Gerunds and Infinitives Use of English Secondary 6 / 7

What is infinitive? A verb that will never change in forms A verb that will never change in forms With regard to number, person or tense With regard to number, person or tense Usually used with the particle “ to ”. Usually used with the particle “ to ”. e.g. I wish to get into a good university. e.g. I wish to get into a good university.

How does it look like? e.g. “ Take ”… e.g. “ Take ”… SimplePerfectContinuous Active To take To have taken To be taking Passive To be taken To have been taken To have been taking

Negative Not + “ to ” infinitive Not + “ to ” infinitive e.g.He advised us not to go swimming tomorrow. e.g.He advised us not to go swimming tomorrow. Compare: Compare: He advised us not to go swimming tomorrow. He advised us not to go swimming tomorrow. (He gave us advice: don ’ t go swimming tomorrow) (He gave us advice: don ’ t go swimming tomorrow) He did not advise us to go swimming tomorrow. He did not advise us to go swimming tomorrow. (He did not suggest us to go swimming tomorrow.) (He did not suggest us to go swimming tomorrow.)

Bare infinitive:Infinitive without “ to ” – When will we use it? Modal auxiliary verbs (e.g. Shall, Will, Can, etc.) Modal auxiliary verbs (e.g. Shall, Will, Can, etc.) e.g.Sandy will come to the party. e.g.Sandy will come to the party. Verbs of feeling and perceptions (e.g. hear, smell, see, notice, etc.) Verbs of feeling and perceptions (e.g. hear, smell, see, notice, etc.) e.g.I saw him walk in the park. e.g.I saw him walk in the park. He was seen to walk in the park. (Passive) “ Make ” and “ Let ” “ Make ” and “ Let ” He lets us go with you. He lets us go with you. Her jokes made us laugh. Her jokes made us laugh.

Bare infinitive:Infinitive without “ to ” – When will we use it? “ Had better ” / “ would rather ” / “ can do nothing but ” “ Had better ” / “ would rather ” / “ can do nothing but ” e.g.You ’ d (had) better do your assignment now. e.g.You ’ d (had) better do your assignment now. I ’ d (would) rather stay here a bit longer. As I was locked in the room, I could do nothing but shout for help. “ Need ” / “ Dare ” “ Need ” / “ Dare ” e.g.She needs not do it herself. e.g.She needs not do it herself. He dared not lie to his wife.

When do we use infinitives? Subject Subject e.g.To drive after drinking too much is dangerous. (Subject) e.g.To drive after drinking too much is dangerous. (Subject) (It is dangerous to drive after drinking too much.) After adjective After adjective e.g.He is not happy to be alone. (After adjective) e.g.He is not happy to be alone. (After adjective)

When do we use infinitives? After question tags (e.g. When, what, how, etc.) After question tags (e.g. When, what, how, etc.) e.g.I ’ m not sure what to cook first. e.g.I ’ m not sure what to cook first. Absolute construction Absolute construction e.g.To be honest, I don ’ t enjoy doing this. e.g.To be honest, I don ’ t enjoy doing this.

Gerunds: What does it look like? A verb that has changed into its present continuous form A verb that has changed into its present continuous form Functioning as a noun Functioning as a noun Naming certain kinds of activities, hobbies and behaviour Naming certain kinds of activities, hobbies and behaviour e.g. I enjoy staying in bed in the morning. e.g. I enjoy staying in bed in the morning.

How does it look like? e.g. “ Break ”… e.g. “ Break ”… SimplePerfect ActiveBreaking Having broken Passive Being broken Having been broken

When do we use gerunds? Subject Subject Hobbies (e.g. Reading, hiking, etc.) Hobbies (e.g. Reading, hiking, etc.) e.g. Reading can help us to learn more words. e.g. Reading can help us to learn more words. Activities & behaviours (e.g. Dancing) Activities & behaviours (e.g. Dancing) e.g. Dancing is a kind of performing art that is hard to learn. e.g. Dancing is a kind of performing art that is hard to learn. Issues you want to draw readers ’ attention (e.g. Killing) Issues you want to draw readers ’ attention (e.g. Killing) e.g. Killing animals should not be encouraged. e.g. Killing animals should not be encouraged.

When do we use gerunds? Objects Objects Providing description to the receiver of the action verb Providing description to the receiver of the action verb e.g. She always avoids getting involved in the quarrels. e.g. She always avoids getting involved in the quarrels.

When do we use gerunds? A list of verbs using gerunds after … A list of verbs using gerunds after … AcknowledgeAdmitAnticipateAppreciateAvoidCelebrateDeferDelay Consider Can ’ t help Deny DislikeEnjoyEscapeExcuse Feel like FinishForgiveImagineKeepMentionMindPractisePrevent,ReportResistSaveSuggestTolerateUnderstand…

When do we use gerunds? After prepositions After prepositions As complements to the verb + preposition combination As complements to the verb + preposition combination Example: Interested in, fond of, persisted in, confessed of, look forward to Example: Interested in, fond of, persisted in, confessed of, look forward to e.g. I look forward to hearing from you. e.g. I look forward to hearing from you.

Infinitives or Gerunds? Which of the following is correct? Which of the following is correct? I really like reading. I really like reading. I really like to read in the library. I really like to read in the library. Both correct! Both correct!

Infinitives or Gerunds? Gerunds Gerunds Applicable to ALL general case (i.e. It is true in most cases) Applicable to ALL general case (i.e. It is true in most cases) With verbs such as like, hate, prefer, etc With verbs such as like, hate, prefer, etc Example: I like swimming. (In most cases, I like swimming.) Example: I like swimming. (In most cases, I like swimming.)

Infinitives or Gerunds? Infinitives Infinitives Only applicable to one or several PARTICULAR situations Only applicable to one or several PARTICULAR situations It will only happen when the special condition(s) is (are) fulfilled It will only happen when the special condition(s) is (are) fulfilled Example: I like to swim in winter. (i.e. I don ’ t like to swim in summer) Example: I like to swim in winter. (i.e. I don ’ t like to swim in summer)

Exceptional Cases Verbs like begin, start, plan, propose, continue, attempt … Verbs like begin, start, plan, propose, continue, attempt … Gerunds and infinitives can be used Gerunds and infinitives can be used Without changing the meaning Without changing the meaning e.g.I start writing a book. e.g.I start writing a book. I start to write a book.

Exceptional Cases Verbs (such as allow, advise, acknowledge, encourage, permit, etc.) + an object noun + infinitive Verbs (such as allow, advise, acknowledge, encourage, permit, etc.) + an object noun + infinitive Action in the infinitive phrase directed to the object Action in the infinitive phrase directed to the object e.g. My teacher advised me to start early. e.g. My teacher advised me to start early.

Now, work on the exercises!