The document discusses the infinitive and gerund in English grammar. It defines the infinitive as a non-finite verb form that can function as a noun and lacks typical verb features. The infinitive is usually structured as "to + verb root". It then lists six common uses of the infinitive: as a subject, after verbs, with a verb + object + infinitive structure, after adjectives, after nouns, and after wh- questions. It also discusses different types of infinitives like the present, negative, progressive, perfect, and passive infinitives. Next, it defines the gerund as a non-finite verb form that can fulfill functions beyond a verb like subject, object, or complement. The

1. Jordan M. Gómez N.
C.I:27.870.617
Junio 2022.

2.  In grammar, the infinitive is a non-finite verbal
form that shows characteristics of a noun and
lacks some of the typical features of a verb.
 The infinitive is the basic form of verbs in English.
It is usually structured as follows: to + (verb root).
for example, to talk. However, there is also the
form without to.

3.  It is presented in its complete form.
 It is preceded by the particle to, that is (to + verb).
 The verbal base = (the verb in the infinitive
without the particle to), can be used alone.

4. Verbs in the infinitive can have different
functions in sentences. Below you can find 6 of
its uses:
 As subject
In this case, it serves as the noun and the
nucleus of the sentence.
• To be or not to be, that is the question

5.  After verbs
As in the case of the gerund, not all verbs
admit a later infinitive. In this table you can
find some of the most common verbs that do
allow it.
 Afford, Appear, Arrange, Ask, (can’t) bear, Begin,
Dare, Decide, Expect, Fail, Forget, Happen, Hate,
Help, Hope, Intend, Learn, Like, Love, Manage,
Mean, Offer, Prefer, Prepare, Pretend, Promise,
Refuse, Remember, Seem, Start, Try, Want, Wish
For example:
• I love to swim at night.
• She doesn't want to see you again!
• It's beginning to snow.

6.  Verb + object + infinitive
The structure verb + object + infinitive is less
common than the previous case and, like this,
can only be done with specific verbs. They are
the following:
 Advise, Allow, Ask, (can’t) bear, Cause,
Encourage, Expect, Get, Hate, Help, Invite, Like,
Mean, Need, Order, Persuade, Prefer, Remind,
Teach, Tell, Want, Warn, Wish
For example:
• They don't want me to go.
• You asked him to pay the ticket.
• I need you to come help me.

7.  After adjective
The infinitive can go after adjectives to
indicate the reason for it. For example:• Your dogs
are excited to go to the park.
 After noun When it follows a noun, it is
usually to express the purpose of something.
For example:• Have you got the key to open
this door?
 After WH questions
When it is used after WH questions it is in reported
speech. For example:• Show me how to use your
telephone. It should be noted that this use is made
With infinitive verbs such as: ask, decide, explain,
forget, know, show, tell and understand.

8.  Present-infinitive. For example: To sleep was
a pleasure.
 Negative infinitive. For example: Try not to be
angry.
 Progressive infinitive. For example: It's nice to
be talking to you.
 Perfect infinitive. For example: If I had known
you were coming I would have cooked your
favorite meal.
 Passive-infinitive. For example: Your trainers
need to be washed.

9.  The gerund is, in various languages, one of the
non-finite forms of the verb, that is, a verbal form
that is not defined by features such as time,
mood, number, or person.
 The gerund is a verb form that can fulfill functions
in a sentence beyond those of a verb, such as
subject, object, complement or present participle.
It is structured with the infinitive form of the verb +
the suffix –ing, for example, the gerund of walk is
walking

10.  Are verb forms ending in ''ing'' that name activities
 They are placed in the sentence
in which a noun is used

11. In English there is a gerund that tells us that
an
action is taking place at the time it is being
expressed, narrated or named, this gerund is "-ing"
There are certain rules that we must take into
account when conjugating a verb with the suffix
ing". Let's see how it works:
The basic form is the verb in the infinitive,
without the article to, followed by the suffix “
ing":
Understanding infinitive verb + suffix
However, there are some exceptions that you
should be aware of:

12. 1. When the verb has a double "-e" at the end,
only the "-ing" should be added:
See - Seeing / Ver - Seeing
2. If the final "-e" is silent, it should be
dropped and the suffix added instead:
Live - Living / Living - Living
3. In this case, the letter "-y" replaces the
combination "-ie" , adding at the end the suffix
"-ing", like this:
Belie - Belying / Denying - Denying

