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 singular As subjects, they take a singular verb. verb. Only Gerunds can be Only Gerunds can be object of the object of the preposition.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, use To form negative gerunds, use not + gerundnot + gerundNot speakingNot speaking English well is my English well is my biggest problem in this country.biggest problem in this country.

GerundsGerunds used as subject used as subject of the sentence.of the sentence.

DancingDancing is fun. is fun.

GerundsGerunds used as objects used as objects

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• ResentResent• suggestsuggest

GerundsGerunds used as object used as object of the prepositionof the preposition

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

Common preposition combinations Common preposition combinations followed by gerundsfollowed by gerunds

• 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 studying by studying hard.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 tomorrowwith you tomorrow..

Some expressions are Some expressions are used with used with gerundsgerunds

Be busy, can’t help, have fun, Be busy, can’t help, have fun,

it’s no use, it’s not worthit’s no use, it’s not worth

To form To form infinitivesinfinitives use useto + base form of the verbto + base form of the verbI want I want to danceto dance

To form negative To form negative infinitivesinfinitives use useNot + infinitiveNot + infinitiveHe decided He decided not to gonot to go to the party. to the party.

InfinitivesInfinitives in the subject in the subject positionposition

To 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 United in the United States.States.

Verbs that take Verbs that take infinitivesinfinitives

Verb + infinitivesVerb + infinitives – – agree, appear, decideagree, appear, decidehope, intend, learn, offer, plan, seem, tend, hope, intend, learn, offer, plan, seem, tend,

wait, can affordwait, can affordVerb + Noun phrase + infinitiveVerb + Noun phrase + infinitive – – cause, cause,

convince, force, invite, order, persuade, convince, force, invite, order, persuade, remind, tell, trust, warn, advise, encourageremind, tell, trust, warn, advise, encourage

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

Adjectives followed by Adjectives followed by infinitivesinfinitives

Afraid, amazed, anxious, ashamed, Afraid, amazed, anxious, ashamed, careful, delighted, eager, fortunate, careful, delighted, eager, fortunate, glad, happy, lucky, pleased, ready, glad, happy, lucky, pleased, ready, sad, sorrysad, sorry, ,

Infinitive of purposeInfinitive of purpose

In order toIn order to

I came here I came here in order toin order to learn. learn.

InfinitiveInfinitive with with tootoo and and enoughenough

too + adjective or adverb + infinitivetoo + adjective or adverb + infinitiveShe is She is too youngtoo young to vote. to vote.

Adjective or adverb + enough + Adjective or adverb + enough + infinitiveinfinitiveThey are They are old enoughold enough to vote. to vote.

GerundsGerunds often follow verbs that often follow verbs that indicate that an action is happening indicate that an action is happening or has happened.or has happened.

The action expressed by the verb The action expressed by the verb comes at the same time or after the comes at the same time or after the action expressed by the gerund.action 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 verbs that often follow verbs that indicate that an action will or could indicate that an action will or could happen.happen.

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

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

Verbs that are followed by Verbs that are followed by a noun phrase + infinitivea noun phrase + infinitivecan also be followed by can also be followed by a gerunda gerund..The gerund makes it general and The gerund makes it general and the infinitive make specific the the infinitive make specific the person indicated.person indicated.

TheyThey allow smokingallow smoking in this building.in this building.TheyThey allowed me to smokeallowed me to smoke in thein the house.house.

These verbs are:These verbs are:

adviseadviseallowallowencourageencouragepermitpermitrequirerequireurgeurge

Some verbs can be followed by Some verbs can be followed by both both gerundgerund or or infinitiveinfinitive with no with no change in meaning.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 be used Some verbs although they can be used after both after both gerundsgerunds and and infinitivesinfinitives have have a difference in meaning. a difference in 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.

Used toUsed toBe used toBe used toGet used toGet used toUsed to + base formUsed to + base formBe used to + gerundBe used to + gerundGet used to + gerundGet used to + gerund

Verbs of perceptionVerbs of perception::infinitives: from start to finishinfinitives: from start to finishGerunds: in progressGerunds: in progress

I I heardheard the children the children crycry..

I I sawsaw your friends your friends walkingwalking in the in the park.park.

