Gerunds Gerunds

and and

InfinitivesInfinitives

Gerunds and infinitivesGerunds and infinitives can function as:can function as:

NOUNSNOUNS((subjects, objects, subject subjects, objects, subject

complements)complements) As subjects, they take a As subjects, they take a

singular verb. singular verb. Only Gerunds can be Only Gerunds can be object object

of the preposition.of the preposition.

To form To form gerundsgerunds, use, usethe the basebase form + form + inging

(don’t’ forget the rules for spelling of ing form of verbs)(don’t’ forget the rules for spelling of ing form of verbs)

I enjoy learning EnglishI enjoy learning English

To form negative gerunds, To form negative gerunds, use use

not + gerundnot + gerundNot speakingNot speaking English well English well is my biggest problem in is my biggest problem in

this country.this country.

GerundsGerunds used as used as subject of the subject of the

sentence.sentence.DancingDancing is fun. is fun.

GerundsGerunds used as used as objectsobjects

He enjoys He enjoys workingworking with with children.children.

Verbs that take only Verbs that take only GerundsGerunds

• AppreciateAppreciate• AvoidAvoid• DelayDelay• DenyDeny• DiscussDiscuss• DislikeDislike• EnjoyEnjoy• ExcuseExcuse• FinishFinish• understandunderstand

• KeepKeep• MentionMention• MindMind• MissMiss• PostponePostpone• QuitQuit• RecallRecall• RecommendRecommend• suggestsuggest

GerundsGerunds used as used as object of the object of the prepositionpreposition

I am thinking I am thinking aboutabout takingtaking the children to Mexico.the children to Mexico.

Common preposition Common preposition combinations followed by combinations followed by

gerundsgerunds• Be excited Be excited aboutabout, complain , complain about,about, talk talk

about,about, think think aboutabout, worry , worry aboutabout• Apologize Apologize forfor, blame , blame for, for, famousfamous for for• Believe Believe inin, interested , interested inin, succeed , succeed inin• Take care Take care ofof, instead , instead ofof, be accused , be accused ofof• Insist Insist on, on, countcount on, on, concentrateconcentrate on on• Keep Keep fromfrom, prevent , prevent from, from, profitprofit from from• In addition In addition toto, look forward , look forward toto, be used , be used

toto

By + gerundBy + gerundYou get good grades You get good grades by by studying hard.studying hard.

go + gerundgo + gerundRecreational activities: camping, dancing,Recreational activities: camping, dancing,sightseeing, swimming, skiing, fishing, jogging,sightseeing, swimming, skiing, fishing, jogging,

I willI will go fishinggo fishing with you with you tomorrowtomorrow..

To form To form infinitivesinfinitives use useto + base form of the verbto + base form of the verb

I want I want to danceto dance

To form negative To form negative infinitivesinfinitives useuse

Not + infinitiveNot + infinitiveHe decided He decided not to gonot to go to the to the

party.party.

InfinitivesInfinitives in the in the subject positionsubject positionTo liveTo live in the United States is my in the United States is my

dreamdreamIt isIt is my dream my dream to liveto live in the in the

United States.United States.

Verbs that take Verbs that take infinitivesinfinitivesVerb + infinitivesVerb + infinitives – – agree, decideagree, decide, , hope, hope,

learn, offer, plan, seem, can affordlearn, offer, plan, seem, can afford

Verb + Noun phrase + infinitiveVerb + Noun phrase + infinitive – – cause, cause, convince, force, invite, order,convince, force, invite, order, tell, warn, tell, warn, encourageencourage

Verbs that come directly after the infinitive Verbs that come directly after the infinitive or have a noun phraseor have a noun phrase – – ask, beg, choose, ask, beg, choose, expect, need, want, would like, promiseexpect, need, want, would like, promise

Adjectives followed Adjectives followed by by infinitivesinfinitivesAfraid, amazed, anxious, Afraid, amazed, anxious,

ashamed, careful, delighted, ashamed, careful, delighted, eager, fortunate, glad, happy, eager, fortunate, glad, happy,

lucky, pleased, ready, sad, sorrylucky, pleased, ready, sad, sorry, ,

Infinitive of purposeInfinitive of purpose

In order toIn order toI came here I came here in order toin order to learn. learn.

InfinitiveInfinitive with with tootoo and and enoughenough

too + adjective or adverb + too + adjective or adverb + infinitiveinfinitive

She is She is too youngtoo young to vote. to vote.

Adjective or adverb + Adjective or adverb + enough + infinitiveenough + infinitive

They are They are old enoughold enough to vote. to vote.

GerundsGerunds often follow verbs often follow verbs that indicate that an action that indicate that an action

is happening or has is happening or has happened.happened.

The action expressed by the The action expressed by the verb comes at the same verb comes at the same time or after the action time or after the action

expressed by the gerund.expressed by the gerund.

We enjoy going to concertsWe enjoy going to concerts. .

(you can only enjoy things you are doing or have done – (you can only enjoy things you are doing or have done – not things you haven’t done yet.)not things you haven’t done yet.)

InfinitivesInfinitives often follow often follow verbs that indicate that an verbs that indicate that an

action will or could happen.action will or could happen.

The action expressed by the The action expressed by the verb comes before the verb comes before the

action expressed by the action expressed by the infinitive.infinitive.

We hope to go to the We hope to go to the concert.concert.

(You can hope for things that could happen(You can hope for things that could happennot things that have already happened)not things that have already happened)

Some verbs can be followed Some verbs can be followed by both by both gerundgerund or or infinitiveinfinitive with no change in meaning.with no change in meaning.

Begin, hate, like,Begin, hate, like,start, love, prefer, continuestart, love, prefer, continue

I like I like cooking.cooking.I like I like to cook.to cook.

She started She started losing losing weightweightShe started She started to loseto lose weight. weight.

Some verbs although they can Some verbs although they can be used after both be used after both gerundsgerunds and and infinitivesinfinitives have a difference in have a difference in

meaning. meaning.

rememberrememberforgetforgetregretregretstopstoptrytrygetget

She stopped She stopped smoking.smoking.She stopped She stopped to smoke.to smoke.

They forgot They forgot buyingbuying bread bread..They forgot They forgot to buyto buy bread. bread.

The End!The End!