GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

Abdullah Al SaudSantiago Machado Santos

Spring 2013

GERUNDS

GERUND

Definition

a verb that acts like a noun in a sentence

Forming a Gerund

add “ing” to the verb

EXAMPLES

DanceDancing

Run Running

SwimSwimming

EXAMPLES

DanceDancing

Run Running

SwimSwimming

StudyStudying

EatEating

DreamDreaming

KillKilling

Running will help you burn more calories.

Eating too much pizza makes you fat.

Exercising makes you healthy.

USING GERUNDSas the subject of a sentence

To be: I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, they are…

I am thinking about guacamole.

You are eating too many French fries.

She is studying for her exam.

USING GERUNDSas a complement to the verb “to be”

Prepositions:above, under, to, on, in , by, after, next to…

He is good at playing basketball.

After winning the game, Lebron James was happy.

During the blizzard, Lorena got tired by shoveling.

USING GERUNDSafter a preposition

Compound Nouns:a driving lesson, a swimming pool, deer hunting

His driving lesson was difficult because he was nervous.

You have to wear a bathing suit in the swimming pool.

Once, I went deer hunting with my father.

USING GERUNDSin compound nouns

Expressions requiring a gerund:can’t help, can’t stand, it’s no use…

She is so hungry that she can’t help eating all of the burger.

I can’t stand arguing with someone who thinks he knows everything.

It’s no use trying to escape the cold in Boston.

USING GERUNDSafter certain expressions

INFINITIVES

INFINITIVES

1. Infinitives talk about specific actions, or the purpose of an action. An infinitive is “to” plus the base form of the verb.

2. When a verb is intransitive, it is not followed by an object. Therefore, use an infinitive.

INFINITIVES

1. Simple: basic formation of the passive. Ex: The students want to complete the assignment quickly.

Ex: Lorena loves to study even if she is tired.

INFINITIVES

to run a mile

to start over

to do homework all night

to win the contest

to wake up early

INFINITIVES

2. Perfect: emphasizes that the action happened in the past.

Ex: The students want to have completed the assignment when the professor starts.

Ex: The students are so happy to have written the first Journal last week.

INFINITIVES

3. Progressive: indicates an action in progress.

Ex: We want to be completing the assignment when the professor starts.

Ex: They seem to be driving since yesterday; they look very tired.

INFINITIVES

4. Passive: the action is being done to someone or by someone else.

Ex. The teacher wants the assignment to be completed quickly.

INFINITIVES

INFINITIVES CAN BE USED AS SUBJECTS, OBJECTS OR

COMPLEMENTS.

INFINITIVES

1. Subject: focusing on a specific action.

Ex: To sleep is the only thing Eli wants after his soccer game.

Ex: To run fast is what Melissa wants before the lion eat her.

INFINITIVES

2. Direct object of a verb: verb followed by an infinitive.

Ex: No matter how fascinating the biology dissection is, Emanuel turns his head and refuses to look.

INFINITIVES

3. Indirect object of a verb: verb followed by an indirect object and an infinitive.

Ex: The teacher always challenges us to do our best.

INFINITIVES

4. Adjective complement: after an adjective of emotion use an infinitive, often used with TOO or ENOUGH

Ex: I am so happy to see you.

Ex: I am too tired to go out tonight.

Ex: The problem is not big enough to worry about it.

INFINITIVES

5. Object complement: describing the noun in front of it.

Ex: Wherever Melissa goes, she always brings a book to read in case that she has a long wait.