3

Supplementary
Worksheet

Foreign Language Department

Demonstration School
Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

Name……………………………………..…………No…………..….Class ………….……

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 GERUNDS & INFINITIVES

What are the gerunds?

Gerunds are words that are formed with verbs but act as nouns. They’re very easy to
spot, since every gerund is a verb with ing tacked to its tail. There are no exceptions
to this rule.

Gerunds do take a tiny bit of detective work to spot. The problem here is that present
participles also end with the letters ing. Besides being able to spot gerunds, you
should be able to tell the difference between a gerund and a present participle.

Let’s go back to the definition of a gerund for a moment. Remember that gerunds are
words that are formed with verbs but act as nouns. Present participles do not act as
nouns. Instead, they act as modifiers or complete progressive verbs. To find gerunds
in sentences, just look for a verb + ing that is used as a noun. It’s that simple.

As you read these examples of gerunds, notice the verbs they contain, and notice that
every single one of them ends in ing. By the end of this quick lesson, you’ll have no
problem recognizing gerunds when you see them.

- Swimming in the ocean has been Sharon’s passion since she was five
years old.
- Let’s go dancing at the club tonight.
- I delayed telling Jerry the bad news.
- Bill avoided doing his math assignment because the World Series was on.

What are the infinitives?

The infinitives are the base forms of a verb. In English, when we talk about the
infinitive, we are usually referring to the present infinitive, which is the most
common. There are, however, four other forms of the infinitive: the perfect
infinitive, the perfect continuous infinitive, the continuous infinitive and the passive
infinitive.

- I decided to go to London.
- He asked me to be late.
- I'd like you to sing so loudly.
- I'd rather eat meat.
- I might come.

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How to use gerunds and infinitives?
We use gerunds (verb + ing):
- After certain verbs - I enjoy singing
- After prepositions - I drank a cup of coffee before leaving
- As the subject or object of a sentence - Swimming is good exercise

We use 'to' + infinitive:

- After certain verbs - We decided to leave.
- After many adjectives - It's difficult to get up early.

Infinitives of Purpose
We can use to + infinitive to say why we do something. It tells the other person the
reason. We need to have a normal verb as well.

- I went on holiday (this is what I did) to relax (this is why I did it).
- She studies hard to get good marks.
- He gave up cakes to lose weight.
- I'm calling you to ask for your help.

Be careful! In many languages, we use 'for + infinitive'. This is not correct in

English.

The main verb can be in any tense. For example:

- Present simple: I exercise every day to stay healthy.
- Present continuous: He's saving money to buy a flat.
- Past simple: I went to university to get a degree.
- Past continuous: She was walking to the shops to buy milk when she met
John.
- Future simple: He'll come to the party later to pick up Julia.
- Present perfect: She's gone to the library to study.

We can also use 'in order to + infinitive' and 'so as to + infinitive'. 'In order to' is a bit
more formal but the meaning is the same as 'so as to' and 'to + infinitive'.
- I went on holiday to relax.
- I went on holiday in order to relax.
- I went on holiday so as to relax.

We can use a negative infinitive of purpose by adding 'not' before 'to'. Often, we do
this with 'in order not to' and 'so as not to'.
- I drank coffee in order not to fall asleep.
- He got up very quietly so as not to wake the children.

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We can only use the infinitive of purpose if the subject of the main verb and the
infinitive of purpose are the same. If they are different, we use 'so that + clause' or 'in
order that + clause'.

- I went to the library to study. (I went to the library and I studied - the
subject are both 'I'.)

BUT
- I went to the library so that John could study. (I went to the library, but
John studied. The two subjects are different - I and John - so we can't use
an infinitive of purpose.)
-
With the verbs 'come' and 'go', we use an infinitive of purpose when they're in a
normal tense but we often use 'and + infinitive' with imperatives or after modal
verbs.

- I went home to sleep.

- Go home and sleep!
- You must go home and sleep!

We use the bare infinitive (the infinitive without 'to'):

- After modal verbs - I can meet you at six o'clock

- After 'let', 'make' and (sometimes) 'help' - The teacher let us leave early
- After some verbs of perception (see, watch, hear, notice, feel, sense) - I
watched her walk away
- After expressions with 'why' - why go out the night before an exam?

Gerunds and Infinitives with Verbs

Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the gerund.
- enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.
- fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.
- discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
- dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.
- finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
- mind: I don't mind coming early.
- suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
- recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.
- keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.
- avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.
- Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the
gerund.
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 - enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.
- fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.
- discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
- dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.
- finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
- mind: I don't mind coming early.
- suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
- recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.
- keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.
- avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.
- And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.
- agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.
- ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.
- decide: We decided to go out for dinner.
- help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the
kitchen.
- plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.
- hope: I hope to pass the exam.
- learn: They are learning to sing.
- want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.
- would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her
tonight.
- promise: We promised not to be late.
- *We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.

(Note that 'help' can also be followed by the infinitive without 'to' with no difference
in meaning: 'I helped to carry it' = 'I helped carry it'.)

