Gerunds & Infinitives, Part 1

Gerunds & Infinitives, Part 1Ch. 14

∗ A gerund is a verb (or verb phrase) that is used in the same way as a noun in a sentence.

∗ Gerunds ALWAYS end in –ing, but not every verb ending in –ing is acting as a gerund.

What is a Gerund

∗ You can use gerunds as:∗ Subjects/subject phrases∗ Adverb phrases∗ Objects of Prepositional phrases∗ Objects of verbs

Gerunds After Verbs

∗ I am running. (present cont. verb – notice the helping verb)

∗ Running is fun. (Running = gerund, no helping verb)∗ Playing tennis is fun. (playing tennis = gerund phrase;

used as subject)∗ He loves playing tennis. (used as object)∗ He is excited about playing tennis. (used as object of

preposition)

Example:

∗ A preposition is a word which precedes a noun (or a pronoun) to show the noun's (or the pronoun's) relationship to another word in the sentence.

∗ The cat is sitting on the TV.∗ (The word preposition comes from the idea of being

positioned before. It is not true to say that a preposition always precedes a noun or a pronoun, but it does most of the time.)

Prepositions - Review

http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/nouns.htm

http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/pronouns.htm

∗ Aren’t sure a word or phrase is a preposition?

∗ Try to tack “the tree” onto the end of it.∗ If it makes sense, then the word or phrase is a preposition

∗ Examples:∗ In “the tree”∗ Around “the tree”∗ Without “the tree”∗ Instead of “the tree”

Easy Preposition Test

Every prepositional phrase requires an object. A gerund is frequently used for the object.∗ You should work towards becoming a good student.∗ Sue is in charge of organizing the meeting.∗ I’m interested in learning about your work.

Gerunds as objects of prepositions

When a gerund is used with to as the preposition, it can be confused with an infinitive. However, it is not!∗ I’m used to sleeping with the window open.∗ I look forward to going home next month.To make it negative, the not goes in front of the gerund:∗ We talked about not going to the meeting.See p. 302 for a list of common preposition combinations followed by gerunds.

Gerunds as objects of prepositions

Complete Exercise 3, 4, and 5, p. 302-04

Practice

Gerunds are used as objects with certain verbs. For some of these verbs, it is incorrect to use an infinitive:∗ I enjoy playing tennis. Vs. I enjoy to play tennis.∗ See p. 307 for a list of ‘gerund only’ verbsSome phrasal verbs are also followed by gerunds (see p. 307):Joe gave up smoking.I will keep on working until it is time to go home.

Common Verbs followed by Gerunds

Complete Exercise 14, p. 308Complete Exercise 12, p. 307

Practice

Go is followed by a gerund in some expressions, usually recreational activities (see p. 309 for a list):∗ Did you go shopping?∗ We went fishing yesterday.∗ I go swimming every morning.

go + gerund

Complete Exercise 16, p. 309Complete Exercise 17 (Listening)

Practice

gerunds follow certain special expressions:∗ Have fun/a good time: We had fun playing volleyball.∗ Have trouble/difficulty: I had trouble finding his house.∗ Have a hard time/difficult time: She is having a difficult

time driving to work.∗ Spend + time/money expression: Sam spends most of

his time studying.∗ Waste + time/money expression: I wasted a lot of

money buying a new car.

Special expressions with gerunds

∗ Sit + place expression: She sat at her desk writing a letter.

∗ Stand + place expression: I stood there wondering what to do.

∗ Lie + place expression: He is lying in bed reading a novel.

∗ Find + noun/pronoun: I found him watching TV.∗ Catch + noun/pronoun: I caught him watching TV.

Special expressions with gerunds

∗ We’re going to Hawaii on vacation next month. I’m really looking forward to _____________ (take) it easy for a change.

Complete with a Gerund

∗ I want to spend some time ___________(learn) how to use a surfboard.

∗ She wasn’t used to __________(speak) with people in English.

∗ Now she has no trouble __________(make) herself understood when she wants to.

∗ You can shop at home instead of __________ (go) to a store.

∗ You can buy whatever you need just by __________(click) a mouse!

∗ Kevin’s car wasn’t running very well. He was having trouble __________ (start) it.

∗ In the end, he wound up ________ (give) it to a friend.

∗ Complete Exercise 20, p. 311∗ Complete Exercise 23 (questions only) p. 312

Practice

Infinitive = to + base form. Some verbs are bollowedimmediately by the infinitive:∗ I hope to see you later.∗ He promised to be there.To make it negative, not comes before the to:∗ He promised not to be late.

