Gerunds and infinitives · Gerundivos e infinitivos
-ing or to …?
- After some verbs, use the -ing form (gerund).
- After others, use to + base verb (infinitive).
- You learn these by meeting them often.
I enjoy reading, but I keep forgetting to return the books.
-ing ou to …?
- Após alguns verbos, use a forma -ing (gerúndio).
- Após outros, use to + verbo base (infinitivo).
- Você aprende esses encontrando-os frequentemente.
Gosto de ler, mas continuo esquecendo de devolver os livros.
verb + -ing
- enjoy, finish, stop, mind, suggest, avoid + -ing.
- I enjoy reading. She finished doing her homework.
- The -ing form acts like a noun.
verbo + -ing
- enjoy, finish, stop, mind, suggest, avoid + -ing.
- Gosto de ler. Ela terminou de fazer a lição de casa.
- A forma -ing age como um substantivo.
Choose: I enjoy ___ to music. · Escolha: I enjoy ___ to music.
“enjoy” is followed by -ing: “I enjoy listening …”. · “enjoy” é seguido por -ing: “I enjoy listening …”.
verb + to-infinitive
- want, need, decide, hope, promise, learn, would like + to + base verb.
- I want to learn English. They decided to stay.
- Some verbs take either, with little change: like, love, start.
verbo + to-infinitivo
- want, need, decide, hope, promise, learn, would like + to + verbo base.
- Quero aprender inglês. Eles decidiram ficar.
- Alguns verbos aceitam ambos, com pouca mudança: like, love, start.
After this verb — -ing or to? · Após este verbo — -ing ou to?
Some verbs take a gerund (-ing), others a to-infinitive. · Alguns verbos exigem gerundivo (-ing), outros to-infinitivo.
Complete: They decided ___ stay. (one word before the verb) · Complete: They decided ___ stay. (uma palavra antes do verbo)
“decide” is followed by a to-infinitive: “decided to stay”. · “decide” é seguido por to-infinitive: “decided to stay”.
Translate into English: 我想学英语。 · Traduza para inglês: 我想学英语。
“want” + to-infinitive: “I want to learn English.”
After prepositions → -ing
- After a preposition (at, of, about, for, in), use -ing.
- She's good at drawing. Thank you for helping.
- Never a base verb after a preposition.
Após preposições → -ing
- Após uma preposição (at, of, about, for, in), use -ing.
- Ela é boa em desenhar. Obrigado por ajudar.
- Nunca use um verbo na forma base após uma preposição.
Is this correct? “She is good at draw.” · Está correto? “She is good at draw.”
After a preposition (at), use -ing: “good at drawing”. · Após uma preposição (at), use -ing: “good at drawing”.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I enjoy to read. → ✓ I enjoy reading. — enjoy only takes -ing.
- ❌ I want reading. → ✓ I want to read. — want only takes to + verb.
- ❌ I look forward to see you. → ✓ …look forward to seeing you. — this to is a preposition.
Erros comuns
- ❌ I enjoy to read. → ✓ I enjoy reading. — enjoy só leva -ing.
- ❌ I want reading. → ✓ I want to read. — want só leva to + verbo.
- ❌ I look forward to see you. → ✓ …look forward to seeing you. — este to é uma preposição.
Match the verb to a correct ending. · Combine o verbo com uma terminação correta.
enjoy / avoid take -ing; hope / promise take to + verb — learn verbs in these two families. · enjoy / avoid take -ing; hope / promise take to + verb — aprenda verbos nestas duas famílias.
The teacher came in, and the class went quiet: “Everyone stopped ___.” · O professor entrou, e a classe ficou quieta: “Everyone stopped ___.”
stop + -ing = quit doing it; stop + to = pause in order to do it. · stop + -ing = parar de fazer; stop + to = pausar para fazer.
- Some verbs take -ing (enjoy, finish, avoid).
- Some take to + base verb (want, decide, hope).
- After a preposition, always use -ing.
- Alguns verbos levam -ing (enjoy, finish, avoid).
- Outros levam to + verbo na forma base (want, decide, hope).
- Após uma preposição, use sempre -ing.
Write one sentence about something you enjoy doing, using a verb + -ing (a gerund). · Escreva uma frase sobre algo que você gosta de fazer, usando um verbo + -ing (gerundivo).
Example: “I enjoy playing basketball with my friends.” · Exemplo: “I enjoy playing basketball with my friends.”