Download Gerunds and Infinitives

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES
A GERUND is a verb ending in –ing that does not act like a verb. It is NOT used in Progressive verb
structures. It acts like a noun. It can be a subject, an object, or the object of a preposition.
Examples: Swimming is good exercise. (Gerund as a subject)
We enjoy cooking. (Gerund as an object)
I look forward to meeting your new girlfriend. (Gerund as the object of the preposition to)
**When a gerund is used as a subject, a singular verb is necessary.**
Common prepositions followed by Gerunds:
Be excited about _________ing
take care of __________ing
Be worried about ____________ing
take advantage of _________ing
Complain about __________ing
be guilty of _________ing
Dream about/of ___________ing
instead of _________ing
Talk about __________ ing
keep someone from ___________ing
Think about/of __________ing
prevent someone from __________ing
Apologize for _________ing
be interested in ___________ing
Blame for _________ing
succeed in _____________ing
Forgive someone for __________ing
be capable of __________ing
Have an excuse for __________ing
Have a reason for ____________ing
look forward to _________ing
Be responsible for __________ing
be used to __________ing
Thank someone for ____________ing
in addition to __________ing
Be tired of _________ing
Be accustomed to __________ing
An INFINITIVE is a verb in the base form that has “to” in front of it. Infinitives are generally NOT used as
subjects of sentences. Instead, they are used as objects.
Example: I want to write my essay in class. (Infinitive as an object)
VERBS THAT TAKE GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES WITH NO DIFFERENCE IN
MEANING
Like
start
Love
prefer (**When used to make a comparison, certain sentence
Hate
Begin
Continue
Can’t stand
structure rules apply.**)
VERBS THAT TAKE BOTH GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES WITH DIFFERENCES IN
MEANING
Remember:
1. I remembered to close the window.
2. I remembered closing the window.
Forget:
1. I forgot to make that call.
2. I forgot making that call.
Try:
1. She tried to open her locker.
2. She tried opening her locker.
Stop:
1. The man stopped smoking.
2. The man stopped to smoke.
Special Expressions Followed by Gerunds
 Go + activity (go fishing, go swimming, go jogging, etc.)
 Have fun









Have trouble/difficulty
Have a hard/difficult time
Spend (money/time)
Waste (money/time)
Sit + place
Stand + place
Lie + place
Find + noun/pronoun (**Exception to the indirect object rule**)
Catch + noun/pronoun
Practice…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Every week I spend at least an hour…
In my free time I have fun….
Sometimes I sit in class…
Sometimes I waste money…..
If you come to my home at midnight, you will find me….
Sometimes I have trouble….
OBJECTIVE- SWBAT to practice with gerunds and infinitives. SWBAT change
gerunds to infinitives.
Changing Gerunds to Infinitives
It is very uncommon to use an Infinitive as the subject of a sentence. Instead, we
use it + the infinitive.
Example: Riding a bicycle without a helmet is dangerous.
It is dangerous to ride a bicycle without a helmet.
Try these…..
1. Studying for exams is important.
2. Driving in the countryside is very relaxing.
3. Preparing for college early is smart.
Infinitive of Purpose
An infinitive of purpose is used to show why something is done. It is the
shortened form of “in order to.”
Example: He came here in order to study English. OR
He came here to study English.
He came here for studying English. (incorrect)
He came here for to study English. (incorrect)
He came here for study English. (incorrect)
Adjectives Followed by Infinitives
Glad to
lucky to
prepared to
careful to
Happy to
fortunate to
anxious to
hesitant to
Pleased to
embarrassed to
eager to
reluctant to
Delighted to
proud to
willing to
afraid to
Content to
ashamed to
motivated to
certain to
Relieved to
ready to
determined to
likely to
Too vs. Enough
Too implies a negative connotation
This test is too difficult. (i.e. It is impossible to pass it with a good score.)
***Not the same meaning as “very”***
With an infinitive: This test is too difficult to pass.
Enough precedes a noun and follows an adjective.
I am rich enough to buy this car.
I have enough money to buy this car.