Download Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives
verb
I enjoy
gerund
walking
Verb + Gerund
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb, It is used as a
in the park.
noun.
walking is a gerund. It is used as the object of the
verb enjoy.
Go + -Ing
(a) Did you go shopping yesterday?
(b) I went swimming last week.
(c) Bob hasn't gone fishing in years.
Verb + Infinitive
(a) Tom offered to lend me some money.
(b) I've decided to buy a new car.
(c) I've decided not to keep my old car.
Verb + Gerund or Infinitive
(a) It began raining.
(b) It began to rain.
Preposition + Gerund
(a) Kate insisted on coming with us.
(b) We're excited about going to Tahiti.
(c) I apologized for being late.
Go is followed by a gerund in certain idiomatic.
expressions about activities.
Notice: There is no to between go and the gerund.
Incorrect: Did you go to shopping?
Some verbs are followed by an infinitive;
An Infinitive = to + the simple form of a verb.
Negative form: not + infinitive
Some verbs are followed by either a gerund or an
infinitive. Usually there is no difference in
meaning. (a ) and (b) have the same meaning.
A preposition is followed by a gerund, not an
infinitive. In (a): The preposition (on) is followed
by a gerund (coming).
Using By and With to Express How Something is Done
(a) Pat turned off the tape recorder by
By + a gerund is used to express how something
pushing the stop button.
is done.
(b) Mary goes to work by bus.
By or with followed by a noun is also used to
(c) Andrea stirred her coffee with a spoon. express how something is done.
Using Gerunds as Subjects; Using It + Infinitive
(a) Riding horse is fun.
(a) and (b) have the same meaning.
(b) It is fun to ride horses.
In (a) A gerund (riding ) is the subject of the
(c) Coming to class on time is important.
sentence. Notice: The verb (is) is singular because
(d) It is important to come to class on time. a gerund is singular.
It + Infinitive: Using For (someone)
(a) You should study hard.
(b) It is important for you to study hard.
(c) Mary should study hard.
(d) It is important for Mary to study hard.
(e) We don't have to go to the meeting.
(f) It isn't necessary for us to go to the
meeting.
(g) A dog can't talk.
(h) It is impossible for a dog to talk.
(a) and (b) have a similar meaning.
Notice the pattern in (b):
it is + adjective + for (someone) + infinitive
phrase
Expressing Purpose with In Order To and For
--- Why did you go to the past office?
In order to expresses purpose. It answers the
(a) I went to the post office because I
question "Why?"
wanted to mail a letter.
(b) I went to the post office in order to mail in (c): in order is frequently omitted.
a letter.
(a), (b), and (c) have the same meaning.
(c) I went to the post office to mail a letter.
(d) I went to the post office for some
For is also used to express purpose, but it is a
stamps.
preposition and is followed by a noun phrase, as
(e) I went to the post office to by some
in (d).
stamps.
Incorrect: I went to the post office for
buying some stamps.
Using Infinitive with Too and Enough Too + Adjective + (For Someone) + Infinitive
(a) A piano is
too heavy
to
Infinitives often follow expressions with too. Too
lift.
comes in front of an adjective.
(b) That box is too heavy for me to
In the speaker's mind, the use of too implies a
lift.
negative result.
Enough + Noun + Infinitive
(c)I don't have enough money to buy that
car.
(d) Did you have enough time to finish the Infinitive often follow expressions with enough.
test?
Enough comes in front of a noun.
Adjective + Enough + Infinitive
Enough follows an adjective.
(e) Jimmy isn't old enough to go to school.
(f) Are you hungry enough to eat three
sandwiches?
Gerunds and Infinitives: for and in order to
(1) I went to the store for
some bread.
For can be used to express purpose, but it is a preposition and is
(2) I went to the store to followed by a noun object.
buy some bread.
To express purpose use (in order ) to, not for, with a verb. The phrase be used for.
Expresses the typical or purpose of a thing. In this case, the preposition for is followed by a
gerund:
A saw is used for cutting
Also possible: A saw is used to cut wood.
wood.
Using Gerunds or Passive Infinitives following Need
(a) I need to borrow
some money.
(b) John needs to be told Usually an infinitive follows need, as in (a), (b).
the truth.