Common verbs followed by infinitives

Some common verbs followed by infinitives:Hope toPlan toAgree toOffer t0Want to(see p. 313 for a longer list)


Some verbs (p. 313) are followed by a noun/pronoun object and then an infinitive: Verb + object + infinitive ∗ Mr. Lee told me to be here at ten o’clock.∗ The police ordered the driver to stop.In passive form, these verbs are followed immediately by the infinitive:I was told to be here at ten o’clock.The driver was ordered to stop.


Some verb can follow both patterns: ∗ verb + infinitive = I expect to pass the test.∗ verb + object + infinitive = I expect Mary to pass the

test.See p. 313 for other verbs like thisAlso, see footnotes on p. 313


∗ When I’m at home, I never have time ________(go) to the beach.

Complete with an Infinitive

∗ When Keiko first came to the U.S., she found it hard _________ (speak) to Americans.

∗ Shopping on the internet has made our lives a lot easier. It’s now possible _________ (shop) at home.

∗ He wasn’t sorry _________ (get) rid of it, because he found a great deal on another car.

∗ Complete Exercise 25 and 26, p. 314∗ Complete Exercise 28 (gerund vs. infinitive)

Practice

Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund. Sometimes there is no difference in meaning, but sometimes the meaning changes.

Verbs followed by infinitive OR gerund

Group A: no difference in meaning (p. 317)∗ It began to rain./It began raining.∗ I started to work./I started working.However, if the main verb is progressive, an infinitive is usually used:∗ It was beginning to rain.

Verbs followed by infinitive OR gerund: no difference

Group B: difference in meaning (p. 317):∗ remember/forget + infinitive: remember/forget to

perform task/duty∗ Judy always remembers to lock the door.∗ Sam often forgets to lock the door.

∗ remember/forget + gerund: remember/forget something that happened in the past∗ Judy remembers seeing Houston from the plane

window.∗ I will never forget seeing the Alps for the first time.

∗ Forget + gerund usually occurs in negative sentences or questions

Verbs followed by infinitive OR gerund: difference

∗ regret + infinitive: regret to say/tell someone/inform someone of bad news∗ I regret to tell you that you failed the test.

∗ regret + gerund: regret something that happened in the past∗ I regret lending him 200$. He never paid me back.

∗ try + infinitive: make an effort∗ I’m trying to learn English.

∗ try + gerund: experiment with a new/different approach∗ The room was hot. I tried opening the window. I tried

turning on the fan. Finally, I turned on the air conditioner.


∗ stop + gerund = stop an activity∗ The students stopped talking when the professor

entered the room.∗ He stopped smoking.

∗ stop + infinitive = stop for some purpose; stop in order to do something∗ When Ann saw her professor in the hallway, she

stopped to talk to him.∗ He stopped to smoke.


∗ Can we stop watching the movie?∗ Can we stop to watch the movie?

Same or Different Meaning?

∗ The cleaners didn’t start working until noon.∗ The cleaners didn’t start to work until noon.

∗ It will continue raining through the evening.∗ It will continue to rain through the evening.

∗ I didn’t remember locking the door.∗ I didn’t remember to lock the door.

∗ We regret to say that Mr. Jones died.∗ We regret saying that Mr. Jones died.

∗ The roof has begin leak.∗ The roof has begun to leak.

∗ I tried to send a message on Ben’s computer.∗ I tried sending a message on Ben’s computer.

∗ I’ll never forget doing that.∗ I’ll never forget to do that.

Complete Exercise 30 and 32, p. 318-319Complete Exercise 35, p. 320-321

Practice

An infinitive can be used as the subject of a sentence:∗ To learn a second language is difficult.However, it is FAR more common to use it + infinitive as the subject of a sentence.∗ It is difficult to learn a second language.it has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase (to learn a second language). The phrase for + noun/pronoun can be used to be more specific:∗ It is easy for young children to learn a second language.

Gerunds and Infinitives as subjects

More examples of gerund as subject:∗ To work late is very uncommon for Tom.∗ It is very uncommon for Tom to work late.

∗ To open doors for women is very polite.∗ It is polite for men to open doors for women.


A gerund can also be used as the subject of a sentence:∗ Learning a second language is difficult.∗ Learning a second language is easy for children.∗ Opening doors for women is polite.∗ Swimming is my favorite exercise.∗ Smoking is a bad habit.

