Lesson 112--more gerunds versus infinitives

 

 

The phrasal verb go on can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.  The meanings of these two things are not the same.

 

+ gerund

He went on talking about his car for two hours.

This means he only talked about his car, non stop, for two hours.

 

+ infinitive

He started talking about motorcycles, then he went on to talk about cars.

This means he changed the subject (either closely related or not).  He started talking about one thing, then something else.

Lesson 111--Gerunds versus Infinitives Quiz

In the following quiz, you need to put the verb in the blank, either as an infinitive or gerund.  When you are done, check your answers by clicking the quiz button in the top right corner.  There are some tricky ones, so don't forget to check your answers,  You might be surprised.



 

1. I am interested in ________(play) tennis this afternoon.
2. The carpet needs ________(be) vacuumed.
3. The rug needs ___________(vacuum).
4. Vanessa dislikes _________(watch) black and white movies.
5. Gregory had trouble _______(find) a gift for his wife's birthday.
6. Paul's mother refused _____(allow) him to get a tattoo.
7. Grace was not accustomed to working so much every week.
8. I advise you ________(study) harder.
9. It takes time ______(learn) English.
10. The politician denied _______( take)bribes.
11. Everyone deserves _______(have) a good life.
12. He regrets _____(tell) his mother about his new job.
13. When I get more money, I mean _______(buy) a new television.
14. Janice stopped ____(buy) milk on the way home.
15. After talking about cars, he went on ______(talk) about motorcycles.

Lesson 85--mean

Gerunds versus Infinitives:  mean

 

Some verbs are followed by infinitives and some are followed by gerunds.  In some cases verbs are followed by both.  The difficult thing is that in some cases (start, like) there really isn't any difference in meaning.

However, there are some verbs that have very different meanings.

Mean

I mean to buy an iPhone.

This means I intend to buy an iPhone.

Getting a good job means learning English.

This means that a getting a good job equals learning English.

Lesson 84: forget

Gerunds versus Infinitives:  forget

Some verbs are followed by infinitives and some are followed by gerunds.  In some cases verbs are followed by both.  The difficult thing is that in some cases (start, like) there really isn't any difference in meaning.

However, there are some verbs that have very different meanings.

Forget

I forgot to buy milk.  Now I have to drink my coffee black.

I forget buying milk (but there is milk in the fridge).

 

I forgot to mail my sister her birthday card...and now she is mad.

I forget drinking all that beer, but it's gone and my head aches.

Lesson 83--Stop +gerunds/infinitives

Gerunds versus Infinitives

 

Some verbs are followed by infinitives and some are followed by gerunds.  In some cases verbs are followed by both.  The difficult thing is that in some cases (start, like) there really isn't any difference in meaning.

However, there are some verbs that have very different meanings.

Stop

infinitives

He stopped to buy a newspaper.

This means that he was on the way somewhere and stopped with the purpose to buy a newspaper.  He stopped doing something so that he could buy a newspaper.

gerunds--This has two meanings.  Though people often think this means quit, it can also be a short stop.

He stopped buying newspapers.

This means that he no longer buys newspapers.

 

He stopped singing.

He was singing, then he stopped.

The combination of both of them

He stopped singing to answer the phone.