LÍNGUA INGLESA

Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

PADRÕES VERBAIS (GERÚNDIO E INFINITIVO)

VERB PATTERNS (GERUND AND INFINITIVE)

O estudo do Gerúndio (Gerund) e do Infinitivo (Infinitive) é conhecido como Verb

Patterns (Padrões Verbais). Vamos abordar a maioria dos casos em que se deve usar uma ou
outra dessas formas verbais. Contudo, não há uma maneira simples e fácil de saber e memorizar
quais os verbos, adjetivos e substantivos que são seguidos ou não por Gerúndio ou Infinitivo.
Por isso, um bom dicionário deve ser consultado quando necessário.

É comum em inglês a ocorrência de dois verbos principais seguidos, onde o segundo

completa o sentido do primeiro. Veja dois exemplos:
I want to play the piano.
I enjoy playing the piano.

No primeiro exemplo, o verbo want requer um objeto. A função de objeto é

desempenhada por um outro verbo: play. O verbo play, nesse caso, aparece no Infinitivo (to
play):
I want to play the piano.

No segundo exemplo, o verbo enjoy também requer um objeto. Este objeto também é
o verbo play. Nesse caso, porém, o verbo play está no Gerúndio (playing):
I enjoy playing the piano.

A diferença observada acima resulta de diferentes Padrões Verbais. Os verbos em inglês

podem exigir os seguintes padrões:
• Verbo + to (Infinitivo) → padrão mais frequente;
• Verbo + -ing (Gerúndio);
• Verbo + to ou -ing sem alteração do significado ou com alteração mínima entre os dois
formatos;
• Verbo + to ou -ing com alteração substancial do significado;
• Verbo + verbo (sem to ou -ing).

GERÚNDIO (GERUND)

O Gerúndio é a forma verbal caracterizada pela terminação -ing. Desempenha as

seguintes funções nominais básicas:

1. Sujeito:
Reading is very nice.
Studying English is very important.
Nesse caso, também é possível empregar o Infinitivo, embora bem menos comum e
mais formal:
To Read is very nice.
To study English is very important.

2. Objeto direto (após alguns verbos específicos):

He finished writing the poem.
You should keep practicing.

1
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias
3. Complemento nominal (após preposições):

They are interested in sponsoring young athletes.

They have an interest in sponsoring young athletes.

A seguir, estudaremos mais detalhadamente as aplicações da forma verbal gerúndio:

USOS:

Usa-se o Gerúndio:

1. Como substantivo:
Singing is her favorite hobby.
Swimming is good for you.
Painting is his favorite pastime.

OBSERVAÇÃO: pode-se também usar o Infinitivo como substantivo, porém é bem menos
comum e mais formal.
To sing is her favorite hobby.
To swim is good for you.
To paint is his favorite activity.

2. Após preposições:

Após uma preposição (about, against, at, in, of, for, on, after, before, etc.), o verbo
vem SEMPRE no Gerúndio; muitas vezes, a preposição forma unidade com um adjetivo, um
substantivo ou verbo:
After resting I'll make the bed.
Without knowing what to do, I went home earlier.
Before opening the letter, she took a deep breath.
You can save 10% by booking on the internet.
She screamed instead of speaking softly.

• Adjetivo + preposição + -ing:

They are afraid of losing the match.
I'm interested in meeting him.
She is good/bad in persuading people.
He is disappointed about seeing such a bad report.
She is glad about getting married again.
I'm worried about making mistakes.
I am tired of waiting you.
He is famous for singing songs.

OBSERVAÇÃO: alguns adjetivos podem ser seguidos tanto por Infinitivo quanto por Gerúndio,
sem alteração o significado:
She was afraid to open the door.
She was afraid of upsetting her parents.

2
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

• Substantivo + preposição + -ing:

What are the chances of finding a taxi?
What is the advantage of paying now?
He has difficulty in talking to the public.
He is in doubt about buying another car.
I like the idea of moving here.
There's no interest in writing letters.
This is a simple method of finding solutions.
There are good reasons for eating a lot of fruit.
There's a risk of digging too deep.

• Verbo + preposição + -ing:

I thought about asking my father for help.
He apologized for being late.
In the lecture he talked about emigrating.
She thanked us for helping her.
We succeeded in persuading her.
I want to congratulate you on making such a good speech.
She dreams of being a pop star.
Why do you insist on telling me the same old story?

3. Com a função de objeto direto (com ou sem preposição):

I miss playing baseball every day.
I enjoy reading.
They were prevented from swimming.
We have to practice dancing for our presentation next week.
Can you imagine staying at home on Saturday night? That is too boring.

