This document provides information about gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines gerunds as verb forms ending in "-ing" that are used in progressive tenses. Infinitives are the base form of verbs preceded by "to", like "to speak". The document lists rules for forming regular gerunds and presents examples of gerund and infinitive usage. It also provides exercises for learners to practice identifying gerunds and infinitives in sentences.
1. REPÚBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA LA
EDUCACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA,
CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO POLITÉCNICO
“SANTIAGO MARIÑO”
EXTENSIÓN PORLAMAR
Gerunds and infinitives
Porlamar, 09 de diciembre del
2021
Diego Rodríguez
C.I: 29789485
Ing. Eléctrica
Porlamar, 09 de diciembre del 2021
2. WHAT IS A GERUND?
Gerunds in English are verb forms used with progressive tenses. They always end in
–ing.
In Spanish, the verb form ending in –ndo is known as the gerund. It is used in
progressive compound tenses such as: I am swimming. The English equivalent of this
grammatical form is the present participle.
All progressive tenses use a conjugated form of the verb to be and a present
participle. The regular gerunds, or regular present
participles, are formed as follows:
Basic form + ing
For example: Eat + ing = Eating
See + ing = Seeing
Play + ing = Playing
Sleep+ ing = sleeping
Watch + ing =
watching
3. Features
The gerund belongs to non-finite verbs
(unconjugated)
They Gerunds are verb forms that end in ‘ing’
Gerunds can be the subject of the sentence: “Flying
is lovely”.
Gerunds can be the object of the sentence: “She
likes eating chocolate.”
Gerunds can be the object of a preposition: “After
jogging she relaxes”.
It has no irregularities, which makes it the only rule
in English that has no exceptions
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4. Gramatical rules
If the basic form of a single syllable verb ends in the combination of a
single vowel followed by a consonant, double the final consonant before adding –ing to the
base form.
For example: run : running
sit : sitting
jog : jogging
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Si la forma básica de un verbo termina en ic, añádele la letra k antes de añadir –ing a la forma
base.
For example: picnic : picnicking
panic : panicking
traffic : trafficking
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If the basic form of a verb ends in one more consonant “e”, remove the e before adding –ing
to the base form.
For example: dance : dancing
make : making
take : taking
5. Gramatical rules
If the basic form of a verb ends in ie, change the ie to y before adding –ing to the base form.
For example: die : dying
lie : lying
tie : tying
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5 If the basic form of a verb ends in l, double the l before adding –ing to the base form.
For example: travel : travelling
cancel : cancelling
(This rule does not apply in the United States, but in the United Kingdom. In the US the
present participle of travel is traveling and the present participle of cancel is canceling)
6. Examples
I am playing tennis
Yesterday we were talking about having children.
We enjoy walking every afternoon
Would you mind helping me with the bags?
I don’t miss having to drive to work every morning.
Come hiking with us next Saturday.
She hates going to the dentist.
She is not eating hamburgers
Are you playing guitar?
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7. exercises
Send + ing = ____________ Sit + ing = _________
Play + ing = ___________ Go + ing = _________
Run + ing = ____________ Lear + ing = ________
Close + ing = ___________ Drink + ing = ________
See + ing = ___________ Walk + ing = ________
Show + ing = ___________ Clean + ing = _______
He is (read)________ a book by oscar wilde
We are (sing)_________ a song in the bar
They are (buy)_________ italian food
Are you (write)_________ the statistics report?
8. exercises
answers
Send + ing = Sending Sit + ing = Sitting
Play + ing = Playing Go + ing = Going
Run + ing = Running Learn + ing = Learning
Close + ing = Closing Drink + ing = Drinking
See + ing = Seeing Walk + ing = Walking
Show + ing = Showing Clean + ing = Cleaning
He is reading a book by oscar wilde
We are singing a song in the bar
They are buying italian food
Are you writing the statistics report?
9. WHAT IS An infinitive?
The infinitive is a form of the verb that hasn’t had any endings added to it and
doesn’t relate to any particular tense. It can also be defined as the infinitive as
the base form of a verb. In English, the infinitive is usually shown with to, as in
to speak, to eat, to live.
In English, the infinitive is usually thought of as being made up of two words,
for example, to speak. Also, in English, when we talk about the infinitive, we
usually refer to the present infinitive, which is the most common. However,
there are four other forms of the infinitive: the perfect infinitive, the continuous
perfect infinitive, the continuous infinitive, and the passive infinitive.
10. Features
The infinitive is the basic form of verbs in English.
It is generally structured as follows: to + (verb stem),
for example, to talk
It can have different functions within a sentence,
including expressing opinions or purposes
Can be used as a subject, after the verb and after an
adjective
There are 5 types: present infinitive, negative infinitive,
progressive infinitive, perfect infinitive and passive
infinitive
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11. Gramatical rules
In general, the infinitive is used after adjectives.
For example: I’m excited to go surfing each morning.
We use the infinitive after direct and indirect complements that refer to people.
For example: I warned Bree to avoid the jellyfish in the water.
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Some verbs in English such as ‘hope’, ‘learn’ and ‘want’ are always followed by an infinitive.
For example: I want to learn to speak English this new year
We use the infinitive without the ‘to’ after many modal verbs like may, might, should
and could.
For example: You should visit your parents this Christmas
12. Examples
I love to swim at nigh
She doesn’t want to see you
again!
It’s beginning to snow
Have you got the key to open
this door?
They don’t want me to go
You asked him to pay the ticket
How should I tellhim?
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13. exercises
They enjoy ____ (work) together.
Working To work
Do you want ____ (study) with me
tonight?
Studying To study
David quit ____ (smoke) a year ago.
Smoking To smoke
I have no experience in ____ (work) with
children.
Working To work
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14. exercises
answers
Right
Incorrect
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They enjoy ____ (work) together.
Working To work
Do you want ____ (study) with me
tonight?
Studying To study
David quit ____ (smoke) a year ago.
Smoking To smoke
I have no experience in ____ (work) with
children.
Working To work
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