Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerund

• A word that ends in -ing and functions as noun in the sentence. "This" or "that" can be substituted in place of the gerund or gerund phrase.

• "To" plus a base verb in a sentence. It functions as a noun, adjective,or adverb, but it looks like a verb.

Infinitives

• "To" plus a base verb in a sentence. It functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb, but looks like a verb.

• Words that ends in -ing and function as a nouns in sentences. The prounouns "this" or "that" can be used in place of the gerund which functions as a noun.

What is the infinitive phrase in the example sentence? I wish I could come over to your house, but I have long list of chores to finish before bed.

• to finish before bed.

• to your house.

• could come over.

Football practice must be exhausting because it would be really hard to run all of the conditioning drills. What is the infinitive phrase in the example sentence?

• really hard to run

• to run all of the conditioning drills

• must be exhausting

In the sentence included in this question, select the infinitive. To win, you must play aggressively.

• To win

• you must play aggressively.

• play aggressively.

Read the sentence and determine if it is a gerund or NOT. In time you'll start to like reading.

• Contains a gerund or gerund phrase.

• Does NOT contain a gerund or gerund phrase.

Crying, the people left the theater.

• Contains a gerund or gerund phrase.

• Does NOT contain a gerund or gerund phrase.

I'm getting tired of listening to you.

• Contains a gerund or a gerund phrase

• DOES NOT contain a gerund or a gerund phrase

Escaping from a maximum security prison would be nearly impossible.

• Contains a gerund or a gerund phrase

• Does NOT contain a gerund or gerund phrase.

Identify the sentence that does NOT have a gerund or gerund phrase

• He likes running in the rain.

• Swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise/

• During the week, the settlers cleared the storm damage.

• Plowing was difficult work for most farmers.