Gerunds and Infinitives

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GerundsandInfinitives
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What is a Gerund?

• Gerunds are made by adding ing to the base form
  of a verb.
• Do -ing doing
• Swim -ing swimming
• fall -ing falling

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Gerund as NOUNS

• Sometimes gerunds work like nouns in a sentence.
• Examples
• Smoking is dangerous.
• Swimming is healthy.
• I like shopping.
• She hates running.
• In sentences 1 and 2, the gerund is the subject
  of the sentence.
• In Sentences 3 and 4, the gerund is the object of
  the verb.

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Gerunds after a PREPOSITION

• The gerund is the only form verbs take after a
  preposition (on, in, by, with, under, through,
  at, after, before, as, of, off, etc.).
• Water is needed for growing plants.
• We passed the exam by working hard.
• I am tired of working so many hours.

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When do you use Gerunds after verbs?

• There are no patterns for this rule.
• You must memorize which verbs are followed by
  gerunds and which are followed by infinitives
  (which we will get to in a moment)

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Verbs that are followed by Gerunds
acknowledge delay excuse mind recall
admit deny fancy (UK) miss recollect
anticipate detest finish postpone regret
appreciate dispute imagine practice resist
avoid dislike involve prevent risk
cant stand enjoy keep propose suggest
celebrate escape make quit understand
consider report recommend
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Infinitives

• The infinitive of the verb is the basic form of
  the verb.
• There are two forms of infinitives
• swim, leave, eat, play bare infinitive
• to swim, to leave, to eat, to play full
  infinitive

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Infinitives after ADJECTIVES

• We use the full infinitive after adjectives.
• Examples
• I am happy to see my friends.
• We were surprised to get first place.

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Infinitive as a Delayed Subject

• We also use the infinitive as a delayed subject
  (where it usually comes after an adjective)
• Examples
• It is healthy to swim.
• It is dangerous to smoke.
• Contrast
• Swimming is healthy.

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VERBS that are followed by Infinitives
afford choose hurry pay seem
agree consent intend plan want
appear decide invite prepare warn
arrange demand learn pretend wish
ask deserve manage promise would like
attempt expect mean refuse Claim
cant afford fail need remind hesitate
cant wait hope offer request swear

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Infinitives and Modals

• The modal verbs are
• can, could, have to, must, might, should, ought
  to
• These verbs always take the bare infinitive
• Examples
• We mustnt be late for class.
• We had to write an essay this morning.

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Verbs followed by Gerunds and Infinitives (1)

• These verbs take infinitives and gerunds
• begin, continue, hate, try, need, like, love,
  prefer, start.
• Examples
• I hate exercising.
• I hate to exercise.
• I love swimming.
• I love to swim.
• The meaning of sentences 1,2 and 3,4 is the same.

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Verbs followed by Gerunds and Infinitives (2)

• These verbs are followed by gerunds and
  infinitives
• remember, stop, forget.
• BUT the meaning changes if the verb is followed
  by an infinitive or a gerund.

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Examples of Verbs followed by Gerunds and
Infinitives with changes in meaning

• Frank remembered mailing the letter.
• (Frank had a memory that he mailed the letter.
  He saw it in his mind)
• Frank remembered to mail the letter.
• (First he remembered that he needed to mail the
  letter. Then he did it he mailed the letter.
  He didnt forget to mail the letter)
• Sonia stopped eating ice cream.
• (She doesnt eat ice cream anymore)
• 4. Sonia stopped to eat ice cream.
• (She stopped another activity to eat ice cream)
• 5. Jane forgot to meet John.
• (Jane had planned to meet John, but she didnt
  meet him because she forgot about the plan)
• 6. Jane forgot meeting John.
• (Jane met John, but afterwards she didnt
  remember that.)