Gerunds and Infinitives
Not an easy choice!
Before we start on this subject
n What are the six forms of the English
verb?
n Base
n Past
n Infinitive
n ‘s’ form
n Present Perfect (or ‘ing’ form)
n Past Perfect
Gerunds and Infinitives are
Verbals
n Verbals have some n Verbs vary as to
of the characteristics person and number.
of verbs. n Verbals do not vary
n Participle phrases, as to person and
Gerunds and number.
Infinitives are all
verbals.
What is a participle phrase?
n Participle phrases are verbal adjectives.
n They are (Surprise!) made from the
Present and Past Participle forms of the
verb.
n Present Particple Verbs alsways end in
‘ing’.
Examples of Present
Participle Phrases
n Active voice n Passive voice
n Knowing him well, n Mr. Portly, being
we asked for a ride. known as a wealthy
n Having elected him man, can easily borrow
mayor, his friends money.
felt they should be
rewarded. n Which is a present
perfect participle?
Examples of Past
Participle Phrases
n There is only a n Somewhat
passive form. embarrassed by
this remark, Norris
smiled and made an
awkward bow.
Gerunds
n The Gerund is a n Active Examples:
verbal noun. n Seeing is believing.
n It is made from the n Having read the
‘ing’ form of the book is enough; I
verb. don’t need to see
n The perfect forms the movie.
use havING plus the
past participle.
Gerunds can be in
the Passive voice also.
n Examples: n His having been
n Doctors often have fined twice, has
the experience of caused him to drive
being called in the more slowly.
middle of the night.
Verbs that are always followed
by a gerund
n This information n Mind, miss, postpone,
is on Page 180 of regret, resent, resist,
risk
‘Technically
n Fancy (imagine)
Speaking’
n Keep (continue)
n Admit, anticipate,
appreciate, avoid, n Remember (recall)
consider n Stop (cease)
n Delay, deny, detest,
dislike, dread
n Enjoy, finish, involve
Expressions that are always followed
by a gerund
n Look forward to
n Can’t help
n Can’t stand
n It’s no use
n It’s worth
n To be used to
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 1: If a verb ends with a consonant
+ single vowel + consonant
combination, double the final consonant
before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: stopping
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 2: If a verb ends with a consonant
+ double vowel + consonant
combination, do NOT double the final
consonant before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: lean > leaning
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 3: If a one-syllable verb ends with
double consonants, do NOT double the
final consonant before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: risk > risking
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 4: If a verb ends with the letter ‘e’,
drop it before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: write > writing
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 5: If a two-syllable verb end with a
stressed syllable, double the final
consonant before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: begin > beginning
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 6: If a two-syllable verb begins with
a stressed syllable, do not double the
final consonant before adding ‘ing’.
n Example: gather > gathering
Spelling rules for gerunds and
participles
n Rule 7: If a verb ends with ‘y’, simply
add ‘ing’ to the verb.
n Example: fly > flying
Infinitives are verbals too!
n The infinitive is a verbal which can
function as a noun, an adjective or an
adverb.
n The infinitive starts with the word ‘to’.
n Usage frequently defines whether to
use a gerund or an infinitive. Use the
chart on Page 180 as a guide.
Examples of infinitives
n Active forms n Passive forms
n To err is human. n To be forgiven may
n He is thought to be divine.
have left the n Her voice is said to
country. have been praised
n What are the in all the capitals of
functions of each of Europe.
these infinitives?
A short word on count and
non-count nouns
n There are a number of nouns in English
that do not take an ‘s’ because they are
considered non-countable.
n Some of these words can take an ‘s’ in
French.
Common non-count nouns
n Furniture n Can you name any
n Research others?
n Information
n Work
n Homework
n Advice
n Rice
Modifying count and
non-count nouns
n Count nouns n Non-count nouns
n Many + plural n More + singular
n More + plural n Less + singular
n Few + plural n Some, a lot of
n Some, a lot of – The noun stays
– The noun is plural singular
n Note: count nouns are n Note: non-count nouns
never modified by ‘less’ are never modified by
‘many’ or ‘few’
On-line Exercise
Please do the on-line exercise
linked to this information!
