclamatory sentences:
→ Oh, to be in England!

1E - ACCUSATIVE-WITH-INF: V [NP + Inf(to)] where the NP is both the subj of the Inf and the obj of the V.
- Vs of VOLITION: want, like … → He desires me to write a poem.
- Vs denoting CONCEPTION (believe, consider, declare, think …) → I believe this to be a mistake
- Vs of PERCEPTION (feel, find, hear, see, perceive …) → I felt it to be true.
1F ♦ Nominative-with-infinitive: to-Inf may occur in constructions with Accusative-with-Inf Vs in the passive. It never occurs
- OTHER:
w/out to: hear, feel, see, make, find, know … → He was made to repeat everything; He was persuaded to withdraw.

♦ For + ACCUSATIVE-WITH-INFINITIVE: the accusative-with-Inf usually depends on a preceding V. In English, it may also depend on a N or
an Adj, esp when these are used predicatively. In this case it is preceded by for → I think it is time for something
Iván Matellanes’s
to be done.Notes
 Tema 21: Brief summary.
15
2 - THE –ing PARTICLE: - VERBAL NOUNS that is, Ns with a verbal meaning.
They may have a verbal function: (a) Take an obj → I am fond of smoking a pipe Gerund
(b) Qualified by an adv → He educated himself by reading widely
- VERBAL ADJECTIVES (Adjs with a verbal meaning).
They may be used: (a) Attributively → burning house Present (or imperfect) participle
(b) Predicatively → the house was burning.
2A - A GERUND MAY EXHIBIT ALL THE SYNTACTIC PROPERTIES OF A NOUN AND SOME OF A VERB:

♦ Art. ♦ Be qualified by an AdvP.

In bold the properties that
♦ Poss Pron
♦ Demons.
SHARE GERUND & to-INF. ♦ Govern a DO(transitive V).
+ Gerund
♦ Pron. ♦ Take a subj.
♦ Genitive N
♦ Adj ♦ Used in the perfective
sense & passive voice.
♦ Gerund + of-N-Adjunct
He began reading slowly and … [AdvP]
♦ Function as subj, obj, I object to being treated like a child. [Passive]
predicate & part of a PpP.
♦ Plural. - GERUND VERBAL FEATURES:

His handling of the situation was masterly. [Art, of-Adjunct & subj] Morphologically:
His chief hobby is gardening. [Predicate]
I detest all this quarreling. [Adj, demonstrative & Obj] Perfective: Having smoked two cigars

Passive voice: Being hurt on his knee …

May take a SUBJECT: I saw him smoking. Syntactically:
May take an OBJECT: I saw him playing cards.
May take a CLAUSE COMPLEMENT: Loving you is wonderful.
May take an ADVERBIAL: Flying from Malaga to London
It may function as an ADJUNCT to like, worth & there is no.
With expressions like GO/COME+SHOP=Gerund: I go shopping everyday.
With expressions like SPEND/WASTE + TIME MARKER + GERUND: He wasted hours looking for the house
PRONS and POSS ADJS can be used with gerunds: She doesn’t mind my coming late.

2B - THE GERUND VS. THE TO-INF: Gerund shares many of its syntactic properties with the to-Inf (bold characteristics above).
- GERUND is used, to the exclusion of the Inf, in the following cases:
♦ After some Phrasal Vs or Phrasal-prepositional
♦ As a part of a PpAdjunt: The doctor began by feeling my pulse. Vs: Give up, go on, leave off, put off, carry on, keep
on, looking forward to …
♦ After like, worth and the phrase there is no: It’s worth not looking at → I give up smoking.

♦ As an Obj or Adjunct to a number of Vs and verbal phrases: deny, enjoy, finish, mind, stop … → Would you mind opening the door?

- After a number of other Vs & VP, either the gerund or the Inf may occur:

♦ Stop ♦ Regret: ♦ Mean: Hate, like, love & prefer:

INF → pause in order INF → announce bad news INF→ Intend. INF → Special occasion.
to do smthing. We regret to say that we are He really meant not to do it again. I hate to disappoint you
unable to help you
GER→ complete stop. GER→ Entail, imply. GER→ General statement.
GER→ refers to tha past. Doing it right doesn't always mean I prefer walking to cycling.
I regret leaving school at 14. doing it yourself.

♦ Remember & forget: ♦ Go on: ♦ Try: ♦ Used to:

INF → Refers to the future. INF → change of activity. INF→ make an attempt. INF→ ability or habit.
I must remember to ask him. They have tied to kill me I used to play football
GER→ continue.
GER→ Refers to the past. GER→Make an experiment. GER→ be accustomed to.
I remember seeing him Try doing this at a hotel! I am used to standing in cues
when he was a child.

♦ Allow, advice, permit & forbid: ♦ See, watch & hear: ♦ learn & teach:
INF → has obj. INF(to) → event seen as completed. INF→ results of study.
We don’t allow/permit people to I once heard Brendel play all the She learnt to read German at school
smoke here. Beethoven concertos.
GER→ lessons or subjects to study.
GER→ does not have obj. GER→ event going on. She goes to college twice a week to learn typing.
We don’t allow/permit smoking here As I passed his house, I heard him
practicing the piano.

Iván Matellanes’s Notes