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Gerunds and Infinitives

This document discusses the differences between gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. [1] Gerunds end in "-ing" but function as nouns, such as "Trevor enjoys traveling". [2] Infinitives use "to" followed by the base verb form and are often part of verb chains but not the main verb, like "Angela wants to see that movie". The document provides rules for when to use gerunds and infinitives based on the verbs they follow.

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Isaac Vázquez Yáñez
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84 views6 pages

Gerunds and Infinitives

This document discusses the differences between gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. [1] Gerunds end in "-ing" but function as nouns, such as "Trevor enjoys traveling". [2] Infinitives use "to" followed by the base verb form and are often part of verb chains but not the main verb, like "Angela wants to see that movie". The document provides rules for when to use gerunds and infinitives based on the verbs they follow.

Uploaded by

Isaac Vázquez Yáñez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gerunds and Infinitives

Two tricky aspects of English


grammar are gerunds and
infinitives. Gerunds, as we
noted earlier, look like verbs
because they end in -ing, but
they actually function as nouns
in sentences:

EXAMPLE:
Trevor enjoys traveling.
Here, the “action” Trevor
performs is enjoys. The thing
(noun) he enjoys is
traveling.
In the following
Trevor is traveling to
Jamaica on Friday.
Here, traveling is the action
Trevor performs, so it is
functioning as a verb:
Infinitives (to + verb base),
on the other hand, are often
part of a verb chain, but they
are not the mainverb (main
action) of a sentence:
EXAMPLE:
Angela wants to see that
movie.

In this example, wants is the


main verb; what Angela
wants (the action she
wants to do) is to see the
film.

WHEN TO USE INFINITIVES


AND GERUNDS
■ Always use a gerund after a
preposition.

EXAMPLES:

You will save time and money


by taking the train.

He is always frustrated after


meeting with his lawyer.

■ Always use a gerund (Ing)


after the following verbs:

admit deny imagin quit


appreci discus e recall
ate s keep resist
avoid dislike miss risk
can’t enjoy postpo sugges
help escape ne t
conside finish practic tolerat
r e e
delay put off

EXAMPLES:
I just missed catching that
train!
I am considering joining
the Army.
Sam and Amy are
discussing throwing a
party for Javier.
We practiced dancing for
weeks before the reunion.

■ In general, use an
infinitive (TO) after these
verbs:

agree claim manag promis


ask decide e e
beg expect need refuse
bother fail offer ventur
choose hope plan e
preten want
d wish

EXAMPLES:
I asked him to attend the lecture
with me.
He claims to know the president
personally.
Don’t pretend to be someone
you are not.
She offered to help me study for
the exam.

With a verb + noun/pronoun


construct, use an infinitive after
these verbs:
AdviseConvinc Order Urge
e
Allow Encoura Persua Want
ge de
Ask Expect Remind Warn
Cause Force Require
Comma Need tell
nd

Example:

He force me to do it!

His mother warned him not to


buy that used car.

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