SUMMARY OF UNIT 8

Infinitives and Base Forms

EXAMPLES

Matel Dawson wanted to help others. His mother wanted him to help others. He was happy to give away his money. We sell cards (in order) to raise money. It’s important to help others. To help others is our moral obligation. It’s good for people to help others. It’s fun for me to volunteer.

I have enough time to volunteer. Dawson was too poor to finish school. He often heard his mother talk about helping.

It is important to be loved. 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. He helped students to get an education. He helped them pay their tuition.

Gerunds

EXAMPLES

Going to college is expensive in the U.S. Dawson enjoyed giving money away. He learned about giving from his parents. He had a hard time supporting his family. Those teenagers over there are volunteers. You can see them cleaning the park. He doesn’t like to go shopping. I appreciate being given an education.

EXPLANATION

An infinitive is used after certain verbs.

An infinitive can follow an object noun or pronoun. An infinitive can follow certain adjectives. An infinitive is used to show purpose. Informal: It introduces a delayed infinitive subject. formal: The infinitive can be in the subject position. For + noun or object pronoun is used to give the infinitive a subject. An infinitive can be used after a phrase with too and enough. After sense perception verbs, a base form is used for a completed action. An infinitive can be used in the passive voice. After causative verbs let, make, and have, we use the base form.

After causative verbs get, convince, and persuade, we use the infinitive.

After help, either the infinitive or the base form can be used.

EXPLANATION

A gerund can be the subject of the sentence. A gerund follows certain verbs. A gerund can be used after a preposition. A gerund is used after certain nouns. An –ing form is used after sense perception verbs to describe an action in progress. A gerund is used in many expressions with go. A gerund can be used in the passive voice.

Gerund or Infinitive—Differences in Meaning

EXAMPLES EXPLANATION

I used to spend all my extra money. Now I save it. Discontinued past habit Patty is used to working in a poor neighborhood. Present custom Mimi always rode her bike on flat land. It was hard for her to get used to riding in the mountains. Change of custom Bicyclists can stop to rest when they get tired. Stop one activity in order to do something else

When I was younger, I did the AIDS ride. I stopped doing it because it’s too hard for me now. Stop something completely

I try to give a little money to charity each year. Make an attempt or effort My old bike wasn’t good enough for the ride. I tried using a mountain bike, and it was much better. Experiment with a different method

Remember to help other people. Remember and then do

Do you remember reading about Patty Stonesifer? Remember something about the past