Grammar III Cristina Castro Gerunds and infinitives
Grammar rules:
1. The gerund is often used as the subject of a sentence. • Reading is a good habit. • Smoking is very unhealthy. 2. The gerund is often used after certain verbs as the object of the verb. • I enjoy reading magazines about photography. • I admit smoking is unhealthy for me. 3. You can use a possessive before the gerund. • I dislike Julio´s eating fast food. • I dislike his eating fast food. Usage Note: In informal spoken English, many people use object pronouns instead of possessive before the gerund. • I dislike him eating fast food.
4. Some verbs can be followed by the infinitive. These verbs fall into three groups: a. Verb + infinitive • They hope to reach the goals this month. • She chose not to work on holidays. b. Verb + object + infinitive • I urge you to try that new restaurant. • She convinced me not to go to the party. c. Verb + infinitive or Verb + object + infinitive. • I want to try that new restaurant. • I want her to try it too. Usage Note: In formal written English, it is considered incorrect to “split” an infinitive by placing a word between to and the base form of the verb. However, many people do not follow this rule. We wanted to order quickly / We wanted to quickly order.
5. Some verbs can be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive. The meanings are the same. • I stated bringing my own lunch. Or • I started to bring my own lunch. Be careful! A few verbs can be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive, but the meaning are very different. • She stopped eating pizza (She does not eat pizza anymore) • She stopped to eat pizza (She stopped another activity in order to eat pizza) • He remembered meeting her there. (First he met her. Then he remembered that he did it.) • He remembered to meet her there. (First he remembered. Then he met her. He didn´t forget.) • I never forgot eating breakfast at Mc Donald’s. (I ate breakfast at Mc. Donald´s and I didn’t forget the experience.) • I never forgot to eat lunch. (I always eat lunch.)
6. The gerund is the only verb form that can follow a preposition. • I read an article about living in the Hamptons. There are many common verb + preposition and adjective + preposition combinations that must be followed by the gerund and not by the infinitive. • I don´t complain about working hard. • We´re interesting in learning Portuguese. Be careful! To can be part of the infinitive or it can be a preposition. Use the gerund after the preposition to. • We look forward to meeting with you. • Not: We look forward to meeting with you. 7. The infinitive can often follow and adjective. Many of these adjectives express feelings or attitudes about the action in the infinitive. • They were eager to try the new restaurant. • She was glad to hear that the baby was born strong and healthy. • We´re ready to have something different.
8. • • • • •
The infinitive can also follow certain nouns. It´s time to take a break. I have the right to eat what I want. They made a decision to lose weight. It’s a high price to pay. He has permission to stay out late.
9. Use the infinitive to explain the purpose of an action. She eats fast food to save time. 10. To make general statements you can use: a. Gerund as subject: Cooking is fun. b. It + infinitive: It´s fun to cook.
• Verbs followed by the gerund (Base form + ing): http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerund_list.htm • Verbs followed by the infinitive (to + base form of verb) http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/infinitive_list.htm
• Verbs that can be followed by the gerund or the infinitive (Different meaning): http:// www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerund_or_infinitive_different_list
Verb + preposition combinations:
admit to
insist on
advise against
keep on
apologize for
look forward to
approve of
object to
believe in
pay for
choose between/among
plan on
complain about
rely on
count on
resort to
deal with
succeed in
dream about/of
talk about
feel like/about go along with
think about wonder about
Adjective + preposition combinations: accustomed to
afraid of amazed at/by angry at bad at bored with/by
interested in nervous about opposed to pleased about ready for
capable of
responsible for
careful of
sad about
concerned about
safe from
content with
satisfied with
curious about
shocked at/by
different from excited about famous for fed up with
sick of sorry for/about surprised at/about/by
fond of
terrible at
glad about
tired of
good at
used to
happy about
worried about
Adjectives followed by the infinitive: Example: I am happy to hear that. Afraid
Hesitant
Alarmed
Likely
Amazed
Lucky
Angry
Pleased
Anxious
Proud
Ashamed
Ready
Relieved
Reluctant
Sad
Shocked
Encouraged
Sorry
Excited
Surprised
Fortunate
Touched
Glad
Upset
Happy
Willing
Curious Delighted Eager Easy Embarrassed
Exercises:
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_1.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_16.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_2.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_17.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_3.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_18.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_4.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_19.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_5.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_20.h
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_6.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_21.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_7.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_22.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_8.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_23.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_9.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_24.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_25.ht http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_10.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_11.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_26.h
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_27.ht http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_12.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_13.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_28.ht
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_29.h http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_14.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_15.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerunds_infinitives_30.h