Download Gerunds and Infinitives

Mohamed Khider University, Biskra
Faculty of Arts and Languages
Department of Foreign Languages
English Language Division
Module: GRAMMAR
Level: First Year LMD
Teacher: SAIHI H.
Semester one: sentence structure In Context
Lesson six: GERUNDS &INFINITIVES
Gerunds and Infinitives
Let’s read the following passage, then underine the verbs that end in (–ing) and those with (to-)
“THE TYPE OF WORK I’M BEST AT”
The job I liked best was writing cartoon strips for a children’s comic paper called
The Beano, a job I did before I was 20. What I liked most was being creative all day,
knowing that young people liked reading our stories. Using my language skills to
make something new was very satisfying work. It let me reach an audience of more
than 2 million readers. Of course, I didn’t have to solve any big problems or fix
anything, I didn’t have to get dirty in our nice big office, and I didn’t have to make
important decisions or be anyone’s boss. Inside our huge company, I liked working
as part of a small team of artists and technicians and following the production
systems to publish The Beano. After a while, I left that job to make more money, but I
never forgot being a small part of the publishing industry in the UK. It made me
appreciate having freedom and creativity at work.
Gerunds
The form of the verb that ends in -ing is called a Gerund when used as a noun. Because their function is that of a noun, gerunds
may be used as the subject of a sentence:
Example :
Running regularly will make you feel better. Studying requires most of my time during the day.
The -ing form can also be called a present participle; however, the function is that of a verb when used in the present or past
progressive:
Example :
The teacher is speaking to her students.
If a gerund is combined with a preposition, it is called a Gerund phrase:
Example :
Our daughter's life ambition is studying to be a doctor.
Possessive adjectives/pronouns precede a gerund:
Example :
Her working late is making her sick.
I don’t mind him being here.
There are some verbs that must be followed by a gerund.
Example :
I enjoy studying. Would you mind being quiet?
The following verbs MUST be followed by a gerund:
admit
discuss
finish
miss
quit
give up
postpone
stop (=quit)
avoid
resist
go + activities
consider
dislike
keep on
practice
think about
recommend
put off
enjoy
mind
suggest
2012/2013 ©SAIHI H.
1
Let’s practice (01) : GERUND -Complete the following sentences using gerund.
Example:
He likes ________________
He likes swimming.
She prefers ________________ She prefers drinking tea.
1. He denied_________________________________________________
2. When the teacher came in, the students stopped________________
3. He can't stand_______________________
4. I suggested__________________________
5. I prevented them from________________
6. Imagine_____________________________
7. He gave up__________________________
8. He is interested in____________________
9. She keeps___________________________
10. You'd better avoid___________________
11. He is considering____________________
12. I dislike____________________________
13. My father hates_____________________
14. He prefers_________________________
15. I finished__________________________
16. That house needs___________________
17. I remember________________________
18. He is afraid of______________________
19. We are looking forward to_____________
20. Would you mind _____________________?
21. He enjoys___________________________
22. It is no use__________________________
23. It is no good_________________________
The choice of a gerund or an infinitive, in some instances, does not affect the meaning of a verb.
Example :
I prefer to go to the mall.
I prefer going to the mall.
N.B. Verbs that show emotion and the fulfillment of unfulfillment of an activity may affect the meaning depending on the choice of
an infinitive or a gerund. Gerunds are used to describe actions that are factual, whereas infinitives are used to describe actions
that may take place in the time to come or that are possible.
 Verbs of Emotion:
Factual: Did you like dancing last night?
Possible: Do you like to dance?
 Verbs of fulfillment/unfulfillment:
Factual: I started doing my homework and question #1 is really hard.
Possible: Did you start to do your homework?
 A Gerund will follow a preposition:
e.g. Thank you for helping me.
 The negation NOT is always placed in front of the gerund or the infinitive.
e.g. I enjoy not having to do study today.
 Gerunds are used after the following expressions:
-worth,
-rather than,
-instead of
-This situation is worth looking into
-Rather than studying Chemistry we decided to study Anatomy
-Instead of talking to her boss directly, she sent a message with her secretary.
 Verbs of perception - feel, hear, notice, observe, see, smell, watch- may be followed by gerunds, however,
never infinitives. (These may also be followed by the base form of the verb.)
e.g. -Have you ever seen an ice skater doing a high jump?
-Do you hear the phone ringing?
 When there is only one object complement, some verbs are followed by a gerund complements.
-Doctors advise reducing fats in one’s diet.
-They encourage steaming or boiling food, but forbid frying
-They urge giving up fried foods.
things in oil.
-Changing food habits requires changing old habits
Let’s practice (02) : Complete the sentences with the gerund form of the verbs in parentheses.
1.
She is good at……………………… (dance)
6.
Sam dreams of ……………………… (be) a popstar.
2.
He is crazy about ……………………… (sing)
7.
He is interested in ……………………… (make) friends.
3.
I don't like ……………………… (play) cards.
8.
My uncle is afraid of ……………………… (go) by plane.
4.
They are afraid of ……………………… (swim) in the sea.
9.
We insist on ……………………… (cook) the dinner ourselves.
5.
You should give up ……………………… (smoke).
Infinitives
However, if there is a second object complement, an infinitive is used.
Example :
-The doctor advised me to reduce my fat intake.
-He urged me to give up fried food.
-He encouraged me to steam and boil my food but forbade me to fry things in oil.
-This has required me to change a lot of old habits.
2012/2013 ©SAIHI H.
2
These are some verbs that follow the preceding pattern:
advise
force
allow
tell
persuade
require
urge
forbid
invite
warm encourage
command
convince
order
cause
hire
Examples:
I trust my doctor to do the job right.
They hired him to solve the problems here.
Infinitives as subjects:
To be on time is important in this culture.
Infinitives as objects:
They asked her to check the letter before it was sent.
Infinitives used in passive construction: I was told to go very quickly and quietly.
Examples:
The following verbs may be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive:
Attempt
continue
intend
plan
begin
prefer
hate
love
start
stop
I started smoking when I was young.
I started to smoke when I left the office.
permit
trust
remind
teach
dread
try
like
cannot stand
The following verbs are followed by infinitives:
want
need
would like
hope
expect
agree
seem
appear
learn
mean
try
forget
offer
agree
Examples:
Tom agreed to help me.
His health appeared to be better.
She asked to leave.
Let’s practice (03) :Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given.
e.g.
I was afraid of hurting his feelings. (hurt)

