THE NOUN + INFINITIVE RULE
If there is an noun or pronoun following the main verb, it should be followed by the infinitive form.
Examples:
My mom asked me to buy some groceries.
My boss needs me to cover a class this Sunday.
I advise my friends to study hard for our test.
The last example with the verb “advise” shows just how useful this rule is. Advise is usually followed by a gerund (I advised studying for the test), but when you add a noun/pronoun object, the noun + infinitive rule takes precedence.
THE EXCEPTION: SPEND/WASTE TIME + GERUND
While the noun + infinitive rule works in almost every case, there is a common exception involving time. When the phrases spend time or waste time are used, the noun “time” is NOT followed by an infinitive. A gerund always follows these phrases. Also note that the noun “time” can be replaced by an amount of time (using the nouns months, days, hours, minutes, etc.) and a gerund is still required.
Examples:
- I spent time going to a concert.
- He wastes a lot of time watching TV.
- They have wasted four days arguing about it.
But be careful! If the noun “time” is not part of the spend time/waste timephrase, the normal noun + infinitive rule applies.
- I have time to help you today.
- They need more time to finish the test.
Hello Marisa, as you, I didn't know about it. As first it looked kind of confusing but then I read it again and it makes sense.
ResponderBorrarIs it correct if i say "Did you spend a lot of money redecorating your apartment?"
Hi Marisa! Nice entry, it comes very useful to know more about infinitives and gerunds. It is also very common to think that any form can fit in the sentences but that isn't true, a sentence can change its meaning by writing gerund or infinitive and you let us know that.
ResponderBorrarI have a question: is there a form to use spend and waste with infinitives?
Hello there Marisa, i really liked your post because, because after i read the rule you told us about the noun"time", i finally understood, why i sometimes got confused in what the sentence wants to express, now i know that the normal noun + infinitive rule is allowed.
ResponderBorrarThanks for the tip.
Hello, Marisa. I liked the specific rules that you have shared with us to use the infinitives after a noun. Also, there are special verbs like spend time and others that are followed by gerunds rather than infinitives. I didn't know they were exceptions like these, so it is interesting and important to know them. I just have a question: "Is there another exception verbs when using the infinitive's rule?
ResponderBorrar