Gerunds and infinitives

Gerunds and infinitives

Gerunds

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding -ing at the end.

E.g:

Playing tennis is fun

Don't confused it with a continuous form!

E.g:

I was playing tennis

I am watching the news

Gerunds : usage

• As the subject or object of a sentence

• E.g: Running is good for your heart

Gerunds : usage

• After some verbs of like or dislike: like,love, enjoy, hate, can't stand, don't mind

• E.g: I like studying english

• Exception: would like

• E.g: I'd like to study english more.

Gerunds : usage

• After prepositions: in,on,at,for, about,after,before,etc.

• E.g: I am good at writing poems

• E.g: I am interesting in studying science

• Exception: to (if is not a phrasal verb)

• E.g:

• I need to do my homework

• I'm looking forward to meeting you (phrasal verb)

Common verbs followed by a gerund

Some common verbs that are followed by gerund are: avoid, enjoy, finish, hate, keep, like, love, don’t mind, prefer, recommend, spend time, stop, suggest, etc.

Negative gerund 

The negative form of the gerund is not + -ing.

He enjoys not having to wake up early at the weekends. 

Infinitives

Particle 'to' + base form of the verb

BE CAREFUL! 'to' is not a preposition in this case

E.g:

I want to study english

Multiple Choice

What is the infinitive in the sentence? - I am happy to see you buying that movie!

• to see
• am happy
• you buying
• no infinitive

Multiple Choice

                    is my dad’s favorite free time activity.

• cooking
• to cook

Multiple Choice

is my dad’s favorite free time activity.

• cooking

• to cook

Multiple Choice

It’s easy           to my house.

• getting
• to get

Multiple Choice

He would love ________ octopus for dinner tonight.

• to have
• having
• to have / having

Multiple Choice

We prefer             at home on the weekend.

• staying
• to stay