The gerund and the infinitive

With a number of verbs and word-groups both the gerund and the infinitive may be used. The most important of them are: to be afraid, to begin, to cease, to continue, can (cannot) afford, to dread, to fear, to forget, to hate, to intend, to like (dislike), to neglect, to prefer, to propose, to remember, to recollect, to start, to stop.

The young man began turning over the pages of a book. (Priestley)

At length she began to speak softly. (Eliot)

She continued standing near the piano. (Eliot)

She continued to look athim... (Dickens)

It is sometimes possible to find a reason for the use of a given form. With some verbs and word-groups, such as to be afraid, to forget, to hate, to like (dislike), to prefer the infinitive is mostly used with reference to a special occasion, the gerund being more appropriate to a general statement.

The child was not afraid of remaining alone, but he was afraid to remain

alone on such a stormy night.

Ребенок (вообще) не боялся оставаться один, но он боялся остаться один

в такую бурную ночь.

I was always afraid of losing his goodwill. (Llewellyn)

Я всегда.боялся потерять его расположение.

Gwendolen answered rather pettishly, and her mamma was afraid to say

more. (Eliot)

Гвендолен ответила несколько раздраженно, и ее мать побоялась

продолжать разговор.

Don’t forget shutting the windows when you leave home.

He забывайте закрывать окна, уходя из дома.

Don’t forget to shut the window when you leave home, it is very windy to-

day.

He забудьте закрыть окно, когда будете уходить из дома; сегодня очень

ветрено.

I don’t like interrupting people.

Я не люблю отрывать людей от дела.

I don’t like to interrupt him, he seems very busy.

Мне не хочется мешать ему, он, кажется, очень занят.

With the verb to remember the infinitive usually refers to the future, and the gerund to the past.

I remember seeing the book in many bookshops.

Я помню, что видел эту книгу во многих магазинах.

Remember to buy the book.

He забудьте купить эту книгу.

With the verb to stop the infinitive and the gerund have different syntactical functions.

The gerund forms part of a compound verbal aspect predicate.

They stopped talking when he came in. (Galsworthy)

Когда он вошел, они перестали говорить.

The infinitive has the function of an adverbial modifier of purpose.

She stopped to exchange a few words with a neighbour. (Dickens)

Она остановилась, чтобы поболтать с соседкой.