And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.
- agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.
- ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.
- decide: We decided to go out for dinner.
- help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the
kitchen.
- plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.
- hope: I hope to pass the exam.
- learn: They are learning to sing.
- want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.
- would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her
tonight.
- promise: We promised not to be late.
- *We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.
- Here are some of the most common verbs that are usually followed by the
gerund.

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 - enjoy: I enjoyed living in France.
- fancy: I fancy seeing a film tonight.
- discuss: We discussed going on holiday together.
- dislike: I dislike waiting for buses.
- finish: We've finished preparing for the meeting.
- mind: I don't mind coming early.
- suggest: He suggested staying at the Grand Hotel.
- recommend: They recommended meeting earlier.
- keep: He kept working, although he felt ill.
- avoid: She avoided talking to her boss.
- And here are some common verbs followed by 'to' and the infinitive.
- agree: She agreed to give a presentation at the meeting.
- ask*: I asked to leave early / I asked him to leave early.
- decide: We decided to go out for dinner.
- help*: He helped to clean the kitchen / he helped his flatmate to clean the
kitchen.
- plan: She plans to buy a new flat next year.
- hope: I hope to pass the exam.
- learn: They are learning to sing.
- want*: I want to come to the party / I want him to come to the party.
- would like*: I would like to see her tonight / I would like you to see her
tonight.
- promise: We promised not to be late.
- *We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.
- (Note that 'help' can also be followed by the infinitive without 'to' with no
difference in meaning: 'I helped to carry it' = 'I helped carry it'.)

*We can use an object before the infinitive with these verbs.
(Note that 'help' can also be followed by the infinitive without 'to' with no difference
in meaning: 'I helped to carry it' = 'I helped carry it'.)

Let’s try more and more

Put the verb into either the gerund or the infinitive.

1. I don't fancy_________________ (go) out tonight.

2. She avoided _________________(tell) him about her plans.
3. I would like _________________(come) to the party with you.
4. He enjoys _________________ (have) a bath in the evening.
5. She kept _________________ (talk) during the film.
6. I am learning _________________(speak) English.
7. Do you mind _________________ (give) me a hand?
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 8. She helped me _________________(carry) my suitcases.
9. I've finished _________________(cook) - come and eat!
10. He decided _________________ (study) biology.
11. I dislike _________________ (wait).
12. He asked _________________(come) with us.
13. I promise _________________(help) you tomorrow.
14. We discussed _________________ (go) to the cinema, but in the end we
stayed at home.
15. She agreed _________________(bring) the pudding to the dinner.
16. I don't recommend _________________(take) the bus - it takes forever!
17. We hope _________________(visit) Amsterdam next month.
18. She suggested _________________(go) to the museum.
19. They plan _________________(start) college in the autumn.
20. I don't want _________________(leave) yet.
21. She delayed _________________ (get) out of bed.
22. He demanded _________________ (speak) to the manager.
23. I offered _________________(help).
24. I miss _________________(go) to the beach.
25. We postponed _________________(do).
26. I'd hate _________________(arrive) too late.
27. She admitted _________________(steal) the money.
28. I chose _________________(work) here.
29. She waited _________________(buy) a drink.
30. I really appreciate _________________(be) on holiday.
31. I couldn't help _________________ (laugh).
32. It seems _________________(be) raining.
33. I considered _________________(move) to Spain.
34. They practiced _________________(speak).
35. Finally, I managed _________________(finish) the work.
36. I really can't stand _________________(wait) for the bus.
37. Unfortunately, we can't afford _________________(buy) a new car this year.
38. She risked _________________ (be) late.
39. I'd love _________________ (come) with you.
40. I prepared _________________(go) on holiday.
41. It appears _________________ (be) raining.
42. We intend _________________(go) to the countryside this weekend.
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 43. I pretended _________________(be) sick so I didn't have to go to work.
44. Can you imagine _________________(live) without TV?
45. They tolerate _________________(smoke) but they prefer people not to.
46. I anticipate _________________(arrive) on Tuesday.
47. A wedding involves _________________ (negotiate) with everyone in the
family.
48. He denies _________________(steal) the money.
49. He claims _________________(be) a millionaire but I don't believe him.
50. I expect _________________(be) there about seven.
51. Julia reported _________________(see) the boys to the police.
52. It tends _________________(rain) a lot in Scotland.
53. Do you recall _________________(meet) her at the party last week?
54. She mentioned _________________(go) to the cinema, but I don't know what
she decided to do in the end.
55. The teenager refused _________________(go) on holiday with his parents.
56. I understand _________________(be) late once or twice, but every day is too
much!
57. I would prefer you _________________(come) early if you can.
58. That criminal deserves _________________(get) a long sentence.
59) She completed _________________(paint) her flat.
60. We arranged _________________(meet) at four but at four thirty she still
hadn't arrived.

References:
Hewings, M. 2008. Advance Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press.
Dubai. 294 p.
Sara, B. and G. Mackie. 2007. Basic Grammar Expert. CTBS. China. 111 p.
Hewings, Martin. (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. Dubai; Oriental Press
Vince, Michael. (2003). Elementary Language Practice. Malaysia; Macmillan
Websites:
www.trueplookpanya.com
www.perfect-english-grammar.com
www.gingersoftware.com
www.ef.com

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