Download non-finite verb

Non-Finite Verbs
What Are Non-Finite Verbs?
A non-finite verb is any of several verb
forms that are not finite verbs; that is,
they cannot serve as the root of an
independent clause. Nonfinite verbs
found in English typically are infinitives,
participles and gerunds.
What Are Gerunds?
A gerund is a noun formed from a
verb. All gerunds end ing.Fore
example:
swimming
running
drinking
More Examples of
Gerunds
I
hate camping.
 (Camping is a non-finite verb. In
fact, it is a gerund, i.e., a noun
formed from a verb. The
giveaway for a gerund is the -ing
ending.)
 In
this lesson, we look at how we use
gerunds, followed by a quiz to check
your understanding:
 Gerund as Subject, Object or
Complement
 Gerund after Preposition
 Gerund after Certain Verbs
 Gerund in Passive Sense
Below
are some more
examples of gerunds with
their roles as nouns
explained:
 Acting
is fun.
 (Gerund as the subject of a
sentence)
 Playing football is fun. (Here,
football is the gerund complement
of the gerund playing.)
Acting is merely the art of keeping a
large group of people from coughing.
(Acting is a gerund as a subject. The
gerunds keeping and coughing are
objects of prepositions.)
(In this example, a large group of
people is the gerund complement of
keeping.)
Generosity is giving more than you
can, and pride is taking less than you
need. (Two gerunds, both subject
complements)
I love acting. It is so much more real
than life. (A gerund as the direct
object of the verb love)
You can tell a lot about a fellow's
character by his way of eating jellybeans.
(A gerund as the object of a preposition)
I like to play blackjack. I'm not addicted
to gambling, I'm addicted to sitting in a
semi-circle.
 (Two gerunds, both objects of
prepositions)



