Download Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives
Use of English
Secondary 6 / 7
What is infinitive?

A verb that will never change in forms

With regard to number, person or tense
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Usually used with the particle “to”.
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e.g. I wish to get into a good university.
How does it look like?
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e.g. “Take”…
Active
Simple
Perfect
Continuous
To take
To have
taken
To be taking
Passive To be taken To have
To have been
been taken taking
Negative
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Not + “to” infinitive
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e.g.
He advised us not to go
swimming tomorrow.
Compare:
 He advised us not to go swimming tomorrow.
(He gave us advice: don’t go swimming tomorrow)
He did not advise us to go swimming tomorrow.
(He did not suggest us to go swimming tomorrow.)

Bare infinitive: Infinitive without
“to” – When will we use it?
Modal auxiliary verbs (e.g. Shall, Will, Can, etc.)

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e.g.
Sandy will come to the party.
Verbs of feeling and perceptions (e.g. hear, smell, see,
notice, etc.)


e.g.
I saw him walk in the park.
He was seen to walk in the park. (Passive)
“Make” and “Let”
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He lets us go with you.
Her jokes made us laugh.
Bare infinitive: Infinitive without
“to” – When will we use it?
“Had better” / “would rather” / “can do nothing
but”

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e.g. You’d (had) better do your assignment now.
I’d (would) rather stay here a bit longer.
As I was locked in the room, I could do
nothing but shout for help.
“Need” / “Dare”

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e.g.
She needs not do it herself.
He dared not lie to his wife.
When do we use infinitives?

Subject


e.g.
To drive after drinking too
much is dangerous. (Subject)
(It is dangerous to drive after
drinking too much.)
After adjective

e.g.
He is not happy to be alone. (After
adjective)
When do we use infinitives?

After question tags (e.g. When, what, how,
etc.)


e.g.
I’m not sure what to cook first.
Absolute construction
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e.g.
To be honest, I don’t enjoy doing this.
Gerunds: What does it look like?




A verb that has changed into its present
continuous form
Functioning as a noun
Naming certain kinds of activities, hobbies and
behaviour
e.g. I enjoy staying in bed in the morning.
How does it look like?

e.g. “Break”…
Simple
Perfect
Active
Breaking
Having broken
Passive
Being broken
Having been
broken
When do we use gerunds?

Subject

Hobbies (e.g. Reading, hiking, etc.)

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Activities & behaviours (e.g. Dancing)

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e.g. Reading can help us to learn more words.
e.g. Dancing is a kind of performing art that is
hard to learn.
Issues you want to draw readers’ attention
(e.g. Killing)

e.g. Killing animals should not be encouraged.
When do we use gerunds?

Objects

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Providing description to the receiver of the
action verb
e.g. She always avoids getting involved in
the quarrels.
When do we use gerunds?
A list of verbs using gerunds after…
Acknowledge Consider
Finish
Can’t help Forgive
Admit
Deny
Anticipate
Imagine
Dislike
Appreciate
Keep
Enjoy
Avoid
Mention
Escape
Celebrate
Mind
Excuse
Defer
Practise
Feel like
Delay
Prevent,

Report
Resist
Save
Suggest
Tolerate
Understand
…
When do we use gerunds?
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After prepositions
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As complements to the verb + preposition
combination
Example: Interested in, fond of, persisted in,
confessed of, look forward to
e.g. I look forward to hearing from you.
Infinitives or Gerunds?

Which of the following is correct?

I really like reading.

I really like to read in the library.

Both correct!
Infinitives or Gerunds?

Gerunds

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Applicable to ALL general case (i.e. It is true
in most cases)
With verbs such as like, hate, prefer, etc
Example: I like swimming. (In most cases, I
like swimming.)
Infinitives or Gerunds?
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Infinitives
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Only applicable to one or several PARTICULAR
situations
It will only happen when the special
condition(s) is (are) fulfilled
Example: I like to swim in winter. (i.e. I don’t
like to swim in summer)
Exceptional Cases
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Verbs like begin, start, plan, propose,
continue, attempt…
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Gerunds and infinitives can be used
Without changing the meaning
e.g. I start writing a book.
I start to write a book.
Exceptional Cases
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Verbs (such as allow, advise, acknowledge,
encourage, permit, etc.) + an object
noun + infinitive

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Action in the infinitive phrase directed to the
object
e.g. My teacher advised me to start early.
Now, work on the exercises!