Os seguintes verbos são seguidos somente por Gerúndio:

admit - adore - advocate - anticipate - appreciate - avoid - carry on - consider -

contemplate - continue - delay - deny - detest - dislike - endure - enjoy - entail -
escape - excuse - face - fancy - feel - finish - forgive - give up - imagine - include -
involve - justify - keep - mention - mind - miss - postpone - practice - prevent - put
off - recommend - regret - report - resent - resist - resume - risk - suggest -
understand - quit

4. O gerúndio também é usado após os verbos go e come quando falamos sobre atividade
física ou esporte, e na expressão go shopping:
We are going riding on bicycle this afternoon.
They went skiing last winter.
Would you like to come jogging with me?
When are you going shopping?
I go shopping on Mondays.

3
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

5. Após determinadas expressões:

• CAN'T STAND (não suportar):

I can't stand being far from you.

• CAN'T HELP (não poder evitar):

He couldn't help falling in love with her.

• CAN'T FACE (não poder enfrentrar):

He couldn't face driving all the way to Los Angeles.

• BE WORTH (valer a pena):

It was worth listening to him.
It is worth speaking more than one language.
It is not worth waiting.

• FEEL LIKE (estar a fim de, estar com vontade de):

I feel like having a cup of tea.
Do you feel like going home?

• IT IS NO GOOD (não é bom):

It is no good talking to this boy.

• IT IS GOOD (é bom):
It is good talking in English as much as you can to improve the language.
It is good thinking before talking what comes to our mind.

• IT IS NO USE (não adianta):

It is no use talking to the headmaster. He won't help us.

• THERE IS NO POINT (não há por que, não há razão):

There is no point researching another source for our project.

• WHAT ABOUT / HOW ABOUT (que tal):

What about going to the zoo?
How about walking home instead of taking the car?
How about going for a meal?

• LOOK FORWARD TO (aguardar ansiosamente):

We are looking forward to meeting you again.

• BE USED TO (estar acostumado a):

In Norway we are used to having a lot of snow.

• OBJECT TO (opor-se, recusar):

They objected to sitting in the smoking section.

4
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

INFINITIVO (INFINITIVE)

Usa-se o Infinitivo:

1. Após the first, the second, the third, the last, the only one, the next, etc.:
I was the first to arrive this morning.
He is always the last to get up the bed.
The journalist was the only one to realize my mistake.

2. Após adjetivos, quando não forem seguidos por preposição e quando um adjetivo ou
advérbio estiver acompanhado de too ou enough:
My car is hard to park because it is too big.
It is easy to learn any language when you practice every day.
We are happy to be here.
I think my daughter is too young to get married.
John was surprised to get Priscilla's love letter.
My children aren't old enough to travel alone.
I was shocked to see how ill he was.
This exercise was the easiest to do.
She is anxious to finish school and get a job.
I'm pleased to see you.
I was stupid to believe him.
It's very likely to rain.
You are welcome to stay as long as you like.

3. Após alguns verbos. Os mais comuns são:

afford - agree - appear - arrange - ask - attempt - can't bear - be able - beg - begin
- care - choose - consent - continue - dare - decide - determine (= to make a
strong decision) - expect - fail - forget - go on - happen - hate - have - help -
hesitate - hope - intend - invite - learn - like - love - manage - mean - need -
neglect - offer - plan - prefer - prepare - pretend - promise - propose - refuse -
regret - remember - seek - seem - start - swear - threaten - trouble - try - want -
wish

4. Would like (gostaria), would love (adoraria), would prefer (preferiria) e would hate
(detestaria) pedem sempre Infinitivo:
I would like to ask a question.
I'd love to marry him.
I'd prefer to stay at home tonight.
She would hate to stay here all day.

5. Com os pronomes relativos, com exceção de why, que é seguido de Forma Básica:
I don't know what to say.
They told me where to go.

5
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias
I know exactly when to talk to you.
I will teach you how to behave in a lecture.
I wonder who to invite to the party. (= ... who I should invite...)
I don't know which to choose.

6. Para indicar a finalidade, com que propósito se faz ou se quer algo:

I'd like something to stop my toothache.
Have you got the key to open this door?
I need some more books to read.
I sat down to rest.
I'm going to Austria to learn German.
He needs a place to live in.
The kids want somewhere to practice their songs.
I brought an extra sandwich to give to you.
To switch on, press the red buttom.

7. Após a estrutura verbo + objeto + (not) to + infinitivo. Dentre esses verbos, os mais comuns
são:

advise - allow - ask - (can't) bear - beg - cause - command - compel - encourage - expect -
forbid - force - get - hate - help - instruct - intend - invite - leave - like - love - mean - need -
oblige - order - permit - persuade - prefer - recommend - remind - request - teach - tell -
tempt - trouble - want - warn - wish
I want you to listen.
They don't allow people to smoke here.
He asked me to stay here.
I'll teach you to talk in English.
Remind me to phone Richard.
She expects me to call her.
Tell the students to study more.
Cash machines permit you to withdraw money at any time.

8. Something, anything, nothing e outras palavras similares são frequentemente seguidas por
for + object + infinitive:
There's nothing for the cats to eat.
Is there anybody for Andrea to play with in the playground?
Have you got something for me to eat?
I must find somewhere for him to play the piano.