This depends on the first verb. Here is a list of
verbs that are usually followed by a verb in
gerund form:
admit, appreciate, avoid, carry on, consider,
defer, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure,
enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish,
forgive, give up, can't help, imagine, involve,
leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone,
practise, put off, report, resent, risk, can't
stand, suggest, understand
 Look
at these examples:
 She is considering having a holiday.
not She is considering to have a
holiday.
 Do you feel like going out?
 I can't help falling in love with you.
 I can't stand not seeing you.
 Some
verbs can be followed by the
gerund form or the to-infinitive form
without a big change in meaning:
begin, continue, hate, intend, like,
love, prefer, propose, start I like to
play tennis. / I like playing tennis.
 It started to rain. / It started raining.
 We
often use a gerund after the
verbs need, require and want.
 In this case, the gerund has a
passive sense.
 Look at these example sentences.
Notice that this construction can be
in any tense:
have three shirts that need
washing. (need to be washed)
 I sent it back to the shop because
it needed fixing. (needed to be
fixed)
 This letter requires signing.
(needs to be signed)
I
 The
contract will require signing
tomorrow. (will need to be
signed)
 The house wants repainting.
(needs to be repainted)
 Your hair's wanted cutting for
weeks. (has needed to be cut)
 Gerunds
can be made negative by
adding "not."
 Examples:
 He enjoys not working.
 The best thing for your health is not
smoking.
Gerund
Phrases
A
gerund will often appear in a
gerund phrase. A gerund phrase
consists of a gerund, its object, and
all modifiers. For example :
 Picking rotten apples from the floor
is a great way to get stung by wasp.
A
gerund phrase always follows
these rules:
 Gerund phrases always start with
gerunds
 Gerund phrases always include
modifiers and often include other
objects
A
gerund phrase always
functions as a noun
 Gerund phrases are always
subjects, objects, or subject
complements in sentences.
 Gerund
Phrase Examples
 Blowing bubbles on a windy day
is a fun activity for children.
 Blowing
bubbles on a windy day
is the subject of the verb is.
 Piling
too much laundry into a
washing machine will cause it to
malfunction.
 Piling
too much laundry into a
washing machine is the subject
of the verb will cause.
 Ethan
narrowly avoided driving
off the cliff.
 Driving off the cliff is the direct
object of the verb avoided.
 Eating
ice cream on a hot day
can be a good way to cool off.
 Eating ice cream on a hot day is
the subject of the verb can be.
 Jessica
really enjoys bothering
the neighbors with loud music.
 Bothering
the neighbors with
loud music is the direct object of
the verb enjoys.
1. Always check the oil, before you start
the car.
2. To praise all alike is to praise none.
3. I cannot go on to do nothing.
4. To amass wealth ruins health.
5. To see is to believe.
6. To give is better than to receive.
7. To talk like this is foolish.
8. She loves to sing songs.
9. The miser hated to spend money.
10. I am tired to wait.
11. I like to read poetry.
12. To walk is a good exercise.
13.To teach grammar is very interesting.
14. To talk loudly is bad manners.
15. He is glad to meet you.
16. To read in poor light will affect the
eyes.
17. Rosy did not like to stay indoors
during holidays.
18. To say hundred words where none is
called for is the mark of a successful
politician.
19. He is afraid to hurt your feelings.
20. Nobody really loves to work.
1. She is good at (dance).
2. He is crazy about (sing).
3. I don't like (play) cards.
4.They are afraid of (swim) in the sea.
5.You should give up (smoke).
6. Sam dreams of (be) a popstar.
7. He is interested in (make) friends.
8. My uncle is afraid of (go) by plane.
9. We insist on (cook) the dinner
ourselves.
1. Keith is good…………. Speaking
English.
2. Julie complains…………. losing her
books.
3. Stephen and Mark are afraid………….
losing their books.
4. Margaret doesn't feel…….. doing her English
homework.
5. They are looking forward…………. going to
France.
6. Anne dreams……… living in the countryside.
7. Dale said he was sorry………….. being late.
8. He thinks…………… playing cricket
after work.
9. Sarah insists………….. going out with
Wendy.
10. Do you agree……… staying on strike?
1. I'm thinking……. learning either Italian
or Spanish.
2. The noise prevented us……… sleeping.
3. It's no use………… crying !
4. Do you really mind………… leaving me ?
5. I don't succeed………… memorizing so
many words!
6. Let me begin……. thanking you for the
warm hospitality I received!
7. I can't help…...smiling whenever I think of
it.
8. I've always been afraid to dive but one day,
my friends talked me……… snorkeling and I
have absolutely no regrets : it was an amazing
experience!
9. She's not good………. managing her
money!
10. He spent hours………… trying to find the
solution.
11. For flight safety reasons, passengers
are kindly requested to refrain………
using any portable.
12. It was no good……….. being insistent.
13. He insisted……. being paid immediately.
14. This novel is worth…………. reading.
15. They told me they suspected……. him
plotting against me.
16. He didn't enjoy…… writing his books.
17. The boy was busy…........ tidying his
toys.
18. He apologized………… being late.
Directions: Locate the gerund (gerund
phrase) in each sentence. Then identify the
gerund's function in the sentence as
subject, direct object, subjective
complement, object of preposition, or
appositive.
1. Manny argued strongly against
recounting the vote.
gerund phrase =
function =
2. Most of the time, swimming at
the beach is safe.
gerund phrase =
function =
3. My job is making reservations for
overnight guests at the hotel.
gerund phrase =
function =
4. His greatest asset, typing two hundred
words per minute, has earned him a
better position at the company.
gerund phrase =
function =
5. Joe doesn't like getting up early
on Saturdays.
gerund phrase =
function =
6. After saving the dog's life, the
young man was given an award.
gerund phrase =
function =
7. Marion always enjoys smiling at
the camera.
gerund phrase =
function =
8. The science lab posts stringent
rules about dissecting animals.
gerund phrase =
function =
9. The students didn't want to bring
the speaker to the meeting of the
student council.
gerund phrase =
function =
10. The school proposed a new rule:
prohibiting the use of cell phones
on campus .
gerund phrase =
function =

 Exercise
Directions: Write down the
gerund phrase and then tell how the
entire phrase is used in the
sentence: either subject, direct
object, predicate noun or object of
the preposition. (If it is object of the
preposition, the preposition will be
before the gerund.)
The troop found
different ways of raising money.
 Example:
Gerund phrase as object of
preposition, of what? - raising
money
1. There are few people who question the
benefits of encouraging teens.
2. Walking the path in the woods is good
exercise.
3. The teacher ended Jim's disrupting
behavior.
4. We should teach our children the
necessity of helping others in need.
5. You should try singing tenor.
6. Kristin's dream was singing in the local
musical.
7. Bart received an award for having
perfect attendance.
8. The chorus began singing the song.
9. Some people enjoy mowing the lawn.
10. Reading the classics is my goal this
summer.
The End