Verbal Expressions + Gerund

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1 Worksheet Verbal Expressions + Gerund Many verbal expressions take either to + infinitive or the ing form, or sometimes both. There are no rules to apply. You just have to memorize them! In German, all of these verbal expressions use the zu + infinitive structure: I agreed to wait for 1 hour. Ich erklärte mich damit einverstanden, eine Stunde zu warten. I suggested waiting for 1 hour. Ich habe vorgeschlagen, eine Stunde zu warten. Note! In English, we do not use a comma! The to + infinitive or the ing form can only be used with 1 subject. Compare: I hope to win the lottery some day. Ich hoffe, eines Tages im Lotto zu gewinnen. I hope that you stop smoking. Ich hoffe, dass du aufhörst zu rauchen. I recommended staying overnight at a hotel. Ich habe empfohlen, im Hotel zu übernachten. He recommended that we stay overnight at a hotel. Er hat empfohlen, dass wir im Hotel übernachten. Here s a list of common verbs that only take to + infinitive (refer to page 143 in your First Choice book for more verbal expressions and the German translations): Afford to do Agree to do Arrange to do Need to do Choose to do Decide to do Hope to do Forget to do Manage to do Try to do Plan to do Promise to do Refuse to do Remember to do Want to do For example: We re planning to go on holiday this summer. Wir planen, diesen Sommer in den Urlaub zu fahren. He decided to cancel the meeting. Er hat sich dafür entschieden, den Termin abzusagen. We also use the infinitive form after would expressions : I would like to go home early from work. Learning Tip: Don t try to memorize every expression at once. Choose 5 expressions and write them on flash cards. Then try to use the new expressions in sentences on the back of the card. Every day, read through the 5 cards until you have memorized them. Then choose 5 new expressions to learn. Also try to translate these verbal expressions into German as much as possible so you get used to (sich daran gewöhnen) the different structure in English. Cornelsen Verlag GmbH & Co. OHG, Berlin 2008, 1

2 1 Match the sentences 1 I can t afford a to stop smoking, but he hasn t yet. 2 He promised b to call your mother it s her birthday! 3 My husband refuses c to take one year off work to travel abroad. 4 Don t forget d to do online banking. I don t know why! 5 My neighbours are trying e to buy myself a new car this year. 6 She d like f to sell their home. Here s a list of common verbs that only take ING: Avoid Begin Can t help Can t stand Consider Continue Enjoy Finish Imagine Mention Miss Not mind Postpone Practise Recommend Start Stop Suggest For example: I started learning to play the saxophone last year. Ich habe letztes Jahr angefangen, Saxofon zu spielen. 2 Write complete sentences using the correct verb form, gerund and/or the to + infinitive form. 1 play / football / he / miss 2 would like / boss / postpone / our / to lunch / go 3 practise / you / need / speak / English 4 not / he / abroad / would / mind / move 5 not / I / can / stand / up / early / get / so 6 stop / she / want / work / much /so Cornelsen Verlag GmbH & Co. OHG, Berlin 2008, 2

3 We also use the ING form after prepositions: Dream of Be interested in Apologize for Be used to Give up Look forward to Think about Decide against I ve always dreamt of going to the Bahamas. 3 Fill in the blank with a verbal expression from the box above. 1 She learning a new language. 2 I ve wanted to smoking for years, but it s too hard. 3 We seeing you soon. 4 Have you ever starting your own business? 5 My kids going to bed early. 6 He still has not being late. Some verbs can take both the gerund or the to + infinitive form: Like Love Hate Start Begin prefer I don t like to work late = I don t like working late. 4 Answer the questions in complete sentences. 1 Do you like saving money? Why or why not? 2 What would you prefer to do, move abroad or stay where you are now? 3 Name three things you love to do. 4 What do you hate at work? 5 Do you prefer your banking online or going to a bank? 6 What new hobby would you like to start? Cornelsen Verlag GmbH & Co. OHG, Berlin 2008, 3

4 5 Translate the sentences into English using the to+infinitive or ING form. 1 Am Wochenende wollte ich mit dir nach Berlin fahren. 2 Wir haben noch nicht angefangen, Geld für unser neues Haus zu sparen. 3 Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, reich zu sein. 4 Er hat das Buch zu Ende gelesen. 5 Ich muss daran denken, ein Geschenk für meine Mutter zu kaufen. 6 Er hätte nichts dagegen, nach Frankreich umzuziehen. 7 Wir würden uns freuen, neue Leute kennen zu lernen. 8 Ich habe vergessen, die Tür zu schließen. 9 Ich könnte mir nicht vorstellen, noch einmal ins Ausland zu gehen. 10 Seit seiner Kindheit träumt er davon, sein eigener Chef zu sein. Cornelsen Verlag GmbH & Co. OHG, Berlin 2008, 4

5 Answers Exercise 1 1) e; 2) a; 3) d; 4) b; 5) f; 6) c Exercise 2 1 He misses playing football. 2 Our boss would like to postpone going to lunch. 3 You need to practise speaking English. 4 He wouldn t mind moving abroad. 5 I can t stand getting up so early. 6 She wants to stop working so much. Exercise 3 1 She is interested in learning a new language. 2 I ve wanted to give up smoking for years, but it s too hard. 3 We look forward to seeing you soon. 4 Have you ever thought about starting your own business? 5 My kids are used to going to bed early. 6 He still has not apologized for being late. Exercise 4 Answers vary Exercise 5 1 I wanted to go to Berlin with you at the weekend/this weekend. 2 We haven t yet started saving/to save money for our new home/house. 3 I can t imagine being rich. 4 He finished reading the book. 5 I have to remember to buy a gift for my mother. 6 He wouldn t mind moving to France. 7 We would enjoy getting to know new people. 8 I ve forgotten to close the door. 9 I couldn t imagine going abroad again. 10 He has been dreaming of being his own boss since he was a child. Cornelsen Verlag GmbH & Co. OHG, Berlin 2008, 5