Presentation of Gerund and infinitive

2. The gerund is when the form of the verb that ends in the
letters "ing" and is used mostly when using verbs that
express the beginning and end of an activity, example
Before leaving = before leaving. After eating is translated
into English by after eating or when the infinitive plays the
role of a noun. For example, swimming is very healthy
translates to swimming is very healthful.
On the other hand, every preposition you see in English
will be followed by a noun. This means that, if you want to
use a verb, you will have to substantiate it. And, as I just
explained in the previous section that verb can ONLY
appear in GERUND.

3. The nominal characteristics of the gerund are as follows:
1. The gerund can perform the function of subject, object and
predicative:
 Smoking endangers your health. (subject)
 I like making people happy. (object)
2. The gerund can be preceded by a preposition:
 I´m tired of arguing.
3. Like a noun the gerund can be modified by a noun in the
possessive case or by a possessive adjective:
 I wonder at his keeping calm.
 Is there any objection to my seeing her?

4. The verbal characteristics of the gerund are:
1. The gerund of transitive verbs can take a direct object:
 I´ve made good progress in speaking English.
2. The gerund can be modified by an adverb:
 Breathing deeply helps you to calm down.
3. The gerund has tense distinctions; the gerund of transitive verbs has
also voice distinctions.

5. 1. Swimming in the ocean
has been Sharon’s passion
since she was five years old.
2. The ballerina taught
us dancing.
3. Apologizing to me isn’t
enough this time.
4. She is afraid of flying.
5. They are capable
of doing hard work.
1. She is good at (dance).
2. He is crazy about (sing).
3. I don´t like cards. (play)
4. They are afraid of in the sea. (swim)
5. You should give up (smoke).
6. Sam dreams of a popstar. (be)
7. He is interested in friends. (make)
8. My uncle is afraid of by plane. (go)
9. We insist on the dinner ourselves.
(cook)

6. A verb form normally identical in English
with the first person singular that performs
some functions of a noun and at the same
time displays some characteristics of a verb
and that is used with to (as in “I asked
him to go”) except with auxiliary and various
other verbs (as in “no one saw him leave”).
Infinitives are frequently used when
actions are not real, are real, or are future.

7. 1. The nominal character of the infinitive is manifested in its
syntactic functions.
The infinitive can be used:
(a) as the subject of a sentence.
To go on like this was dangerous. (Galsworthy)
(b) as a predicative.
Her plan was now to drive to Bath during the night. (Hardy)
(c) as an object.
I have never learnt to read or write. (Collins)

8. 2. The verbal characteristics of the infinitive are as follows:
(a) the infinitive of transitive verbs can take a direct object.
(b) the infinitive can be modified by an adverb. I cannot write so quickly.
(c) the infinitive has tense and aspect distinctions; the infinitive of
transitive verbs has also voice distinctions.

9. I really need to eat
something.
.- In this sentence, the verb
is “need.”
.- Who or what do I need?
The infinitive “to eat.”
.- “To eat” is the direct
object of “need” because it
receives the action.
.- This is an example of an
infinitive being used as a
noun.
We can’t play until we find a ball to
throw.
.- What is the purpose of the
infinitive “to throw” in this sentence?
.- It describes the noun “ball.” We
don’t need just any ball, we need a
ball “to throw.”
.- Here, the infinitive is used as an
adjective.

10. 1. it won’t be any good my talking to him about it.
2. It is no use for us to try to convince him of this.
3. It wouldn’t be much good for us to complain to the minister about it.
4. It was a difficult business for me to start the car with such a weak
battery.
5. It is no fun for me to have/having so many children to look after.
6. Will it be any good for me to see the boss about it?
7. It is just silly for you to throw / throwing away your chances like
that.