GRAMMAR - DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS

SINGULAR		PLURAL
Near from the speaker	THIS ESTE, ESTA	Near the speaker	THESE ESTOS, ESTAS
Far from the speaker	THAT ESE, ESA, AQUEL, AQUELLA	Far from the speaker	THOSE ESOS, ESAS, AQUELLOS, AQUELLAS

GRAMMAR - GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

I. VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE GERUNDIO O INFINITIVO CON CAMBIO DE SIGNIFICADO

Hay verbos cuyo significado varía según vayan seguidos de gerundio o de "to" + infinitivo:

1. STOP ≠ GO ON

A- I stopped to read a book.

B- I stopped reading books.

A- After discussing the company’s annual revenues, the CEO went on to talk about our sales figures.
B- We can’t go on living on one income.

A. Indica el inicio de una nueva actividad.
B. Indica que se interrumpe (“STOP”) o continúa (“GO ON”) la actividad que se está haciendo.


2. 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.


3. LIKE/LOVE/HATE/PREFER

- I hate to tell you, but your friend Paul is coming home this weekend.
Odio esta situación o momento en particular.

- I like getting up early.
Me gusta realizar la actividad en general.

Atención: Would like/love/hate/prefer" to + infinitivo.

Nota: Cuando el sujeto del gerundio es distinto al de la oración principal, lo indicamos  un pronombre personal objeto / sustantivo (opción favorita de los hablantes nativos) o con un adjetivo de posesión (forma preferida por las gramáticas tradicionales).

I like my children getting up early. I like them getting early. I like their getting up early.

4. NEED
- I need to work harder.
Tengo la obligación de hacer algo.

- This room needs painting.
Hay necesidad hacerlo (en voz pasiva)


5. REMEMBER ≠ FORGET

A. Remember to buy milk on your way home.
B. I remember kissing my first girlfriend.

A. I forgot to phone Dad on his birthday.
B. I’ll never forget seeing my wife for the first time.

A. Se refiere a recordar (“REMEMBER”) u olvidar (“FORGET”) cosas que tienes o tenías que hacer.
B. Se refiere a recordar (“REMEMBER”) u olvidar (“FORGET”) cosas que ocurrieron en el pasado.

6. REGRET

- We regret to inform you that your application for a loan of 5000 Euros has not been accepted.
Se utiliza para comunicar malas noticias.

- Do you regret leaving school early and not going to university?
Lamentar cosas que se hicieron en el pasado.

7. MEAN
- I didn’t mean to hurt you. (= "INTEND")
- Her new job will mean travelling abroad. (= "MAKE SOMETHING NECESSARY")

II. VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE GERUNDIO O INFINITIVO SIN CAMBIO DE SIGNIFICADO 

Algunos verbos pueden llevar detrás tanto gerundio como "to" + infinitivo sin que su significado cambie:

Advise, allow, begin, can't bear, cease, continue, permit, recommend, start.

Atención - Con advise, allow, permit y recommend:

- Utiliza el infinitivo si llevan complemento directo: I recommended her to travel.

- Emplea el gerundio si no lo llevan: I recommended travelling.

III. USOS DEL GERUNDIO E INFINITIVO

USOS DEL GERUNDIO:
1. Después de las preposiciones.	She left without kissing me.  We’re thinking of going to Italy.
2. Después de los verbos que expresan gustos u opiniones:   can’t stand – enjoy – dislike – don’t/wouldn’t mind – hate – like – love – prefer – fancy - detest	I enjoy eating out. Do you mind giving me your address?
3. Como el sujeto de una oración cuando se habla de hechos o acciones en general.	Smoking is bad for you. Skiing is expensive. He considered attending the lecture. She gave up smoking a long time ago.
4. Gerundio como objecto directo:   admit, advise, avoid, complete, consider, discuss, finish, give up, imagine.
4. Con el verbo go para referirse a deportes y otras actividades.	Go climbing / dancing / fishing / shopping / swimming
5. Después de algunas formas verbales:	Be/get used to, can’t help, feel like

 

USOS DE  “TO” + INFINITIVO:
1. “INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE”: PARA + INFINITIVO FORMA NEGATIVA: NOT TO	Why did you stop working? To spend more time with my children.     I hope not to arrive late.		- Los verbos más frecuentes que solemos encontrar con “to” + infinitivo son:   AFFORD, AGREE, APPEAR, ARRANGE, ASK, ATTEMPT, BEG, CHOOSE, DARE, DECIDE, DEMAND, DESERVE, EXPECT, FAIL, HESITATE, HOPE, INTEND, LEARN, MANAGE, OFFER, PREPARE, PRETEND, PROMISE, REFUSE, SEEM, THREATEN, WAIT, WANT, WISH.   - Estos verbos pueden llevar tanto verbo + “to”+ infinitivo como verbo + objeto Indirecto + “to” + infinitivo:   ASK, BEG, EXPECT, HELP, MEAN, WANT, WOULD LIKE/LOVE/HATE/PREFER.   - Usamos “to” + infinitivo detrás del objeto indirecto de ciertos verbos:   ENABLE, FORCE, INVITE, ORDER, PERSUADE, REMIND, TEACH, TELL, WARN
2.  Detrás de sustantivos, adjetivos y adverbios.	I’d the privilege to work for him. I was happy to see you It’s too late to go out.
3. Sujeto de hechos concretos.		To give up your studies would be a mistake.

USOS DEL INFINITIVO SIN “TO”:

1. Detrás de los verbos modales, have to, be going to (I must / have to) go. I am going to play.

2. Detrás de make, let, would rather (preferir) y verbos de percepción (hear, feel, see) : He made me do it. I would rather study than go to the cinema. I heard  him play.