SUMMARY OF UNIT 8 Infinitives and Base Forms EXAMPLES
EXPLANATION
Matel Dawson wanted to help others.
An infinitive is used after certain verbs.
His mother wanted him to help others.
An infinitive can follow an object noun or pronoun.
He was happy to give away his money.
An infinitive can follow certain adjectives.
We sell cards (in order) to raise money.
An infinitive is used to show purpose.
It’s important to help others. To help others is our moral obligation.
Informal: It introduces a delayed infinitive subject. Formal: The infinitive can be in the subject position.
It’s good for people to help others. It’s fun for me to volunteer.
For + noun or object pronoun is used to give the infinitive a subject.
I have enough time to volunteer. Dawson was too poor to finish school.
An infinitive can be used after a phrase with too and enough.
He often heard his mother talk about helping.
After sense perception verbs, a base form is used for a completed action.
It is important to be loved.
An infinitive can be used in the passive voice.
She let me work. She made me work. She had me work. She got me to work. She convinced me to work. She persuaded me to work.
After causative verbs let, make, and have, we use the base form.
He helped students to get an education. He helped them pay their tuition.
After help, either the infinitive or the base form can be used.
After causative verbs get, convince, and persuade, we use the infinitive.
Gerunds EXAMPLES
EXPLANATION
Going to college is expensive in the U.S.
A gerund can be the subject of the sentence.
Dawson enjoyed giving money away.
A gerund follows certain verbs.
He learned about giving from his parents.
A gerund can be used after a preposition.
He had a hard time supporting his family.
A gerund is used after certain nouns.
Those teenagers over there are volunteers. You can see them cleaning the park.
An –ing form is used after sense perception verbs to describe an action in progress.
He doesn’t like to go shopping.
A gerund is used in many expressions with go.
I appreciate being given an education.
A gerund can be used in the passive voice.
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