INFINITIVE GERUND
Forget + infinitive (cuando uno se olvida de hacer algo
que debíera haber hecho)
I think I forgot to lock the door when we left
Don´t forget to call me when you finish
Don´t forget to phone me if you need any help
Forget + gerund (imposibilidad para olvidarse de algo
que ocurrió en el pasado)
I´ll never forget walking on that amazing beach for the
first time
Remember + infinitive (acordarse de hacer algo)
He didn´t remember to turn off the heating
Please, will you remember to close the windows if you
leave?
We must remember to feed the cat before we go
Remember + gerund (recordar algo del pasado)
I remember eating on this same chair the day I graduated
I remember mentioning the issue to Mark last week
I remember coming here when I was a boy
I don´t remember seeing Jim at the party
Try + infinitive (hacer un esfuerzo para conseguir
algo)
Could you please try to be a bit less rude?
I´ll try to convince him, but I´m not sure that´s going to
change anything.
Alan tried to stop the thief as he ran away
Try + gerund (cuando queremos alcanzar un objetivo,
intentamos algo como si fuera un experimento para ver si
funciona)
A: “I need to sleep but I can´t”
B: “Why don´t you try drinking a glass of hot milk?
I can´t contact Jane. I´ve tried calling her home number
and also on her mobile, but nothing…
Try resting for a while; you may feel better
Stop + infinitive (parar en un sitio para hacer algo o
parar una acción para hacer otra)
We had been driving for hours, so we had to stop to
eat something and go to the toilet.
Let´s stop to buy some sweets
Stop + gerund (dejar de hacer algo que estamos
haciendo; parar de hacer algo)
Could you stop biting your nails?
I need to stop smoking once and for all
Need + infinitive (cuando es necesario hacer algo)
I need to see you immediately
I need to get some new shoes
Something needs doing (algo necesita de algo. En el
ejemplo abajo: tu coche necesita de una limpieza)
Your car needs cleaning (= your car needs to be cleaned)
This house needs painting (needs to be painted)
Go on + infinitive (pasar a ser algo o pasar a hacer
algo nuevo)
After a successful career as a football player, Johan
Cruyff went on to become a respected manager
Go on + gerund (continuar haciendo algo)
Some footballers go on playing professionally until they´re
nearly 40.
Mean + infinitive (tener la intención de hacer algo)
I meant to phone the electrician but I forgot
Mean + gerund (significar, X lleva consigo hacer Y)
Dieting usually means giving up things you enjoy
Like + infinitive (para hablar de hábitos y elecciones
que hacemos)
I like to eat chocolate for breakfast
I like to go to sleep before midnight
I like to swim when it´s hot
Like + gerund (cuando hablamos de actividades que nos
gusta hacer)
I like eating chocolate
I like playing video-games
I like swimming