Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds
 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
 Infinitives
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
 Subject or Complement

 Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject

or the complement of a sentence.

 However, as subjects or complements, gerunds sound

more natural and would be more common in everyday
English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or
potential for something and sound more philosophical.

 Just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a

gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.
 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

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects.

List of Verbs Followed by Gerunds (check file in
blackboard)

Examples:
 She suggested going to a movie.
 Mary keeps talking about her problems.
 Infinitives

Some verbs are followed by infinitives.

List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives (check file in
blackboard)

Examples:
 She wants to go to a movie.
 Mary needs to talk about her problems.
 Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds OR Nouns +
Infinitives

advise I advised seeing a doctor. I advised them to see a doctor.

Ireland doesn't allow smoking in Ireland doesn't allow people to

allow
bars. smoke in bars.

He encourages his patients to eat

encourage He encourages eating healthy foods.
healthy foods.

California doesn't permit fishing California doesn't permit people to

permit
without a fishing license. fish without a fishing license.
The certificate requires completing The certificate requires students to
require
two courses. complete two courses.
They urge recycling bottles and They urge citizens to recycle bottles
urge
paper. and paper.
 Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different
Meaning)
She began singing.
She began to sing. She is beginning to sing.
Begin When "begin" is used in non-continuous When "begin" is used in continuous
tenses, you can either use a gerund or an tenses, an infinitive is used.
infinitive.
He dreaded to think of the consequences
of his actions.
She dreaded taking the test. "Dread" is sometimes used with
dread
Usually "dread" is followed by a gerund. infinitives such as "think" or "consider."
In the sentence above, "dreaded to think"
means "did not want to think."
She forgot reading the book when she
She forgot to pay the rent this month.
was a kid.
When forget is used with an infinitive, it
When "forget" is used with a gerund, it
means "to forget that you need to do
forget means "to forget that you have done
something." The sentence above means
something." The sentence above means
that she forgot that she needed to pay the
that she read the book when she was a
rent.
kid, and that she has forgotten that fact.
 Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different
Meaning)

The attackers kept hostages to prevent the

police from entering.
"Keep" can also be used with an object
She kept talking.
followed by an infinitive, but then the
keep "Keep" is normally used with a gerund to
infinitive takes on the meaning of "in
mean that you continue doing an action.
order to... ." In the sentence above, the
attackers kept hostages in order to
prevent the police from entering.
The house needs cleaning.
He needs to call his boss.
When "need" is used with a gerund, it
He needs him to call his boss.
need takes on a passive meaning. The sentence
"Need" is usually used with an infinitive
above means "the house needs to be
or an object + an infinitive.
cleaned."
We regret to inform you that your
position at the company is being
eliminated.
I regretted being late to the interview. "Regret" is sometimes used with
regret
"Regret" is normally used with a gerund. infinitives such as "to inform." In the
sentence above, "We regret to inform
you" means "We wish we did not have to
 Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different
Meaning)
I remember mentioning the meeting
yesterday.
When "remember" is used with a gerund,
remember it means "to remember that you have
done something." The sentence above
means that I mentioned the meeting, and
that I remember the fact that I did that. needed to turn the lights off.
Marge started talking really fast.
Marge started to talk really fast.
start When "start" is used in non-continuous
tenses, you can either use a gerund or an
infinitive.
He remembered to turn off the lights
before he left.
When "remember" is used with an
infinitive, it means "to remember that
you need to do something." The sentence
above means that he remembered that he
Marge is starting to talk really fast.
When "start" is used in continuous
tenses, an infinitive is used.
I started to learn Russian, but it was so
much work that I finally quit the class.
In other situations, an infinitive means
that you did not complete or continue an
action.
 Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different
Meaning)

He stopped to rest for a few minutes.

When "stop" is used with an infinitive,
He stopped smoking for health reasons. the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in
stop
"Stop" is normally used with a gerund. order to." In the sentence above, he
stopped in order to rest for a few
minutes.
She can't find a job. She tried looking in
the paper, but there was nothing. She She tried to climb the tree, but she
tried asking friends and family, but couldn't even get off the ground.
nobody knew of anything. She also tried When you "try to do" something, you
going shop to shop, but nobody was want to do it, but you do not succeed in
hiring. actually doing it. In the sentence above,
"Try + gerund" means to try or to an infinitive is used because she cannot
try
experiment with different methods to see successfully climb the tree.
if something works. Try not to wake the baby when you get
She tried eating the snake soup, but she up tomorrow at 5 AM.
didn't like it. An infinitive is also used if you are
"Try + gerund" is often used when you asking someone to try something they
experiment with something, but you do may or may not be able to accomplish.
not really like it or want to do it again.