What are Gerunds?

A gerund is a verb in its ing (present participle) form that functions as a noun that names an activity
rather than a person or thing. Any action verb can be made into a gerund. Gerunds are best for use
in sentences about actions that are real or complete, or that have been completed.

Gerunds can appear at the beginning of a sentence when used as a subject:

1. Jogging is a hobby of mine.

Gerunds can act as an object following the verb:

1. Daniel quit smoking a year ago.

Gerunds can serve as an object after a preposition:

1. I look forward to helping you paint the house.

Note: The same spelling rules that apply to the progressive tenses also apply to gerunds.

What are Infinitives?

An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in a sentence. It is formed with to +
base form of the verb. Ex: to buy, to work. Infinitives are best for use in sentences about actions that
are unreal or abstract, or that will occur in the future.

Infinitives can be used as:

an object following the verb:

1.Jim always forgets to eat

a subject at the beginning of a sentence:

1.To travel around the world requires a lot of time and money.

an adverb modifying a verb:

1. You promised to buy me a diamond ring.

an adjective modifying a noun:

1.Tara has the ability to succeed.

Exercises – Gerunds and Infinitives

Choose the correct gerund or infinitive from the parenthesis at the end of the sentence.

1. She likes to get up early in the morning. (likes / dislikes)

1. 1. Alan can’t stand _________ on trains. (riding/ to ride)

2. Mr. Harris enjoys _________ people out to dinner. (inviting / to invite)
3. In the old days, gentlemen challenged their rivals _______. (fighting / to fight)
4. As the famous saying goes, there’s no use ______ over spilt milk. (crying / to cry)
5. Jim stopped _________ his shoelace. Wait for him. (tying / to tie)
6. My wife always volunteers ___________ cakes PTA meetings. (baking / to bake)
7. Don’t waste my time ___________ about your salary. (complaining/ to complain)
8. Eva is having trouble _________ on the exam. (concentrating / to concentrate)
9. Please allow me ____________ your Facebook page. (joining / to join)
10. You won’t forget _________milk on your way home, will you? (picking up /to pick up)

REPORTED SPEECH

Phrase in Direct Speech Equivalent in Reported Speech

Simple present Simple past

"I always drink coffee", she said She said that she always drank coffee.

Present continuous Past continuous

Phrase in Direct Speech Equivalent in Reported Speech

"I am reading a book", he explained. He explained that he was reading a book

Simple past Past perfect

"Bill arrived on Saturday", he said. He said that Bill had arrived on Saturday.

Present perfect Past perfect

"I have been to Spain", he told me. He told me that he had been to Spain.

Past perfect Past perfect

"I had just turned out the light," he explained. He explained that he had just turned out the light.

Present perfect continuous Past perfect continuous

They complained, "We have been waiting for They complained that they had been waiting for
hours". hours.

Past continuous Past perfect continuous

"We were living in Paris", they told me. They told me that they had been living in Paris.

Future Present conditional

"I will be in Geneva on Monday", he said. He said that he would be in Geneva on Monday.

Future continuous Conditional continuous

She said, "I'll be using the car next Friday". She said that she would be using the car next
Friday.

These modal verbs do not change in reported speech: might, could, would, should, ought to:
  We explained, "It could be difficult to find our house." = We explained that it could be difficult to
find our house.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

this evening that evening

today/this day that day

these days those days

now then

a week ago a week before

last weekend the weekend before / the previous weekend

next week the following week

tomorrow the next/following day

here there

Change this direct speech into reported speech:

1. “He works in a bank”
She said ___________________________________________________________
2. “We went out last night”
She told me ________________________________________________________
3. “I’m coming!”
She said ___________________________________________________________
4. “I was waiting for the bus when he arrived”
She told me ________________________________________________________
6. “I didn’t go to the party”
She told me ________________________________________________________
7. “Lucy will come later”
She said ___________________________________________________________
8. “He hasn’t eaten breakfast”
She told me ________________________________________________________
9. “I can help you tomorrow”
She said ___________________________________________________________
10. “You should go to bed early”
She told me ________________________________________________________
11. “I don’t like chocolate”
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. “I won’t see you tomorrow”
She said ___________________________________________________________
13. “She’s living in Paris for a few months”
She said ___________________________________________________________
14. “I visited my parents at the weekend”
She told me ________________________________________________________
15. “She hasn’t eaten sushi before”
She said ___________________________________________________________
16. “I hadn’t travelled by underground before I came to London”
She said ___________________________________________________________
20. “I was sleeping when Julie called”
She said ___________________________________________________________

