Gerund And Infinitive

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** Gerund:

>A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding “-ing.” The gerund form of the verb “read” is “reading.” You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

  • Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
  • Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
  • I enjoy reading. object of sentence

>Gerunds can be made negative by adding “not.”

Examples:

  • He enjoys not working.
  • The best thing for your health is not smoking.

>Some sentences:

  • Rising early is a good habit.
  • Stop writing.
  • I like playing golf.
  • Swimming being a good exercise.
  • Give him his walking stick.
  • This is my reading room.
  • I like your doing this.
  • He does not like my going there.
  • There is a possibility of the class being held.  (The class will be held.-There is a possibility of it)

# Details:

 

** Infinitive:

>Infinitives are the “to” form of the verb. The infinitive form of “learn” is “to learn.” You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

  • To learn is important. subject of sentence
  • The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
  • He wants to learn. object of sentence

>Infinitives can be made negative by adding “not.”

Examples:

  • I decided not to go.
  • The most important thing is not to give up.

>Some sentences:

  • I want to do it.
  • He want to do it.
  • I am sorry to disturb you.
  • He is happy to have got this.
  • To speak frankly, he is a good man.
  • To speak the truth, I am a poor man.
  • To be brief, we will not go there.
  • I hoped to have helped you.
  • He seems to have killed someone.
  • He appears to have done it.
  • He is said to have killed by someone.
  • He is believed to have gone to America.
  • He was heard to have died.

@ Some verbs after “to” is silent/implicit:

  • He bade me (t0) go home.
  • Please (to) do it.
  • Let him (to) stay.
  • Let the boy (to) do whatever he likes.
  • Did you hear me (to) call you?
  • I was made (to) do it.
  • He made me (to) work for him.
  • I felt the wind (to) blow.
  • We watched them (to) work for him.
  • I shall behold him (to) come but say nothing.
  • She saw the thief (to) enter the room and shouted.
  • I need not (to) buy a pen.      But……( I need to buy a pen/I do not need to buy a pen)
  • He dared not (to) speak the truth.    But……(He dares to say so/He did not dare to speak the truth)

@ Can, Do, May, Shall, Should, Will, Would, Have and Must after “to” is implicit:

  • I can go.
  • You may do it.
  • You should do it.
  • You must read.

@ Had better, Had sooner, Than, But and Except after “to” is implicit:

  • I had better go now.
  • You have nothing to do but weep.
  • He did everything except kill me.
  • I can not but laugh.
  • She appears to be tired.
  • We expect you to go.

# Details:

 

## Infinitive and Gerund…

>Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

  • Learning is important. normal subject
  • To learn is important. abstract subject – less common
  • The most important thing is learning. normal complement
  • The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement – less common

>As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

  • He enjoys swimming. “Enjoy” requires a gerund.
  • He wants to swim. “Want” requires an infinitive.

gerunds-and-infinitives-9-728

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# Details:

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Examples:

  • She suggested going to a movie.
  • Mary keeps talking about her problems.

Some verbs are followed by infinitives. List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Examples:

  • She wants to go to a movie.
  • Mary needs to talk about her problems.

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## Exercise (Practice):

# English Page:

# Grammar Quiz:

# Perfect English:

#English Club:

** Everything.. English Page.

**……………….English Page.

 

 

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