13. 1. Verbs that have only one syllable or whose
stress falls on the last syllable and that end in
consonant - vowel - consonant, must double their
last consonant and add "-ing".
Run - Running Begin - Beginning
2. When the verb ends in "-l", this consonant is
doubled and the suffix is ​​added. If the verb ends in
"-ll", just add "-ing".
Note that this phenomenon only happens in British
English: Travel - Travelling or Traveling
3. If the verb ends in a single consonant other than
"-r", "-w", "-x", "-y", you must double the last letter
and add the suffix, for example:
Forget - Forgetting

14.  The joint or concerted gerund.
It is the one that shares the subject with the verb
in the personal form. It is separated from the rest of
the sentence with commas if it is placed first, or if it
Is inserted between the subject and the main verb:
 Being so thick, this book does not fit in my
briefcase.
 This book, being so thick, does not fit in my
briefcase.
The comma can be dispensed with if the gerund is
placed at the end of the sentence, although it is
preferable to place it if it is far from the main verb.

15.  The absolute or unconcerted gerund.
It is the one that has its own subject, which does not
coincide with that of the main clause or with the
direct object. It is always separated with commas
from the rest of the sentence:
 When the general arrived, the soldiers formed
ranks.
 The soldiers, when the general arrived, formed
ranks.

16.  Simple form and compound form
In addition, there are two forms of gerund:
• The simple gerund, which denotes an action that
coincides in time with
the main verb of the sentence and indicates
temporal simultaneity between
the two:
Juan watches television eating chips.
• The compound gerund denotes an action prior to
that of the main verb:
The judge, having assessed all the circumstances,
took into account the
prosecutor's proposal.

17.  The gerund attached to the direct object
This gerund modifies the direct object of some
verbs, mainly perception and representation
verbs, which can be considered an extension of
the gerund with a temporal value.
 Verbs of perception: see, observe, hear, hear,
notice, find, etc.
 Verbs of representation: represent, paint, draw,
show, imagine, etc.
We saw your sister walking downtown [~ when she
was walking]
The ornithologist observes the macaws eating fruits
in the treetops [~ while eating fruits]

18. It also modifies the direct complement of the constructions
tener/dejar + OD + gerund, which is considered a derivation
of the modal circumstantial gerund.
To avoid ambiguity, the gerund should be placed as close as
possible to the word it modifies (although construction
change is preferable).
 I saw him singing.
In the sentence above it is not clear who sings, the speaker or
the person who is seen.
To be considered correct, this gerund must denote an
occasional action or attitude, and not a permanent state or a
transformation too slow to be perceived all at once.
o From the window we saw a blossoming tree
 The action of blossoming denotes a transformation too slow
for a momentary perception. The correct thing, in this case,
is to use an adjective or a relative clause:
o From the window we saw a blossoming, flowering or
blooming tree.

19.  Can’t bear
Infinitive: I can’t bear to wait in
long lines
Gerund: I can’t bear waiting in
long lines
 Continue
Infinitive: He continued to
speak.
Gerund: He continued
speaking
 Forget
Infinitive: I forgot to mail the
letter
Gerund: I’ll never forget
visiting Napoleon’s tomb.
 Like
Infinitive: I like to go to the
movies.
Gerund: I like going to movies
 Love
Infinitive: I love to go to
operas.
Gerund: I love going to
operas.
 Regret
Infinitive: I regret to tell you
that you failed.
Gerund: I regret telling him my
secret.
 Remember
Infinitive: I remembered to lock
the door.
Gerund: I can remember
meeting him when I was a
child.
 Can’t stand
Infinitive: I can’t stand to wait
in long lines.
Gerund: I can’t stand waiting
in long lines.
 Start
Infinitive: It started to rain
Gerund: It started raining
 Prefer
Infinitive: Ann prefers to walk
to work
Gerund: Ann prefers walking
to driving to work.
 Hate
Infinitive: I hate to make silly
mistakes
Gerund: I hate making silly
mistakes.
 Try
Infinitive: I’m trying to learn
English.
Gerund: I tried changing the
light bulb, but the lamp still
didn’t work