Gerunds and Infinitives

1
Gerunds and Infinitives

• Bjarne Nielsen

2
As subjects

• To know the answer is wonderful
• Knowing the answer is wonderful

3
As objects

• Tony enjoys living in Charlotte
• Tony plans to live in Charlotte

4
After prepositions

• Tony is interested in getting a dog
• Tony is interested in to get a dog (wrong!)

5
Practice

• (Study) English is difficult
• Studying English is difficult
• To study English is difficult
• (Find) a good job was easy
• (Move) to New York was a bad idea
• (Watch) a lot of television is common
• (Be) on vacation was fun

6
Practice

• They enjoy (live) in Charlotte
• She planned (move) to New York
• He considered (drop) the class
• We hope (find) the keys
• She anticipated (meet) the actor
• They asked me (play) piano

7
Practice

• They are afraid of (try) something new
• She was interested in (learn) Italian
• He agreed with (cancel) the class
• They are known for (be) tough
• She is accustomed to (have) lots of money
• They look forward to (meet) the actress

8
Passive Gerunds

• As subject
• Being seen on television made him famous
• As object
• He appreciates being given the opportunity
• After preposition
• They depended on being released early

9
Passive Infinitives

• As subject
• To be promoted made Tina very happy
• As object
• She hopes to be promoted
• After preposition
• Not possible! After preposition, use gerund

10
Past Gerunds

• As subject
• Having found a job makes him happy
• As object
• He appreciates having met the king
• After preposition
• He looks back on having lost the money with
  sadness

11
Past Infinitives

• As subject
• To have lived fully satisfies the soul
• As object
• The rain seems to have stopped
• After preposition
• Not possible! Use gerunds after prepositions

12
Past and Passive Gerunds

• As subject
• Having been arrested hurt his reputation
• As object
• He remembers having been surprised
• After preposition
• He is comfortable with having been elected

13
Past and Passive Infinitives

• As subject
• To have been saved from the lion made him
  thankful
• As object
• He seems to have been arrested in Miami
• After preposition
• Not possible! Use gerunds after prepositions