Gerunds for uses

What's this for?

Infinitives and gerunds for uses and

purposes

In English, both gerunds and infinitives can be used to talk about the reason 

why we use or do something.

Let’s begin with an example. This is a hairdryer: There are two ways you can talk about the purpose of the hairdryer. Compare these two sentences …

• A hairdryer is for drying hair.

• I use a hairdryer to dry my hair.

Can you see the difference between the two sentences above?

• A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. To form a gerund, add –ing to the end of the verb.

• To describe the purpose of something, use for + gerund:

• -What is a hairdryer for?

  A hairdryer is for drying hair.

  -What is this program for?

  This computer program is for editing videos.

  *Notice that in the above sentences, the thing being described is the subject of the sentence.

An infinitive is the to + verb form. To describe the purpose of someone, use an infinitive.

• What do you use a hairdryer for?

  I use a hairdryer to dry my hair.

• Why did you go to the store?

  I went to the store to buy some milk.

• Why are you going to Toronto?

  I‘m going to Toronto to learn English

Open Ended

Write two sentences; one in infinitive and the other in gerund:

1-video game

Open Ended

Write two sentences; one in infinitive and the other in gerund:

2-A memory stick

Multiple Choice

The appropriate sentence for appear is:

• His health appears to be better

• His health appears being better

• His health appears to being better

• His health appear to be better

Multiple Choice

In the following sentences, feel like and fancy doing make reference to:

I won’t feel like doing that at all!

I won’t fancy doing that at all!

• won't perform something

• won't be conscious of

• won't consider good

• won't want to have / do

Multiple Choice

Select the option that best fits the following sentence:

Why do you hate _______________ by plane?

• Travels/ Travelling

• To travel / Travelling

• To travelling / Travel

• Traveled / Travelling

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence

• I don’t mind wait for you if it’s necessary.

• I don’t mind to wait for you if it’s necessary.

• I doesn’t mind waiting for you if it’s necessary.

• I don’t mind waiting for you if it’s necessary.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following options is the correct one:

• He arranged staying with his mother at home

• He arranged to staying with his mother at home

• He arranged to stay with his mother at home

• He arranged stay with his mother at home

Multiple Choice

Complete the following sentence with the appropriate verb:

How I miss ________ late on the weekends!

• To sleep

• Sleeping

• To sleeping

• Sleep

Multiple Select

Which sentences are gerunds?

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.

• It's very important to know our traditions.

• Storytelling is one of our family traditions.

• I love reading science books.

• We go fishing in a pond near our house every weekend.

Multiple Select

Which sentences are gerunds?

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.

• It's very important to know our traditions.

• Storytelling is one of our family traditions.

• I love reading science books.

• We go fishing in a pond near our house every weekend.

Multiple Choice

Complete the following statement:

He understands investing...

• about the global warming

• a hamburger for tonight´s friends meeting

• the new mystery book released

• in the stock market

Multiple Choice

Unscramble the options given to complete the following sentence:

I urge ______ some time ______ the program

spinendg / ainrnleg

• pendings / earning

• spending / learning

• endings / earring

• spinning / airbag

Multiple Choice

They recommend _________ insurance with this product

• purchased

• purchase

• purchasing

• to purchase

Multiple Choice

I like ________ football on Saturdays

According to the previous sentence, what is the correct option:

• to play - played

• playing - play

• to play - playing

• to played - to play

Multiple Choice

It is a grammar rule to write gerunds after the phrasal verb "can't help + ing". Example: I can't help thinking that you are hiding something

According to the previous sentence, what does "can't help thinking..." mean?

• You cannot think about something hide

• You hide something

• You are communicating something you are unable to control

• A friend of you hide something

Multiple Choice

According to the following sentence "I enjoy walking on the soft sand", it is possible to affirm that:

• The sentence is incorrect because "enjoy" is not a verb that can be followed by a gerund.

• The sentence is incorrect because "enjoy" is not well written.

• The sentence is correct because "enjoy" is a verb that can be followed by a gerund.

• The sentence is correct because "walk" is a verb that can be followed by a gerund.

Multiple Choice

According to the following sentence "I enjoy walking on the soft sand", it is possible to affirm that:

• The sentence is incorrect because "enjoy" is not a verb that can be followed by a gerund.

• The sentence is incorrect because "enjoy" is not well written.

• The sentence is correct because "enjoy" is a verb that can be followed by a gerund.

• The sentence is correct because "walk" is a verb that can be followed by a gerund.