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    Gerund / To-Infinitive / Bare Infinitive

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    Marisa Silva
    The document discusses the different uses of gerunds, to-infinitives, and bare infinitives in English. The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs. The to-infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions involving ability or permission. It can also act as a noun. The bare infinitive follows modal verbs and auxiliary "do" as well as verbs like "help" and "let". It is also used in expressions involving preference or comparison.

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    Gerund / To-Infinitive / Bare Infinitive

    Uploaded by

    Marisa Silva
    104 views5 pages
    The document discusses the different uses of gerunds, to-infinitives, and bare infinitives in English. The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs. The to-infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions involving ability or permission. It can also act as a noun. The bare infinitive follows modal verbs and auxiliary "do" as well as verbs like "help" and "let". It is also used in expressions involving preference or comparison.

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    Original Title

    Gerund_Infinitives_Factsheet

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    The document discusses the different uses of gerunds, to-infinitives, and bare infinitives in English. The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs. The to-infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions involving ability or permission. It can also act as a noun. The bare infinitive follows modal verbs and auxiliary "do" as well as verbs like "help" and "let". It is also used in expressions involving preference or comparison.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    104 views5 pages

    Gerund / To-Infinitive / Bare Infinitive

    Uploaded by

    Marisa Silva
    The document discusses the different uses of gerunds, to-infinitives, and bare infinitives in English. The gerund is used as a noun or after prepositions and certain verbs. The to-infinitive is used after modal verbs and expressions involving ability or permission. It can also act as a noun. The bare infinitive follows modal verbs and auxiliary "do" as well as verbs like "help" and "let". It is also used in expressions involving preference or comparison.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    GERUND / TO-INFINITIVE / BARE INFINITIVE

    GERUND

    The Gerund is used:

    1. as a noun (subject of a verb)


    e.g. Running is a good sport

    2. after prepositions
    e.g. Before reading the poem she smiled.

    3. after verbs of sensation


    feel
    see , watch, observe, notice
    hear
    smell

    e.g. I heard them opening the door.

    NOTE:
    The Gerund describes the action in progress .We observe part of a complete action.
    When the action is supposed to be completed the Bare Infinitive is used. We observe the
    whole action from beginning to end. (in the Active Voice).
    e.g. I heard them open the door.

    4. after verbs that mean liking and disliking


    like * dislike*
    love* hate*
    enjoy detest
    appreciate
    prefer*

    NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either Gerund or To-infinitive.

    The phrase I would like / I should like can only take the To-infinitive.
    e.g. I would like to look at your album.

    5. after verbs that mean beginning and end of action


    begin* cease*
    start* finish
    stop*

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    Emília Leal
    NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either Gerund or To-infinitive
    The Gerund refers to things that happen earlier, the To-infinitive refers to things that happen
    after.
    e.g. You must stop making noise.
    He stops now and then to listen to some music.

    With begin and start there is no difference in meaning.

    6. after verbs that mean progress of action


    continue* keep on
    delay carry on
    go on

    NOTE: The verbs marked with an * can take either a Gerund or a To-infinitive. There is not much
    difference.

    7. after some negative forms


    can’t resist can’t help
    can’t endure can’t stand
    can’t bear can’t put up with

    e.g. I couldn’t resist buying the most expensive one.

    8. after the phrases


    to be used to it’s no good
    to be accustomed to it’s no use
    to be looking forward to it’s worth

    e.g. He was looking forward to meeting a cinema star. (to be anxious about)

    9. after some verbs

    admit detest imagine miss report


    appreciate dread endure include pardon resent
    avoid escape involve postpone resist
    consider excuse justify practise risk
    defer face keep prevent save
    defend fancy mention quit suggest
    delay finish mind regret understand
    deny forgive

    e.g. Jane doesn’t mind going to school on foot.


    10. as an adjective
    e.g. These were the invaders of their hunting ground.

    11. as a part of a continuous tense


    e.g. They were trying to escape.

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    Emília Leal
    TO-INFINITIVE

    The To-infinitive is used:

    1. after the verbs

    agree dare hesitate omit seek


    appear decide hope plan show how
    arrange demand intend pretend swear
    attempt determine learn prepare tend
    care fail long promise turn out
    choose guarantee manage prove threaten
    claim forget mean refuse undertake
    consent happen neglect seem

    e.g. They are planning to visit their grandparents next weekend.

    2. as a noun
    . the subject of a sentence
    e.g. To play sports is good for our health.

    . the complement of a verb


    e.g. They invited us to go with them.

    . the object of a verb


    e.g. The teacher wants us to come early.

    NOTE: There is the construction: Verb + Object +To-infinitive


    This can happen after the verbs

    advise forbid invite permit tempt


    allow hate instruct persuade urge
    ask help like prefer want
    beg intend love request wish
    encourage mean offer remind
    expect oblige order tell

    3. after the expressions

    can’t afford
    can’t wait

    e.g. We can’t wait to watch that amazing film!

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    Emília Leal
    4. after some adjectives
    e.g. I’m happy to tell you the truth.

    Adjectives

    alarmed delighted glad nice sorry


    angry difficult happy pleased sure
    amazed disappointed hard relieved surprised
    anxious disputed horrified sad
    astonished easy lovely

    5. after “too” “enough” “so...as”


    e.g. She is too old to recover.
    She is old enough to understand the problem.

    6. with an adverbial function of purpose


    e.g. I phoned Peter to invite him.

    7. with an adjectival function


    e.g. That was a silly thing to do.

    8. after “where” “when” “how”


    e.g. He found out how to blame her.

    9. in exclamatory sentences
    e.g. Oh! To be on holidays at last!

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    Emília Leal
    BARE INFINITIVE (Infinitive without TO)

    The Bare infinitive is used:

    1. after modal verbs (except “ought”, “used”)


    e.g. He can play the piano.

    2. after auxiliary “do”


    e.g. Do you go to London?

    3. after “help” “let” “make” , when in the active voice


    e.g. Let him go out now.

    4. after the following expressions


    would rather
    would sooner
    rather than
    sooner than
    had better
    e.g. He’d rather sleep than watch television..

    5. after but (=except)


    e.g. He can’t do anything but sleep.

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    Emília Leal

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