Gerunds and Infinitives: An overview

Multiple Choice

They reminded me ______

• They reminded me to return the book.

• They reminded me returning the book.

Multiple Choice

We aren't used________

• to stay up late.

• to staying up late.

Multiple Choice

Her parents did not let her _______________

• Her parents did not let her go out at night

  on her own.

• Her parents did not let her to go out at night on her own.

​Verb Patterns

​In English, if you want to follow a verb with another action, you must use a gerund or infinitive. For example:

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• I want to see a movie. (infinitive – to + base verb)

• We continued talking (gerund – verb + ing)

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These can be hard to remember because there are certain rules related to both that must be followed and a misuse can lead to either a simple grammar error or a totally different meaning. So let's revise again the rules!

Infinitive

• ​An infinitive is the most basic form of a verb. It is “unmarked” (which means that it is not conjugated for tense or person), and it is preceded by the particle to.

• Infinitives are known as non-finite verbs, meaning they do not express actions being performed by the subjects of clauses. Instead, infinitives function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs to describe actions as ideas.

• Infinitives are distinct from a similar construction known as bare infinitives or the base forms of verbs, which are simply infinitives without the particle to. Although nearly identical, we use them in different ways than “full” infinitives, which we’ll look at later in this section.

​Infinitives are used to express an action as a concept, rather than what is being done or performed by the subject of a clause. In this way, they can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs—that is, nearly any role in a sentence except that of a main verb.

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Infinitives can stand on their own to complete these functions, or they can work together with their own predicates (any additional information that modifies or completes them) to form infinitive phrases. Infinitive phrases function as a nouns, adjectives, or adverbs as a single, holistic unit.​

​Just remember- this sounds old fashioned and like language that is usually used in works like Shakespeare and the King James Bible.

Open Ended

To prepare ____________________ takes a person a long time

Open Ended

To work ________________ would be a dream of mine.

Open Ended

Now your turn: try to make a sentence with an infinitive direct object.

For example: I hope TO GO to Japan in the future.

I HOPE ___________________ in the future

Open Ended

Your turn!

I would like my boss ________________

Open Ended

My parents taught me ____________________

Open Ended

Now you try:

“I came to Ireland to________”

​Infinitives also go with many Adjectives

​Often, we use an infinitive directly after an adjective

• I am sorry to see you go.

• I am happy to be here

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Open Ended

Example: [to have a party]

Having a party can be a lot of work

People like having parties

Now your turn. Write two sentences with gerunds:

[to borrow money]

Open Ended

Write two more sentences with gerunds. One as the subject and one as the object

“to avoid an accident”

Multiple Choice

Bill forgot to park in the garage

• Bill parked his car somewhere else

• Bill parked in the garage, but he forgot that he did it

Multiple Choice

I regret to tell you that your son is injured

• I am sorry about the information I am going to tell you about now

• I’m sorry I told you this information in the past.

Multiple Choice

Your computer is not working? Have you tried turning your computer on and off?

• attempted to do it

• Did it as an experiment