In certain circumstances, a gerund may follow need. In this case, the
(c) The house needs
gerund carries a passive meaning. Usually the situation involves
painting.
fixing or improving something. (c) and (d) have the same meaning.
(d) The house needs to be
painted.
Using a possessive to modify a gerund
We came to class late.
Mr. Lee complained
about that fact.
(a) Formal: Mr. Lee
complained about our
coming to class late
(b) Informal: Mr. Lee
companied about us
coming to class late.
(c) Formal: Mr. Lee
complained about Mary's
coming to class late.
(d) Informal: Mr. Lee
complained about Mary
coming to class late.
(1) Formal English, a possessive adjective (our) is used to modify a
gerund.
(2) In informal English, the object form of a pronoun (us) is
frequently used, as in (b).
Coming to class late occurred before Mr. Lee complained, so past
gerund is also possible:
Mr. Lee complained about our having come to class late.
In very formal English, a possessive noun (Mary's) is used to modify
a gerund. The possessive form is often not used in informal English,
as in (d).
Using Verbs of perception
(a) I saw my friend run
down the street.
(b) I saw friend running
down the street.
(c) I heard the rain fall on
the roof.
(d) I heard the rain falling
on the roof.
The simple form of a
verb= the infinitive form
to without "to."
Incorrect: I saw my
friend to run down the
street.
(e) When I walked into
the apartment, I heard my
roommate singing in the
shower.
(f) I heard a famous
opera sing at the concert
last nigh.
Certain verbs of perception are followed by either the simple from or
the -ing form of a verb.
There is often little different in meaning between the two forms,
except that the -ing form usually give the idea of "while." in (b).
Sometimes (not always) there is a clear difference between using the
simple form or the -ing form. The use of the -ing form give the idea
that an activity is already in progress when it is perceived, as is (e):
The singing was in progress when I first heard it.
In (f): I heard the singing from beginning to end. It was not in
progress when I first heard it.
Using the simple form after lot and help
(a) My father lets me
drive his car.
(b) I let my friend borrow
my bicycle.
(c) Let's go to a movie.
(d) My brother helped me
wash my car.
(e) My brother helped me
to wash my car.
Let is followed by the simple form of a verb, not an infinitive.
Incorrect: My father let me to drive his car.
Help is often followed by the simple form of a verb, as in (d). An
infinitive is also possible, as in (e). Both (d) and (e) are correct.
Using causative verbs: Make, Have, get
(a) I made my brother
carry my suitcase.
(b) I had my brother carry
my suitcase.
(c) I got my brother to
carry my suitcase. Forms:
X makes Y do something
(simple form)
X has Y do something
(simple form)
X gets Y to do something
(infinitive)
Causative Make:
(d) Mrs. Lee made her son
clean his room.
(e) Sad movies make me
cry.
Have:
(f) Mrs. Lee had the
plumber repair the leak.
(g) Jane had the waiter
bring her some tea.
Causative Get:
(h) The students got the
teacher to dismiss class
early.
(i) Jack got his friends to
play soccer with him after
school.
Passive Causatives:
(j) I had my watch
repaired (by someone).
(k) I got my watch
repaired (by someone).
Make, have and get can be used to express the idea that "X" cause
"Y" to do something. When they are used as causative verbs, their
meanings are similar about not identical.
In (a): My brother had no choice. I insisted that he carry my suitcase.
In (b): My brother carried my suitcase because I asked him to.
In (c): I managed to persuade my brother to carry my suitcase.
Causative make is followed by the simple form of a verb, not on
infinitive.
Incorrect: She made him to clean his room.
Make give the idea that "X" forces "Y" to do something. In (d): Mrs.
Lee's son had no choice.
Causative have is followed by the simple form of a verb, not an
infinitive.
Incorrect: I had him to repair the leak.
Have gives the idea that "X" requests "Y" to do something. In (f):
The plumber repaired the leak because I asked him to.
Get is followed b an infinitive. Get gives the idea the "X" persuades
"Y" to do something.
In (h): The students managed to persuade the teacher to let them
leave early.
The past participle is used after have and get to give a passive
meaning. In this case, there is usually little or no difference in
meaning between have and get.
In (j) and (k): I caused my watch to be repaired by someone.