Remember: gerunds/infinitives used as subjects DON’T follow the same rules as when used as objects


∗ Ex.∗ Raising children is not easy.∗ It is not easy to raise children

Reword the Gerund as an Infinitive

∗ Studying all night is not a good idea.

∗ Walking to work takes too much time.

∗ Getting exercise is important.

∗ Owning a house costs a lot of money.

∗ Knowing a foreign language can be useful.

Complete Exercise 37, p. 322 – make 5 sentencesComplete Exercise 40, p. 323 – answer any 5 questions, use gerund subjects in your answersComplete Exercise 38, p. 323

Practice

Review the charts on p. 324 -325Complete Exercise 43 and 44, p. 327-28

Review:gerunds/Infinitives as objects

More Practice

∗ I’m planning ____________________.

Complete with “seeing it” or “to see it” – Use p. A-7 and A-8

∗ Do you recommend ___________________?

∗ You should consider ________________.

∗ I’ve decided _____________________.

∗ I suggest ________________________.

∗ Don’t expect me __________________.

∗ He refuses _____________________.

∗ I warn you not ______________________.

∗ You should avoid __________________.

∗ I urge you _________________________.

∗ Can you ask Gary ______ me a call when he comes back?

∗ A. give∗ B. to give∗ C. given

Chapter Review

∗ Please put on a sweater when you go out. I don’t want ________ cold.

∗ A. you get∗ B. to get∗ C. you to get

∗ Celia would like _______ some time off because her father is sick.

∗ A. take∗ B. to take

∗ Don’t ask _____ that. I can’t understand a word of it.

∗ A. I translate ∗ B. translating∗ C. me to translate

∗ I’m going to want ________ me a hand with this sofa. It’s heavy

∗ A. him to give∗ B. him give∗ C. giving

∗ You’ve worked hard all week. It’s time _____ (enjoy) life. You don’t want _________ (waste) time all weekend ______ (run) errands. The idea of ________ (stand) in line at the supermarket fills you with horror. You simply don’t have the time _______ (go) to the post office. Or maybe you just hate _______ (shop). But things need _______ (get) done. Don’t worry. Try _______ (use) a shopping service. A growing number of companies exist ________ (meet) the needs of people who are too busy ______ (run) all their errands themselves. For fees that start at $50 an hour, these companies provide a variety of services from _______ (register) their clients’ car to _______ (clean) their house.

Complete with a Gerund or Infinitive

∗ You’ve worked hard all week. It’s time to enjoy life. You don’t want to waste time all weekend to run/running errands. The idea of standing in line at the supermarket fills you with horror. You simply don’t have the time to goto the post office. Or maybe you just hate to shop/shopping. But things need to get done. Don’t worry. Try to use/using a shopping service. A growing number of companies exist to meet the needs of people who are too busy to run all their errands themselves. For fees that start at $50 an hour, these companies provide a variety of services from registering their clients’ car to cleaning their house.

Answers

∗ I forgot to mail the letter.

∗ ___ I mailed the letter

True or False

∗ I didn’t remember to take out the garbage.

∗ ___ I took out the garbage.

∗ I’ll never forget opening that letter.

∗ ___ I opened the letter.

∗ I always avoid eating sweets.

∗ ____ I eat sweets.

∗ They permitted me to leave.

∗ ___ I left.

∗ She stopped to eat lunch.

∗ ___ She didn’t eat lunch.

∗ I tried soaking my ankle, but it still hurts.

∗ ___ I soaked my ankle.

∗ I heard about his winning the race.

∗ ___ He won the race.

∗ He was surprised at my failing the exam.

∗ ___ I failed the exam.

∗ I had him complain to the manager.

∗ ___ I complained to the manager.

∗ Use the gerund, infinitive or pronoun+infinitive of resign

∗ I have decided _____________________.∗ I appreciate ________________________.∗ I expect ____________________________.∗ I invite ____________________________.∗ I’m concerned about _________________.∗ I urge _______________________.∗ I want ____________________________.∗ I don’t mind ______________________.

Situation: You are going to resign from your job because of a scandal.

∗ Use the gerund, infinitive or pronoun+infinitive of run∗ I have decided _____________________.∗ I appreciate ________________________.∗ I expect ____________________________.∗ I invite ____________________________.∗ I’m concerned about _________________.∗ I urge _______________________.∗ I want ____________________________.∗ I don’t mind ______________________.

Situation: You are going to run for president.

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Gerunds & Infinitives, Part 1