5. Gerunds and infinitives - complex forms

to do / to be done

infinitive form when the reported action refers to the future or present

to be doing

infinitive form when the reported action is simultaneous to the reporting

to have been doing

infinitive form to emphasize duration previous to the reporting

doing / being done

gerund form any time

having done / having been done

gerund form when the reported action is previous to the reporting

He denied stealing the money.

He / denied / steal / the money.

(simple gerund)

(It’s clear the money was stolen before denying it.)

He denied having stolen the money.

He / denied / steal / the money.

(perfect gerund)

to have done / to have been done

infinitive form when the reported action is previous to the reporting

She regretted marrying too early.

She / regretted / marry / too early.

(simple gerund)

(It’s clear she married before regretting it.)

She regretted having married too early.

She / regretted / marry / too early.

(perfect gerund)

He denied being married.

He / denied / being / married.

(simple gerund)

(He denied that he was married now at the time of denial.)

He denied having been married.

He / denied / being / married.

(perfect gerund)

(He denied that he had been married before, in the past.)

It was stupid of me to say anything on Twitter.

It / was stupid of me / say / anything on Twitter.

(simple infinitive)

It was stupid of me to have said anything on Twitter.

It / was stupid of me / say / anything on Twitter.

(perfect infinitive)

I’m very glad to work here.

I’m very glad / work / here.

(simple infinitive) now

I’m very glad to have worked here.

I’m very glad / work / here.

(perfect infinitive) in the past

I’m glad to be spending this weekend with you.

I’m glad / spend / this weekend with you.

(continuous infinitive) in progress

You shouldn’t be doing this right now, should you?

You shouldn’t / do / this right now, should you?

(continuous infinitive) in progress

I’m glad to have been sharing my life with you.

I’m glad / share / my life with you.

(perfect continuous infinitive) duration from earlier

They are thought to have been hiding in the mountains.

They are thought / hide / in the mountains.

(perfect continuous infinitive) duration from earlier

I need to talk to John.

I … John.

need, talk, present simple

He wants to be sent home.

He … home.

want present simple

send, passive present simple

They seem to be having fun.

They … fun.

seem present simple

have, present continuous

I’m glad to have had the honor of meeting him.

I’m … the honor of meeting him.

glad, have, present perfect

She claims to have been fired for no reason.

She … for no reason.

claim present simple

fire passive present perfect

They’re thought to have been hiding here.

They … here.

think past simple,

hide passive present perfect continuous

She regretted marrying so young.

She … so young.

regret, marry, present simple

He denied being offered a bribe.

He … a bribe.

deny, offer, past simple, passive present continuous

bribe - to illegally give someone, especially a public official, money or a gift in order to persuade them to do something for you

He’s accused of having robbed a bank.

He … a bank.

passive present simple accuse,

rob present perfect

She did it after having been warned.

She did it after ….

warn, passive present perfect

They are believed to be lovers.

They … lovers.

believe, passive present simple

be, present simple

They are believed to have been lovers.

They … lovers.

believe, passive present simple

be, in the past

She is thought to have been living in Brussels.

She is thought … in Brussels.

live, from the past till now

I would like to see you once more.

I … you once more.

would like,

see in the future

I would like to have seen you once more.

I … you once more.

would like,

see in the past

She would rather be with you.

She would rather … with you.

be now

She would rather have been with you.

She would rather …. with you.

be in the past

He is too young to be allowed to be here.

He is too young to… here.

allow passive present simple

be present simple

This place needs to be taken care of.

This place … care of.

need, present simple

take, passive present simple

I don’t mind being told what to do.

I don’t mind … what to do.

tell passive present simple

He denied having been offered money to kill the senator.

He … money to kill the senator.

deny, past simple

offer in the past, passive