I. Nhóm 1: V + to infinitive / V-ing (KHÔNG khác nghĩa)

Các động từ:

begin
start
continue
like
love
hate
prefer

Các động từ trên có thể theo sau bởi to infinitive hoặc gerund mà ý nghĩa hầu như không đổi.

Ví dụ

He began to laugh.
= He began laughing.

Phân biệt sắc thái nghĩa (sự khác nhau nhỏ đối với like/love/hate/prefer)

To-infinitive → mang ý thích lựa chọn nào hơn khi có nhiều lựa chọn
Gerund → mang ý nghĩa kinh nghiệm, thói quen, sở thích

Ví dụ:

I like to meet the public.
(Tôi thích gặp công chúng – mang tính lựa chọn)

I like meeting the public.
(Tôi thích việc gặp công chúng – nói về sở thích)

II. Nhóm 2: V + to infinitive / V-ing (KHÁC nghĩa)

Các động từ:

remember
forget
regret
try
stop
need
go on
mean

1️⃣ NEED

Need to do
= cần phải làm (chủ động)

Tom needs to work harder.

Need doing
= cần được làm (bị động)
= need to be done

The grass needs cutting.
= The grass needs to be cut.

2️⃣ STOP

Stop to do
= dừng lại để làm việc khác

They stopped to look at the pictures.

Stop doing
= ngừng hẳn việc đang làm

They stopped smoking because it is bad for their health.

3️⃣ REMEMBER / FORGET / REGRET

Remember / forget / regret + to V

= nhớ / quên / tiếc sẽ làm gì (hiện tại hoặc tương lai)

Remember to send this letter.
Don’t forget to buy flowers.

I regret to inform you that the train was canceled.

Remember / forget / regret + V-ing

= nhớ / quên / tiếc đã làm gì (quá khứ)

I still remember paying her $2.

She will never forget meeting the Queen.

He regrets leaving school early.

4️⃣ TRY

Try to do
= cố gắng làm

She tries to pass the entrance exam.

Try doing
= thử làm

I tried taking some aspirins but they didn’t help.

5️⃣ GO ON

Go on doing
= tiếp tục cùng một việc

The Minister went on talking for two hours.

We can’t go on living like this.

Go on to do
= chuyển sang làm việc khác

After discussing the economy, the Minister went on to talk about foreign policy.

6️⃣ MEAN

Mean + to V
= dự định làm gì
= intend to V

I didn’t mean to hurt you.
She means to start her own business next year.

Mean + V-ing
= bao gồm / có nghĩa là
= involve

Being a teacher means working very hard.
This job means traveling abroad frequently.

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Exercises – Bài tập

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form (gerund or infinitive) to complete the following sentences

1. 1. She enjoys (play/ playing) tennis on weekends.
   2. He needs (study/ studying) more to pass the exam.
   3. They love (travel/ traveling) to new places.
   4. Do you prefer (stay/ staying) at home or going out?
   5. I stopped (talk/ talking) because they entered the room.
   6. We decided (go/ going) out for dinner tonight.
   7. She forgot (buy/ buying) milk at the grocery store.
   8. He tried (fix/ fixing) the car himself but failed.
   9. They discussed (move/ moving) to a new city.
   10. I can’t imagine (live/ living) without my phone.
   11. She offered (help/ helping) him with his homework.
   12. He hopes (find/ finding) a better job soon.
   13. They managed (finish/ finishing) the project ahead of schedule.
   14. I avoided (talk/ talking) to him about the issue.
   15. She agreed (meet/ meeting) us at the café.
   16. He enjoys (cook/ cooking) dinner for his friends.
   17. We planned (visit/ visiting) the museum next weekend.
   18. She admitted (make/ making) a mistake in her report.
   19. They decided (take/ taking) the train instead of driving.
   20. I promised (call/ calling) you as soon as I arrive.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using gerunds or infinitives

1. 1. “Please don’t smoke here,” she said to us. 

=> She asked us ……….……….……….……….……….………….

1. 2. They want to go to the beach this weekend.

=> They plan ……….……….……….……….……….………………

1. 3. I find it hard to wake up early in the morning. 

=> I have difficulty ……….……….……….……….……….……….

1. 4. “Could you open the window?” he asked. 

=> He asked me ……….……….……….……….……….…………..

1. 5. I love to watch movies on weekends. 

=> I enjoy ……….……….……….……….……….…………………

1. 6. She forgot to turn off the lights. 

=> She forgot ……….……….……….……….……….…………….

1. 7. My father likes to read newspapers every morning. 

=> My father enjoys ……….……….……….……….……….……..

1. 8. We decided to take a trip to the mountains. 

=> We decided ……….……….……….……….……….…………..

1. 9. She continued to talk despite the interruption. 

=> She kept ……….……….……….……….……….………..…….

1. 10. I hope to visit Japan someday. 

=>  I look forward ……….……….……….……….……….……….

Exercise 3: Choose the appropriate verb form (gerund or infinitive) in the blank

(Bài tập 3: Chọn dạng động từ thích hợp (gerund hoặc infinitive) vào chỗ trống)

1. 1. She avoids (eat) fast food because it’s unhealthy.
   2. He offered (help) me with my homework.
   3. I enjoy (listen) to music while I work.
   4. They decided (go) to the cinema instead of staying home.
   5. She apologized for (be) late to the meeting.
   6. Do you mind (open) the window? It’s getting stuffy in here.
   7. It’s important (learn) a second language these days.
   8. I can’t afford (buy) a new car right now.
   9. He stopped (smoke) when he realized it was affecting his health.
   10. She suggested (have) dinner at that new restaurant downtown.
   11. We need (finish) this project by Friday.
   12. I love (read) novels before bedtime.
   13. They agreed (meet) at the café after work.
   14. He forgot (bring) his umbrella and got caught in the rain.
   15. I’m looking forward (see) you at the party next week.

Exercise 4: Choose the correct answer among the 4 answers A, B, C

(Bài tập 4: Lựa chọn đáp án đúng trong 4 đáp án A, B, C)

1.. She avoids ………. late to work by leaving home early.

A. being

B. to be

C. be

2. We are considering ………. a new car next year.

A. buying

B. to buy

C. buys

3. He enjoys ………. football with his friends every weekend.

A. playing

B. to play

C. plays

4. It’s important ………. a balanced diet for good health.

A. to have

B. having

C. have

5. Do you mind ………. the door for me, please?

A. to open

B. opening

C. open

6. She hopes ………. her dream job after graduation.

A. finding

B. to find

C. finds

7. They decided ………. their holiday in Spain next summer.

A. spending

B. to spend

C. spend

8. He agreed ………. extra hours to finish the project on time.

A. working

B. to work

C. works

9. I love ………. new languages because it opens up new opportunities.

A. learning

B. to learn

C. learns

10. She apologized for ………. her friend’s feelings with her remarks.

A. hurt

B. to hurt

C. hurting

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