Change these direct questions into reported speech:

1. “Where is he?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. “What are you doing?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
3. “Why did you go out last night?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
4. “Who was that beautiful woman?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
5. “How is your mother?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
6. “What are you going to do at the weekend?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
7. “Where will you live after graduation?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
8. “What were you doing when I saw you?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
9. “How was the journey?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
10. “How often do you go to the cinema?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
11. “Do you live in London?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
12. “Did he arrive on time?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
13. “Have you been to Paris?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
14. “Can you help me?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
15. “Are you working tonight?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
16. “Will you come later?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
17. “Do you like coffee?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
18. “Is this the road to the station?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
19. “Did you do your homework?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
20. “Have you studied reported speech before?”
She asked me ______________________________________________________

Change the direct speech into reported speech:

1. “Please help me carry this”
She asked me ______________________________________________________
2. “Please come early”
She ______________________________________________________________
3. “Please buy some milk”
She ______________________________________________________________
4. “Could you please open the window?”
She ______________________________________________________________
5. “Could you bring the book tonight?”
She ______________________________________________________________
6. “Can you help me with my homework, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
7. “Would you bring me a cup of coffee, please?”
She ______________________________________________________________
8. “Would you mind passing the salt?”
She ______________________________________________________________
9. “Would you mind lending me a pencil?”
She ______________________________________________________________
10. “I was wondering if you could possibly tell me the time?”
She ______________________________________________________________
11. “Do your homework!”
She told me ________________________________________________________
12. “Go to bed!”
She ______________________________________________________________
13. “Don’t be late!”
She ______________________________________________________________
14. “Don’t smoke!”
She ______________________________________________________________
15. “Tidy your room!”
She ______________________________________________________________
 16. “Wait here!”
She ______________________________________________________________
17. “Don’t do that!”
She ______________________________________________________________
18. “Eat your dinner!”
She ______________________________________________________________
19. “Don’t make a mess!”
She ______________________________________________________________
20. “Do the washing-up!”
She ______________________________________________________________

1. He said, "I like this song."

→ He said
2. "Where is your sister?" she asked me.
→ She asked me
3. "I don't speak Italian," she said.
→ She said
4. "Say hello to Jim," they said.
→ They asked me
5. "The film began at seven o'clock," he said.
→ He said
6. "Don't play on the grass, boys," she said.
→ She told the boys
7. "Where have you spent your money?" she asked him.
→ She asked him
8. "I never make mistakes," he said.
→ He said
9. "Does she know Robert?" he wanted to know.
→ He wanted to know
10. "Don't try this at home," the stuntman told the audience.
→ The stuntman advised the audience

1. She delayed ______________ (get) out of bed.

2. He demanded ______________ (speak) to the manager.
3. I offered ______________ (help).
4. I miss ______________ (go) to the beach.
5. We postponed ______________ (do) our homework.
6. I’d hate ______________ (arrive) too late.
7. She admitted ______________ (steal) the money.
8. I chose ______________ (work) here.
9. She waited ______________ (buy) a drink.
10. I really appreciate ______________ (be) on holiday.
11. I couldn’t help ______________ (laugh).
12. It seems ______________ (be) raining.
13. I considered ______________ (move) to Spain.
14. They practised ______________ (speak).
15. Finally I managed ______________ (finish) the work.
16. I really can’t stand ______________ (wait) for the bus.
17. Unfortunately, we can’t afford ______________ (buy) a new car this year.
18. She risked ______________ (be) late.
19. I’d love ______________ (come) with you.
20. I prepared ______________ (go) on holiday.