Verbs Followed By The Infinitive Or The gerund
Some verbs may be used with both the infinitive and the gerund , sometimes depending on the meaning to be expressed :
to begin , to cease , to continue , to dislike , to dread , to fear 939c21j , cannot or could not forbear , to hate , to intend to like , to love , to neglect , to prefer , to propose , to purpose , to recollect , to remember , to start , to continue , to delay , to postpone , to enjoy , to fancy , to imagine , to suggest , to understand , to mind(=to object), to miss , to involve , to save , it’s no use.
After the following verbs either the infinitive or the gerund may be used without any difference in meaning.
a. to begin , to start , to continue + to…../ ….ing
If the verbs to begin and to start are followed by a verb of knowing or understanding , the infinitive is used.
He began to realize his errors.
(El a inceput sa-si dea seama de greseli)
I began to understand him.
(Am inceput sa-l inteleg)
When to begin and to start are used the continuous tenses , the infinitive is preferred.[1]
It is beginning to rain.
(Incepe sa ploua)
b. After to attempt , to intend , can’t bear the infinitive is more usual :
The prisoners attempted to escape but failed.
(Prizonierii au incercat sa scape dar au esuat)
He intended to change the key.
(A vrut sa schimbe cheia)
I can’t bear to watch her cry.
(Nu suport sa o vad plangand)
c. After the following verbs the gerund varies with the passive infinitive.
to need
to want + ….ing / to be…..
to require
My shoes need mending = My shoes need to be mended
(Pantofii mei trebuie reparati)
d. After to advise , to allow , to permit , to recommend the infinitive is used if the person concerned is mentioned
Please allow me to carry your bag.
(Permite-mi sa-ti car bagajul)
The gerund is used if the person concerned is not mentioned :
e. To dread + infinitive or gerund
I dread to think of what may happen.
(Mi-e groaza sa ma gandesc ce s-ar putea intampla)
After the following verbs either the infinitive or the gerund may be used with a difference in meaning :
a. to mean + infinitive means to intend
She never intended to do you harm.
(N-a vrut niciodata sa-ti faca rau)
to mean v + gerund means to signify , to have as a consequence
This meant getting up early and leaving in a hurry.
(Acest lucru insemna sa ma scol devreme si sa ma grabesc)
b. to remember + gerund means “not to need to be reminded”
to remember + infinitive refers to the future or “not to omit to do something”
I remember telling him the story.
(Imi amintesc sa-i fi spus povestea)
Remember to buy fruit.
(Sa nu uiti sa cumperi fructe)
c. to try takes a gerund when it means “to make an experiment” , an infinitive when it means “to make an attempt”
He tried writing some articles.
(A incercat sa scrie niste articole)
The student tried to explain , but he failed.
(Studentul a incercat sa explice , dar a esuat)
d. to forget + infinitive means “fail to remember”
to forget + gerund means “in the memory of”
He will forget to bring me the book.
(Nu va uita sa-mi aduca cartea)
I shall never forget seeing
(Nu voi uita niciodata ca am vazut Parisul)
3. After verbs expressing (dis)like and like , the gerund is used for general statements ; the infinitive is preferred in statements about a particular occasion : to like , to love , to loathe , to hate , to enjoy ,
to prefer
+ to…..
+….. ing
She hated shopping.(Ura sa faca cumparaturi)
I hate to disappoint you , but……(Urasc sa te dezamagesc ,dar…)
To love , to like , to prefer , to hate when used in the conditional are followed by the infinitive , but when used in present or past they are usually followed by a gerund.
I’d like to go to the Opera.
(Mia-ar placea sa merg la opera)
I like going to the opera.
The distinction also frequently holds good when either form is used in the function of a subject or nominal predicate.
Going to fairs and markets was one of his favourite pastimes.
(A merge la targuri si piete era una din pasiunile lui)
I have not been to
(N-am fost niciodata in America , dar sa merg acolo este una din
ambitiile mele)
Notes :
- the infinitive is used with would/should
I should prefer to stay indoors.
(As prefera sa stau acasa)
- the infinitive often serves to express a perfective action , the gerund , an imperfective
He likes to smoke a cigarette.
(Ii place sa fumeze o tigara)
He likes smoking a cigarette by the fireplace.
(Ii place sa fumeze o tigara langa semineu)
- the infinitive often refers to the subject of the sentence , whereas the gerund may also refer to some other agent.
I do not like to speak about these things.
(Nu-mi place sa vorbesc despre aceste lucruri)
I do not like speaking about…..(either myself or when somebody
else does it)
(Nu-mi place sa vorbesc despre …)
- the gerund is also after the expression : to look forward to , to take to , to take to , to get /be accustomed to , to get/be used to. To that follows these expressions is a preposition , which justifies the use of a gerund.
I am forward looking to meeting you.
(De-abia astept sa te cunosc)
Other expressions that require a gerund are : it’s no use , it’s useless , it’s no good , can’t stand , can’t help , it is worth
I can’t help laughing. (Nu ma pot opri din ras)
It is worth mentioning her name.
The gerund may form a unit with such adverbs : in , on , out , up and similar ones.
Satisfaction is derived from reading the newspaper and listening-in
(Satisfactia se trage din lecturarea ziarului ziarului si ascultarea lui)
5. After intransitive verbs : to aim (to/at) , to bother (to/about) , to care (to/about) , to hesitate (to/about) , to resolve (to/on)
She cares to know the truth.
(Ii pasa sa stie adevarul)
She hesitated telling the truth.
(Ea a ezitat sa spuna adevarul)
After transitive verbs : to assist(to/in) , to force smb(to/into) , to remind smb (to/of)
I reminded him to close the window.
(I-am reamintit sa inchida geamul).
I reminded him of closing the door. (I-am reamintit sa inchida usa).
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