6/5/2015 KnowtheDifference:Gerundsvs.Infinitives

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GerundsandInfinitivesGerundsandinfinitivesaresometimesreferredtoasverbcomplements.Theymayfunctionassubjectsorobjectsinasentence.

WhatareGerunds?SpellingTip

Verbing(PresentParticiple)

Addingtomostverbs.Ex.play>playing,cry>crying,bark>barkingForverbsthatendine,removetheeandadding.Ex:slide>sliding,ride>ridingForverbsthatendinie,changetheietoyandadding.Ex:die>dying,tie>tyingForaverbwhoselastsyllableiswrittenwithaconsonantvowelconsonantandisstressed,doublethelastletterbeforeaddinging.Ex:beg>begging,begin>beginning.However:enter>entering(lastsyllableisnotstressed)

Agerundisaverbinitsing(presentparticiple)formthatfunctionsasanounthatnamesanactivityratherthanapersonorthing.Anyactionverbcanbemadeintoagerund.

Gerundscanappearatthebeginningofasentencewhenusedasasubject:

1. Joggingisahobbyofmine.

Gerundscanactasanobjectfollowingtheverb:

1. Danielquitsmokingayearago.

Gerundscanserveasanobjectafterapreposition:

1. Ilookforwardtohelpingyoupaintthehouse.

Note:Thesamespellingrulesthatapplytotheprogressivetensesalsoapplytogerunds.

Someverbsandverbphrasesaredirectlyfollowedagerund:

1. Paulavoidsusingchemicalsonthevegetableshegrows.

Someverbscanbefollowedbyagerundoraninfinitivewithoutcausingachangeinmeaning:

1. Somepeopleprefergettingupearlyinthemorning.

6/5/2015 KnowtheDifference:Gerundsvs.Infinitives

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2. Somepeopleprefertogetupearlyinthemorning

Someverbscanbefollowedbyagerundorinfinitivebutwithachangeinmeaning:

1. Herememberedsendingthefax.(Herememberedtheactofsendthefax)2. Herememberedtosendthefax.(Herememberedthefaxandsentit.)

WhatareInfinitives?Aninfinitiveisaverbformthatactsasotherpartsofspeechinasentence.Itisformedwithto+baseformoftheverb.Ex:tobuy,towork.

Infinitivescanbeusedas:

anobjectfollowingtheverb:

1. Jimalwaysforgetstoeat

asubjectatthebeginningofasentence:

1. Totravelaroundtheworldrequiresalotoftimeandmoney.

anadverbmodifyingaverb:

1. Youpromisedtobuymeadiamondring.

anadjectivemodifyinganoun:

1. Tarahastheabilitytosucceed.

Someverbsaredirectlyfollowedbyaninfinitive:

1. Doyouwanttocallyourfamilynow?

Someverbsaredirectlyfollowedbyanounorpronounandthenbyaninfinitive:

1. IconvincedCatherinetobecomevegetarian.2. Headvisedmetosellallmysharesofstock.

6/5/2015 KnowtheDifference:Gerundsvs.Infinitives

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riding inviting tofight crying totie tobake complainingconcentrating tojoin topickup

admit advise avoid beusedto canthelp cantstand consider deny discuss dislikeendup enjoy feellike finish forget getusedto giveup goon havedifficulty

Someverbscanbefollowedbyaninfinitiveoragerundwithoutcausingachangeinmeaning:

1. Willyoucontinueworkingafteryougivebirth?2. Willyoucontinuetoworkafteryougivebirth?

Someverbscanbefollowedbyaninfinitiveoragerundbutwithachangeinmeaning:

1. Hestoppeddrinkingcoffee.(Heneverdrankcoffeeagain.)2. Hestoppedtodrinkcoffee.(Hestoppedwhathewasdoinganddranksomecoffee.)

ExercisesGerundsandInfinitivesChoosethecorrectgerundorinfinitivefromtheparenthesisattheendofthesentence.

1. Shelikestogetupearlyinthemorning.(likes/dislikes)

1. 1.Alancantstand_________ontrains.(riding/toride)2. Mr.Harrisenjoys_________peopleouttodinner.(inviting/toinvite)3. Intheolddays,gentlemenchallengedtheirrivals_______.(fighting/tofight)4. Asthefamoussayinggoes,theresnouse______overspiltmilk.(crying/tocry)5. Jimstopped_________hisshoelace.Waitforhim.(tying/totie)6. Mywifealwaysvolunteers___________cakesPTAmeetings.(baking/tobake)7. Dontwastemytime___________aboutyoursalary.(complaining/tocomplain)8. Evaishavingtrouble_________ontheexam.(concentrating/toconcentrate)9. Pleaseallowme____________yourFacebookpage.(joining/tojoin)

10. Youwontforget_________milkonyourwayhome,willyou?(pickingup/topickup)

Answers:

ReferenceListsGerundsandInfinitives

Listofcommonverbsandphrasesthatarefollowedbyagerund

6/5/2015 KnowtheDifference:Gerundsvs.Infinitives

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haveproblems havetrouble imagine itsnouse itsworthwhile keep lookforwardto mentionmind miss recommend remember quit spendtime stop suggest understand wastetimeworkat

begin continue hate intend like love prefer start

forget remember stop

afford agree appear arrange ask care decide demand expect fail forget hopelearn manage mean offer plan prepare pretend promise refuse remember seemstop volunteer wait want wish

advise allow ask cause challenge command convince expect forbid force hireinstruct invite order pay permit program remind teach tell urge

Listofcommonverbsthatcanbefollowedbyeitheragerundoraninfinitivewithoutcausingachangeinmeaning

Listofcommonverbsthatcanbefollowedbyagerundorinfinitivebutwithachangeinmeaning

Listofcommonverbsarefollowedbyaninfinitive

Listofcommonverbsthataredirectlyfollowedbyanounorpronounandthenbyaninfinitive