En inglés, cuando van dos verbos seguidos pueden darse dos construcciones:
- Verbo + verbo en -ing: I enjoy reading.
- Verbo+ to + verbo en infinitivo: They seem to have plenty of Money.
Sin embargo, hay que señalar que el uso de una u otra fórmula no viene determinado por una regla determinada sino que depende directamente de cuál sea el primer verbo.
- Después de algunos verbos se usa -ing (gerundio). Estos son los más usuales:
| Usos | Ejemplos | Problemas / Notas |
| Pon el gerundio: | ||
| 1. Después de las preposiciones. | She left without kissing me. We’re thinking of going to Italy. | Los verbos más frecuentes que solemos encontrar con el gerundio son: like, love, hate, enjoy, miss, feel like, mind, finish, risk, practise, put off, stop, suggest, can’t help, fancy, admit, deny, give up, imagine, keep (on), put off (postpone), spend time, can’t stand, delay, regret, avoid, consider, involve, go on (=continue) |
| 2. Después de algunos verbos. | I enjoy eating out. Do you mind giving me your address? | |
| 3. Como el sujeto de una frase. | Smoking is bad for you. Skiing is expensive | |
DESPUES DE ALGUNOS VERBOS SE USA INFINITIVO. Pon 'to' + Infinitivo: | ||
| 1. Para dar una respuesta a la pregunta ‘Why’ (¿por que?) | Why did you stop working? - To spend more time with my children. | Observa los ejemplos con el negativo ‘not to’: We hope not to be in the same flat next year. She decided not to get married. Los verbos más frecuentes que solemos encontrar con 'to' + infinitivo son: would like, want, need, decide, hope, arrange, expect, plan, forget, seem, appear, wish, promise, offer, refuse, learn, manage, afford, agree, fail, tend, happen, mean, prepare, pretend, threaten, attempt. |
| 2. Después de los adjetivos | It’s not easy to find a good man. | |
| 3. Después de algunos verbos | I forgot to phone the bank. Sheneeds to see you urgently. | |
GERUNDIO E INFINITIVO CUANDO LOS DOS SON POSIBLES
Existen verbos con los que se puede poner el gerundio (-‘ing’) o el infinitivo con ‘to’.En algunos, el significado de la combinación de los dos verbos cambiará al poner infinitivo o gerundio.
Lee los siguientes ejemplos y su explicación en español.
STOP
- I stopped to have a beer.
Se interrumpe la actividad que se está haciendo para beber una cerveza.
- I have stopped drinking beer.
Se interrumpe la actividad (en este caso de beber cerveza).
TRY
- I tried to lift the box but it was too heavy.
Se intenta algo difícil que requiere esfuerzo.
- Why don’t you try closing the window if the traffic is too noisy?
Se intenta un experimento, test o prueba para ver si funciona.
LIKE
- I like to get up at 6am.
Me gusta el resultado de la actividad porque me da tiempo a desayunar y hacer otras cosas
tranquilmente.
- I like getting up at 6am.
Realmente me gusta realizar la actividad.
NEED
- I need to work harder.
Tengo la obligación de hacer algo.
- This room needs painting.
Hay necesidad hacerlo (en voz pasiva)
REMEMBER Y FORGET
1. Remember to buy milk on your way home.
2. I remember kissing my first girlfriend.
1. I forgot to phone Dad on his birthday.
2. I’ll never forget seeing my wife for the first time. She looked beautiful.
1. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que tienes o tenías que hacer.
2. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.
REGRET
- We regret to inform you that your application for a loan of 5000 Euros has not been accepted.
Normalmente se utiliza para comunicar malas noticias.
- Do you regret leaving school early and not going to university?
Lamentas cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.
GO ON
- After winning the Kings Cup, Valencia went on to win the Champions League.
Expresa un cambio de actividad.
- They went on complaining about their holiday all evening.
Expresa que se continua realizando la misma actividad.
- I stopped to have a beer.
Se interrumpe la actividad que se está haciendo para beber una cerveza.
- I have stopped drinking beer.
Se interrumpe la actividad (en este caso de beber cerveza).
TRY
- I tried to lift the box but it was too heavy.
Se intenta algo difícil que requiere esfuerzo.
- Why don’t you try closing the window if the traffic is too noisy?
Se intenta un experimento, test o prueba para ver si funciona.
LIKE
- I like to get up at 6am.
Me gusta el resultado de la actividad porque me da tiempo a desayunar y hacer otras cosas
tranquilmente.
- I like getting up at 6am.
Realmente me gusta realizar la actividad.
NEED
- I need to work harder.
Tengo la obligación de hacer algo.
- This room needs painting.
Hay necesidad hacerlo (en voz pasiva)
REMEMBER Y FORGET
1. Remember to buy milk on your way home.
2. I remember kissing my first girlfriend.
1. I forgot to phone Dad on his birthday.
2. I’ll never forget seeing my wife for the first time. She looked beautiful.
1. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que tienes o tenías que hacer.
2. Se refiere a recordar u olvidar cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.
REGRET
- We regret to inform you that your application for a loan of 5000 Euros has not been accepted.
Normalmente se utiliza para comunicar malas noticias.
- Do you regret leaving school early and not going to university?
Lamentas cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.
GO ON
- After winning the Kings Cup, Valencia went on to win the Champions League.
Expresa un cambio de actividad.
- They went on complaining about their holiday all evening.
Expresa que se continua realizando la misma actividad.
EXERCISES.
| Elige la forma correcta del verbo en las siguientes frases.1. I’ll try your writing next lesson. 2. Why do you always forget things which are important to me, but you always remember things which are important to you? 3. I regret my camera with me to Thailand. 4. This flat needs to , it’s absolutely disgusting! 5. On the way to the shops this morning I stopped to Mrs. Grimble whose dog died last week. 6. Do you remember that car when we were kids? 7. After the ceremony at the church we went on dinner in a restaurant, and then a few of us went on at a club. 8. If the car won’t start, try it. 9. If you stop , and sex you don’t live longer, it just feels like it. 10. I regret you Mr. Smith that you only have 24 hours more to live. I’m sorry, but I forget you yesterday! |
Elige el infitivo con ‘to’, o el gerundio. Sigue el ejemplo: Carol isn’t very sociable. She doesn’t enjoy to 1. Craig used in London. 2. Stephanie loves in restaurants. 3. Angeles and Craig hope to India next year. 4. When I retire I’m going to learn the saxophone. 5. My crazy dentist wanted all of my teeth! 6. It’s difficult a good builder in Valencia. 7. is less popular in Europe, but more popular in developing countries. 8. It was difficult, but Harry managed a coffee without brandy. 9. I haven’t got any change. Would you mind me a Euro for the coffee machine? 10. Finally, at the age of 49, Danny decided married. 11. Have you finished the computer? 12. Terry offered us a lift to the airport. *give us a lift = take us in his car 13. We were surprised that you’ve sold your flat. 14. It’s always better before you buy something expensive. 15. Would you like out for a drink tomorrow night? 16. Dan’s very good at women, but he’s very bad at relationships. 17. Michael isn’t allowed Coca Cola because it’s bad for his teeth. 18. ‘Have you ever thought of a language school?’ asked Craig. 19. Pepito wanted English, but he couldn’t afford the CD ROM. 20. If the computer isn’t working, why don’t we try it with a hammer? |