Infinitive forms are not used after Infinitive forms are not used after the following verbs of perception:the following verbs of perception:feelfeelseeseehearhearsmellsmell

When a specific performer of the When a specific performer of the gerund action needs to be gerund action needs to be indicated, indicated, a possessive noun or a a possessive noun or a possessive determinerpossessive determiner is used. is used.

I really appreciate I really appreciate Karen’s/herKaren’s/her writing that letter for me.writing that letter for me.

Peter’s/hisPeter’s/his coming late really coming late really annoys meannoys me..

YourYour neglecting your teeth will neglecting your teeth will cause an earlier return to the cause an earlier return to the dentist.dentist.

TheirTheir denying the allegation was denying the allegation was understandable.understandable.

I didn’t like the I didn’t like the dog’sdog’s barking all barking all night.night.

I don’t mind I don’t mind hishis leaving early. leaving early.(formal)(formal)

I don’t mind I don’t mind himhim leaving early. leaving early.(informal)(informal)

When an infinitive functions as a When an infinitive functions as a subjectsubject or a or a subject complementsubject complement, , any stated subject of the infinitive any stated subject of the infinitive should be preceded by should be preceded by forfor. . If a If a pronoun follows for, it must be in pronoun follows for, it must be in object form.object form.

When the When the subjectsubject of a gerund is of a gerund is stated, it takes the possessive stated, it takes the possessive form.form.

For peopleFor people to see is a wonderful to see is a wonderful gift.gift.

Her desire was Her desire was for themfor them to take a to take a trip around the worldtrip around the world

They hoped They hoped for herfor her to be able to to be able to attend the concert.attend the concert.

InfinitivesInfinitives can occur in the can occur in the progressive but progressive but gerundsgerunds cannot. cannot.To be doingTo be doing

It is used to indicate an activity in It is used to indicate an activity in progress or ongoingprogress or ongoingShe had hoped to be workingShe had hoped to be working

Both Both gerunds and infinitivesgerunds and infinitives can can occur in the perfect formoccur in the perfect formhaving donehaving doneto have doneto have doneIt is used to indicate that the activity It is used to indicate that the activity is in the pastis in the pastWe appreciate having heard her We appreciate having heard her sing.sing.We’re fortunate to have heard her We’re fortunate to have heard her singsing

A gerund can be used in the A gerund can be used in the passive formpassive form

I dislike being told a lie.I dislike being told a lie.

HaveHavemakemakeletletare causative verbs. They cause are causative verbs. They cause someone to do something.someone to do something.They are always followed by a They are always followed by a noun phrase + base form of verb.noun phrase + base form of verb.Do not use an infinitive after these Do not use an infinitive after these verbs.verbs.She made She made meme fallfall..

She She mademade her daughterher daughter gogo to the to the party.party.She She letlet himhim taketake the camera. the camera.

She She hadhad meme prepareprepare breakfast breakfast yesterday.yesterday.

After After causative causative verbsverbs::getgetconvinceconvincepersuadepersuadeuse the use the infinitiveinfinitive

She She gotgot me me to workto work..She She convincedconvinced me me to workto work..

Sense-perception verbs:Sense-perception verbs:hear, listen tohear, listen tofeel, smell, seefeel, smell, seewatch, observe, noticewatch, observe, notice

are followed by either a noun are followed by either a noun phrase + base or –ing form with phrase + base or –ing form with only a slight difference in meaning.only a slight difference in meaning.

We saw people We saw people living living in poverty.in poverty.

We saw We saw them performthem perform

HelpHelp

can take an infinitive or base form.can take an infinitive or base form.It can occur It can occur withwith or or withoutwithout a noun a noun phrase.phrase.I helpedI helped them carrythem carry the boxes.the boxes.I helpedI helped them to clean upthem to clean up after theafter the party.party.

perfect infinitive: perfect infinitive: to have movedto have movedprogressive infinitive: progressive infinitive: to be workingto be working

perfect progressive infinitive:perfect progressive infinitive:to have been playingto have been playing

passive: passive: to be seento be seenperfect passive: perfect passive: to have been to have been chosenchosen

Perfect gerund: Perfect gerund: having movedhaving moved

passive gerund: passive gerund: being donebeing done

perfect passive gerund: perfect passive gerund: having having been selectedbeen selected

The End!The End!