6
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

ALGUNS VERBOS PODEM SER SEGUIDOS TANTO POR GERÚNDIO QUANTO POR INFINITIVO.
VEJA ALGUNS DELES:

advise - allow - can't bear - begin - continue - forbid - forget - go - go on - hate - hear -
intend - like - love - permit - prefer - propose - regret - remember - see - start - stop - try -
watch

VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE INFINITIVO OU GERÚNDIO SEM MUDANÇA DE SIGNIFICADO:

Pode-se usar Infinitivo ou Gerúndio, sem diferença de significado, depois dos seguintes
verbos: attempt, begin, can't bear, continue, intend, like, dislike, love, hate, prefer, start, be
(not) acostumed to.
He couldn't bear seeing the dog in pain. / He couldn't bear to see the dog in pain.
I can't bear being bored. / I can't bear to be bored.
I started playing the violin when I was ten. / I started to play the violin when I was
ten.
She began working here three months ago. / She began to work here three
months ago.
I prefer playing in defence. / I prefer to play in defence.
I will attempt getting there on time. / I will attempt to get there on time.
He intends telling her what he thinks. / He intends to tell her what he thinks.]
I'm not accostumed giving personal information about myself to strangers. / I'm
not accostumed to give personal information about myself to strangers.
He likes swimming. / He likes to swim.
I hate working on weekends. / I hate to work on weekends.
I love cooking. / I love to cook.
Cecily dislike sharing her room. / Cecily dislike to share her room.

OBSERVAÇÃO:

No inglês britânico, like geralmente vem seguido de Gerúndio quando significa 'gostar
de fazer algo'. Quando like expressa o modo como alguém gosta de fazer algo ou acredita que
aquela forma seja a mais conveniente, vem obrigatoriamente seguido de Infinitivo.
I like going for walks Sunday mornings. (= Something I enjoy doing.)
I like to see the dentist twice a year. (= I believe that it is more convenient to do.)

VERBOS SEGUIDOS DE INFINITIVO OU GERÚNDIO COM MUDANÇA DE SIGNIFICADO

Alguns verbos aceitam as duas estruturas, no entanto com usos e sentidos diferentes.

remember - forget - go on - mean - try - regret - stop

7
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

1. Remember

• Remember + gerúndio se refere a uma ação passada, significa lembrar-se de ter feito
algo:
I remember going to my uncle's farm every summer when I was a child.
I remember playing soccer every day when I was a kid.

• Remember + infinitivo refere-se a uma ação futura, significa lembrar-se de fazer algo:
Remember to pull down the blinds.
When you go out, remember to buy today's paper.

2. Forget

• Forget + gerúndio refere-se a uma ação habitual ou a uma ação passada; significa
esquecer ou não do que fez ou do que aconteceu:
He always forgets locking the door.
I'll never forget meeting the Queen.

• Forget + infinitivo pode referir-se a uma ação futura, como também pode significar
esquecer-se de fazer algo:
Take care, and don't forget to write.
Don't forget to call me on Saturday.
I forgot to pay the cell phone bill.

ATENÇÃO: com forget não se menciona o local onde o objeto foi esquecido. Para mencionar o
lugar usa-se leave:
I forgot my umbrella. / I left my umbrella at home.

3. Go on

• Go on + gerúndio significa continuar.

She went on talking about her illness until we all went to sleep.
The employees went on working until the next morning.

• Go on + infinitive refere-se a uma mudança de ação, isto é, quando alguém passa a

realizar uma ação diferente:
After writing the compositions, the students went on to count the words.
She stopped talking about that and went on to describe her other problems.

4. Mean

• Mean + gerúndio significa implicar em, significar:

Accepting that job offer will mean moving to a different city.

• Mean + infinitivo significa ter a intenção de fazer algo:

I don't think she means to get married for the moment.

8
 LÍNGUA INGLESA
Professor: Marcelo Pimentel Farias

5. Try

• Try + gerúndio significa experimentar, provar, fazer alguma coisa para ver o que vai
acontecer:
Try eating French snails.
I tried sending her flowers, writting her letters, giving her presents, but she still
wouldn't speak to me.

• Try + infinitivo significa fazer esforço por algo, tentar fazer alguma coisa:
The thin boy tried to lift the chair but it was too heavy for him.
Try to eat more vegetables.

6. Regret

• Regret + gerúndio significa lamentar-se por ter feito algo:

I regret leaving the party before midnight, but I had to wake up early the next day.
I regret leaving school at 14 - it was a big mistake.

• Regret + infinitivo geralmente significa lamentar o que se vai informar. Na maioria das
vezes é usado ao falar de más notícias:
I regret to tell you, you haven't passed the exam.
We regret to inform passengers that the 152 train is one hour late.

7. Stop

• Stop + gerúndio significa deixar de, parar de realizar uma ação:

I stopped smoking.
Please stop crying and tell me what's wrong.

• Stop + infinitivo significa parar (o que se está fazendo) para fazer outra coisa:
She stopped to smoke.
We stopped to admire the scenery.