SUBJECT OF THE INFINITIVE / -ING FORM. The subject of the infinitive or of the the –ing form is omitted when it is the same as the subject of the verb. They want to buy a new house. She left without saying goodbye.
When the object of the infinitive or of the –ing form is different from the subject of the verb then an object pronoun (me, you, him, her, us, you, them) or noun is placed before the infinitive or the –ing form. The subject of the gerund can also be a possessive adjective (my, your etc), the possessive case or a noun.
I want him to leave now. (= He should leave.) BUT I want to leave now. (= I should leave).
I remember his/him/Tom’s/Tom complaining about the poor service in this hotel.
Exercise 1Rephrase the following as in the example.
I must go to the gym to keep fit. I want …..to go to the gym to keep fit. He must eat less. I want ………………………………..
They must tell her the truth. I want ………………………………..
You must change your clothes. I want ………………………………..
She must get up early. I want ………………………………..
I must learn to type. He wants …………………………..
She must not speak rudely. I don’t want ……………………….
She must stay in bed for a week. The doctor wants ………………….
They must leave early. They want …………………………
10. They must apologise. I want ……………………………...
Exercise 2 Use the gerund or infinitive forms of the verbs in brackets:
After she had decided …… (stay) in Turkey, she got used to …… (eat) Turkish foods.
They seem …………………. (have) plenty of money.
I’m sorry sir, I’m late, but I promise …………………….. (not / be) late again.
I remember …………… (go) to the cinema with my girl friend when I was a teenager.
He is ashamed of ……………………… (steal) that money.
I think we’d better …………………………. (exchange) names and addresses.
Would you mind …………. (show) me how ………. (work) the new machine?
She warned her child ………………………………… (not / touch) the wire.
Can you manage …………… (finish) ………………(pack) these parcels alone?
His doctor advised him ………… (give up) …………….. (sit) up late at night?
Exercise 3 Supply the appropriate form of the verbs:
She never admits …………………….. (make) mistakes.
Please avoid …………………. (be) alone with him.
When you finish ………………….. (do) your homework, call me.
She’s considering …………………… (be) a member of T.E.D. Club.
On Sundays I always practise ……………………… (talk) English with my aunt.
Do you fancy …………………….. (play) tennis this afternoon?
I dislike ………………………. (study) history.
Please try to escape …………………….. (make) him angry.
I enjoy ………………….. (walk) in the rain.