Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds

A gerund is a verbal that ends in -ing and functions as a noun.

However, since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies some positions in a sentence that a noun ordinarily would, for example: subject, direct object, subject complement, and object of preposition.

As a subject

• Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.

• The study abroad program might satisfy your desire for new experiences. (The gerund has been removed.)

As a direct object

• They do not appreciate my singing.

• They do not appreciate my assistance. (The gerund has been removed)

As object of preposition

• The police arrested him for speeding.

• The police arrested him for criminal activity. (The gerund has been removed.)

After verb forms

• My cat's favorite activity is sleeping.

• My cat's favorite food is salmon. (The gerund has been removed.)

Verbs

• Can’t help• Can’t stand• Feel like• It’s no use• Be/get used to• Look forward to• Spend (time)• Don’t mine/would mine

Infinitives

An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word to plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form) and functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

However, the infinitive may function as a subject, direct object, subject complement, adjective, or adverb in a sentence.

As a subject

• To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.

• To leave now would be a mistake.

As an indirect object

• After verbs like:AdviceInviteTellWarnTeachPersuade

• She persuade me to join the team.

After some adjectives

• Busy

• Happy

• Ready

• Tired

• …

• I’m too tired to go out.

After some adverbs

• Slowly

• Fast

• Low

• High

• …

• He ran to slowly to win the race.

After some verbs

• Agree• Appear• Seem• Choose• Decide• Expect• Hope

• Learn• Manage • Plan• Promise• Refuse• Want• Wish

Did you manage to finish your project on time?

Without to

• Some verbs of perception (hear, feel, see, let, make…) go with the infinitive but without to:

I saw Jim leave the office.My parents don’t let me stay out late.

Gerunde or Infinitive?

• In verbs like begin, propose, forbbid, intend or start, it doesn’t matter if you put gerunde or infintive.

I started to use/using the Internet about two years ago.

Gerunde or Infinitive?

• Stop + Gerunde = Stop a habitMy father stopped smoking last month.

• Stop + Infinitive = Interrupt an actionCan we stop to have some coffee?

• Remember + Gerunde = Something in the pastI don’t remember talking to her before.

• Remember + Infinitive = Important things in the futureRemember to call Jane before you go.

Gerunde or Infinitive?• Regret + Gerunde = Lament/be sorry for

something in the past.He regrets breaking up with Helen.

• Regret + Infinitive = Bad news.I regret to tell you that we can’t accept your proposal.

• Forget + Gerunde = Negative clauses.I will never forget visiting Pisa.

• Forget + Infinitive = Forget to do something.I forgot to tell you.

Exercises

Workbook: Pg 19: 7

Exercises

• 7:1. To know2. Reading3. To go4. To be5. Telling6. Being7. Making/To make8. Learning

MAROON 5

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMvVWCkvv4M

Done by:

Maria Blasco Lorente

Alexandra Janas