After dinner, she continued ____________ her homework

Most of Hong Kong people don’t like _____________ meat.
until late at night. (do)
(freeze)

Tom stopped ____________ up his washing on the way

I think you should give up __________ because you have
home. (pick)
a very poor voice. (sing)

Tell me your plan. I’m interested ____________ about it.

He isn’t strong enough ____________ in the basketball
(hear)
team. (be)

The ____________ drama has won several awards.

____________ is good exercise. (walk)
(amaze)

It is getting dark. We had better ____________ now. (go)

It is very cold. I would rather ____________ at home(stay)
Let’s practice (04) : Create sentences from the following verb combinations. Select any tense for the first verb,
but use a gerund or infinitive for the second verb. Include a (PRO)NOUN OBJECT if necessary.
EXAMPLES:
can't afford + buy → I can't afford to buy a new car for at least another year.
dare + dive → My friends dared me to dive into the pool.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
keep + play_______________________________________
direct + save______________________________________
regret + tell_______________________________________
manage + get______________________________________
remind + take_____________________________________
6.
7.
8.
9.
be used to + stay__________________________________
persuade + not buy ______________________________
mention + give___________________________________
suggest + go ______________________________________
Let’s practice (05) : Restate the sentences by changing a sentence with a gerund as the subject to a sentence
with it + an infinitive phrase, and vice-versa.
EXAMPLE 1: Teasing animals is cruel. - It is cruel to tease animals.
EXAMPLE 2: It wasn't difficult to find their house. - Finding their house wasn't difficult.
1. Voting in every election is important. _______________________________________________________________________
2. It was exciting to meet the king and queen.____________________________________________________________________
3. Hearing the other side of the story would benteresting.__________________________________________________________
4. It is unusual to see Joan awake early in the morning.______________________________________________________
5. If you know how, it is easy to float in the water for a long time.__________________________________________________
6. Mastering a second language takes time and patience.___________________________________________________________
7. Driving to Atlanta will take us ten hours._________________________________________________________________________
8. It takes courage to dive into the sea from a high cliff._____________________________________________________________
Let’s practice (06) : Choose the correct answer.
1. The groom anticipated ____ the wedding ceremony.
4. We miss ____ Professor Sanders in Asian history this
A. enjoying
B. to enjoy
quarter.
2. The department store agreed ____ back the damaged radio.
A. having
B. to have
A. Taking
B. to take
3.
Would the doctor mind ____ some time talking to me after
the examination?
A. spending
B. to spend
2012/2013 ©SAIHI H.
3