Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds and Infinitives

What are them? When do we use them?

Multiple Choice

What is a noun?

• are a person, place, thing, or idea. They can take on a myriad of roles in a sentence, from the subject of it all to the object of an action. They are capitalized when they're the official name of something or someone

• are action words that tell what happens in a sentence. They can also show a sentence subject's state of being

Multiple Choice

What is an adjective?

• They specify when, where, how, and why something happened and to what extent or how often.

• describe nouns and pronouns. They specify which one, how much, what kind, and more. Adjectives allow readers and listeners to use their senses to imagine something more clearly.

Multiple Choice

What is a preposition?

• show spacial, temporal, and role relations between a noun or pronoun and the other words in a sentence.

• are expressions that can stand on their own or be contained within sentences. These words and phrases often carry strong emotions and convey reactions.

Multiple Choice

What is a subject?

• the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

• are action words that tell what happens in a sentence. They can also show a sentence subject's state of being

Verb + -ing

• When this structure works as a noun we call it a gerund

• • Traveling to Italy was amazing!

We use gerunds:

• When a verb is (part of) the subject of a sentence

• • Swimming is good for you

• After preposition (e.g. about, by, without, of, etc.)

• • They escaped by digging a tunnel under the wall

Open Ended

Provide an example for when the verb is (part of) the subject of a sentence

Open Ended

Provide an example when the gerund comes after a preposition

To + Infinitive

When the verb is in infinitive is in its original or 'dictionary' form

we use to + infinitive:

• After adjectives (happy, pleased, difficult, etc.)

• • It's easy to find your way into the city centre, but it's very difficult to get out again

• To express purpose (what a person wants to achieve)

• • We're going to the beach to lie on the sun

Open Ended

Provide an example when it comes after adjectives

Open Ended

Provide an example to express purpose

Verb + Verb

• There are many verbs which are followed by gerunds
• I enjoy dancing samba.
• and many which are followed by to + infinitive.
• I want to watch TV.
• There are also some which allow both forms

• Try + to + infinitive

• I tried to talk to him but he didn't answer his phone

• Try + gerund

• I tried talking to him but he's still angry

• Remember/forget + to + infinitive

• Please remember / don't forger to buy some milk

Open Ended

Provide an example for try + to + infinitive

Open Ended

Provide an example for try + gerund

Open Ended

Provide an example for remember/forget + to + infinitive

• Remember/forget + gerund

• I remember / I'll never forget hearing that song for the first time

• Go on + to + infinitive

• After expanding the theory I'll go on to describe some examples

• Go on + gerund

• The professor went on talking for about an hour

Open Ended

Provide an example for remember/forget + gerund

Open Ended

Provide an example for go on + to + infinitive

Open Ended

Provide an example for go on + gerund

Did you know....

• Stop can be use by a gerund or an infinitive with purpose

• I stopped drinking coffee (I stoped the habit)

• I stopped to drink coffee (I stopped now with the purpose of drinking coffee)

Open Ended

Provide an example with stop either with a gerund or an infinitive with purpose

Sense verbs

• Verbs connected with senses can be followed by an object and verb + -ing (e.g. look at, see, watch, notice, observe, taste, smell, feel, etc.)

• I watched the people walking around

• I could smell something burning

Open Ended

Provide an example with a sense verb + an object + (verb+ -ing)

Open Ended

Provide an example for go on + to + infinitive