This document discusses gerunds and infinitives. [1] Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns, and can be used as subjects or objects. Common verbs followed by gerunds include enjoy, finish, and suggest. [2] Infinitives are "to + verb" constructions. Many verbs such as hope, promise, and want are followed by infinitives. Some verbs like begin, forget, and regret can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives, with potential changes in meaning.
This document discusses gerunds and infinitives. [1] Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns, and can be used as subjects or objects. Common verbs followed by gerunds include enjoy, finish, and suggest. [2] Infinitives are "to + verb" constructions. Many verbs such as hope, promise, and want are followed by infinitives. Some verbs like begin, forget, and regret can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives, with potential changes in meaning.
This document discusses gerunds and infinitives. [1] Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns, and can be used as subjects or objects. Common verbs followed by gerunds include enjoy, finish, and suggest. [2] Infinitives are "to + verb" constructions. Many verbs such as hope, promise, and want are followed by infinitives. Some verbs like begin, forget, and regret can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives, with potential changes in meaning.
This document discusses gerunds and infinitives. [1] Gerunds are verb forms ending in "-ing" that function as nouns, and can be used as subjects or objects. Common verbs followed by gerunds include enjoy, finish, and suggest. [2] Infinitives are "to + verb" constructions. Many verbs such as hope, promise, and want are followed by infinitives. Some verbs like begin, forget, and regret can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives, with potential changes in meaning.
I. Gerunds 1. Introduction: A gerund is the –ing form of a verb used as a noun (as a subject or as an object). Ex: a. Playing tennis is fun. => playing is a gerund. It is used as the subject of the sentence. b. We enjoy playing tennis. => playing is a gerund used as the object of the verb enjoy. c. He’s excited about playing tennis. => playing is a gerund used as the object of the preposition about.
Note: Compare the uses of the –ing form of verbs:
(1) Walking is good exercise. Walking = a gerund used as the subject of the sentence. (2) They are playing tennis. Playing = a present participle used as part of the present progressive tense. (3) I heard some surprising news. Surprising = a present participle used as an adjective.
2. Using gerunds as the objects of prepositions:
A gerund is frequently used as the object of a We talked about going to Canada for our preposition. vacation. Sue is in charge of organizing the meeting. I’m interested in learning more about your work. I’m used to sleeping with the window open. => to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive form, so a gerund follows. Negative form: not precedes a gerund We talked about not going to the meeting, but finally decided we should go.
Common preposition combinations followed by gerunds:
a. Be excited / be worried + about doing it b. Complain + about / of doing it Dream Talk Think c. Apologize + for doing it Blame (s.o) Forgive (s.o) Have an excuse Have a reason Be responsible Thank (s.o) d. Keep (s.o) + from doing it Prevent (s.o) Prohibit (s.o) Stop (s.o) e. Believe + in doing it Be interested Participate Succeed f. Be accused + of doing it Be capable For the purpose Be guilty Instead Take advantage Take care Be tired g. Insist on doing it h. Be accustomed + to doing it In addition Be committed Be devoted Look forward Object Be opposed Be used
*stop can also be followed by an infinitive of purpose (in order to)
(a) stop + gerund: When the professor entered the room, the students stopped talking. The room became quiet. (b) stop + infinitive of purpose: While I was walking down the street, I ran into an of friend. I stopped to talk to him. (I stopped walking in order to talk to him.)
4. Go + gerund: Go is followed by a gerund in certain Did you go shopping? idiomatic expressions to express, for the most We went fishing yesterday. part, recreational activities. GO + GERUND
Go birdwatching Go dancing Go swimming
Go boating Go fishing … Go bowling Go hiking Go camping Go sightseeing
5. Special expressions followed by –ing:
Have fun / a good time + -ing We had fun playing volleyball. Have trouble / difficulty + -ing I had trouble finding his house. Have a hard time / difficult time + -ing I had a difficult time finding his house. Spend / waste + expression of time or money She spends most of her time studying. + -ing I waste a lot of time watching TV. Sit / stand / lie + expression of place + -ing She sat at her desk writing a letter. I stood there wondering what to do next. He is lying in bed reading a novel. Find / catch + Noun / pronoun + -ing When I walked into my office, I found him using my telephone. When I walked into my office, I caught a thief looking through my desk drawers. II. Infinitives: 1. Common verbs followed by infinitives: An infinitive = to + the simple form of a verb I hope to see you again soon. Some verbs are followed immediately by an He promised to be here by ten. infinitive. Negative form: not precedes the infinitive Some verbs are followed by a (pro)noun and Mr. Lee told me to be here at 10 o’clock. then an infinitive The police ordered the driver to stop. Ask, expect, would like, want and need may I expect Mary to pass the test. or may not be followed by a (pro)noun object. I expect to pass the test.
Common verbs: VERB + infinitive Hope to (do something) promise to seem to expect to Plan to agree to appear to would like to Intend to* offer to pretend to want to Decide to refuse to ask to need to
*intend is usually followed by an infinitive (I intend to go to the meeting), but sometimes may be followed by a gerund (I intend going to the meeting) with no change in meaning.
VERB + (pro)noun + infinitive
Tell someone to permit someone to force someone to need someone to Advise someone to** allow someone to ask someone to Encourage someone to warn someone to expect someone to Remind someone to require someone to would like someone to Invite someone to order someone to want someone to
**A gerund is used after advise (active) if there is no (pro)noun object.
Ex: He advised buying it. He advised me to buy it.
III. Common verbs followed by either infinitives or gerunds:
1. With no difference in meaning Begin like hate Start love can’t stand Continue prefer* can’t bear Ex: It began to rain / It began raining.
*Notice the patterns with prefer:
Prefer + gerund: I prefer staying home to going to the concert. Prefer + infinitive: I’d prefer to stay home (rather) than (to) go to the concert. 2. With a difference in meaning Remember regret Forget try Remember + infinitive = remember to Judy always remembers to lock the door. perform responsibility, duty, or task. Remember + gerund = remember (recall) I remember seeing him for the first time. something that happened in the past Forget + infinitive = forget to perform a Sam often forgets to lock the door. responsibility , duty, or task Forget + gerund = forget something that I will never forget seeing him for the first happened in the past time. Regret + infinitive = regret to say, to tell I regret to tell you that you failed the test. someone, to inform someone of some bad news Regret + gerund = regret something that I regret lending him some money. He never happened in the past paid me back. Try + infinitive = make an effort I am trying to learn English. Try + gerund = experiment with a new or The room was hot. I tried opening the different approach to see if it works window but that didn’t help.
3. Using gerunds or passive infinitives following Need:
Usually an infinitive follows need I need to borrow some money. John needs to be told the truth. In certain circumstances, a gerund may follow The house needs painting. need. In this case, the gerund carries a passive The house needs to be painted. meaning. Usually the situations involve fixing or improving something.
