GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK
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GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

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15 THE GERUND PAGE 164<br />

b But sometimes the to-infinitive has a different meaning from the preposition +<br />

gerund. Details are in the notes below.<br />

NOTE<br />

a Agree with means to think that something is right, but agree to means to make a decision.<br />

I don't agree with cutting down trees. I think it's wrong.<br />

We all agreed to meet the next day.<br />

b We use tell... about and remind... of to report statements and thoughts.<br />

I told you about losing my credit card, didn't I?<br />

This reminds me of climbing Ben Nevis years ago.<br />

But tell/remind someone to do something reports an order or reminder.<br />

I told you to keep that card safe.<br />

Why didn't you remind me to bring a compass?<br />

c Keen on/interested in usually means a general interest, but keen to/interested to means a<br />

wish to do a particular thing.<br />

Simon is keen on cycling/interested in cycling. He does quite a lot of it.<br />

Simon is keen to go on the trip. He's never cycled in Scandinavia before.<br />

Simon was interested to hear about your cycle tour.<br />

d Happy about and pleased about express pleasure. We can also use a to-infinitive.<br />

Sam was pleased about winning/pleased to win a prize.<br />

Happy to and pleased to are also often used in polite statements.<br />

I'm pleased to meet you. We shall be pleased to accept your offer.<br />

e Afraid to can only express unwillingness caused by fear. Afraid of can have the same<br />

meaning, or it can express fear about what might happen.<br />

Many old people are afraid to cross/afraid of crossing the road in case they have an<br />

accident.<br />

Many old people are afraid of having an accident when they cross the road.<br />

NOT afraid to have an accident<br />

f Anxious to means 'wanting to', but anxious about means 'worried about'.<br />

I'm anxious to get this business settled quickly.<br />

Rodney was anxious about making a mistake.<br />

g Ashamed of expresses shame about something. Ashamed to expresses unwillingness<br />

caused by shame.<br />

I do feel rather ashamed of having told Lucy a lie.<br />

I don't think Rex can afford to pay us back, but I expect he's ashamed to admit it.<br />

h Sorry about/for or sorry to have done expresses an apology for an earlier action. Sorry with a<br />

simple to-infinitive expresses an apology for a present action.<br />

I'm sorry for causing/sorry to have caused all that trouble yesterday.<br />

Sorry to disturb you, but can I have a word?<br />

We also use sorry with a simple to-infinitive to express regret about what we say or hear.<br />

I'm sorry to have to say this, but your work is far from satisfactory.<br />

I was sorry to hear your bad news.<br />

6 To do or to doing?<br />

To can be part of a to-infinitive, or it can be a preposition.<br />

I hope to see you soon. (hope + to-infinitive)<br />

I look forward to seeing you soon. (look forward to + gerund)<br />

We can also put a noun phrase after the preposition to.<br />

I look forward to next weekend.<br />

We can use a gerund (but not an infinitive) with the verbs admit to, confess to, face<br />

up to, look forward to, object to, prefer ...to, resort to, take to; the adjectives<br />

accustomed to, close to, opposed to, resigned to, used to; and the preposition in<br />

addition to.<br />

NOTE For used to do and used to doing, • 100(2c).

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