The document discusses the differences between the present participle and gerund forms of verbs ending in "-ing". It provides examples of how the present participle can be used in continuous tenses, after verbs of movement/position, verbs of perception, and as adjectives. The gerund always functions as a noun and can be used as the subject of a sentence, after prepositions, in compound nouns, and after certain verbs like "miss" and "suggest". Certain verbs like "stop" and "mean" can take either the gerund or infinitive form with subtle differences in meaning.
This document discusses the uses of infinitives, gerunds, and bare infinitives in English.
1. Gerunds are used as nouns or after prepositions. They also follow certain verbs and idiomatic expressions.
2. To-infinitives are used to indicate purpose, after modal verbs and verbs like "want" and "help", and in certain constructions.
3. The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs except "have to" and in expressions like "let me go" or "would rather". Some verbs like "see" can be followed by a gerund or bare infinitive.
The use of the infinitive and the gerundRomanychch
The document discusses the differences between using the infinitive and gerund forms of verbs in English. It notes that the infinitive can be used with or without "to" after certain verbs and adjectives. The gerund is used after prepositions and as the subject of a sentence. Certain verbs like remember can take either the infinitive or gerund but with different implied meanings.
The document discusses gerunds and infinitives. A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun. An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by "to" or without "to". Gerunds can function as subjects, objects of prepositions, or in compound nouns. Infinitives are used after modal verbs or as subjects/objects. Certain verbs select gerunds or infinitives depending on subtle differences in meaning.
The document discusses the infinitive in English grammar. It defines the infinitive as the base form of a verb and notes there are to-infinitives and bare infinitives. It then examines the different functions of the infinitive in a sentence, such as subject, object, and adverbial uses. Finally, it explores the various forms of the infinitive including active/passive voices and perfect/continuous aspects.
The document discusses infinitives in English. It explains that infinitives are verb forms that are not conjugated for tense, and thus do not take suffixes like -s, -ing, or -ed. Infinitives are usually preceded by "to" and retain the base verb form. The only exceptions are the expressions "be used to" , "get used to", and "look forward to", where the verb after "to" takes the -ing form. Some examples of correct and incorrect uses of infinitives are provided.
This document provides 16 tips for using gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines gerunds and infinitives as non-finite verbs and discusses their functions. The tips cover topics like using gerunds as subjects and objects, distinguishing gerunds from infinitives and participles, verbs that take gerunds or infinitives, and identifying errors involving gerunds and infinitives. Examples are provided to illustrate each grammar rule or tip.
The document discusses inversion in English grammar. Inversion involves changing the typical subject-verb word order in certain contexts. It describes some common cases where inversion is used, such as for emphasis, in literary language, or with negative adverbs and conjunctions. Examples of different types of inversion are provided, including with complement-verb-subject word order and in sentences using negative adverbs like "never" or conjunctions like "not until". The document also provides exercises for learners to practice identifying and correcting examples of inversion.
This document discusses verb patterns in English, specifically gerunds and infinitives. It provides examples of verbs that take infinitives with "to" and without "to". Verbs that take the infinitive with "to" include want, help, refuse, and verbs of perception in their passive form. Verbs that take the bare infinitive include modal verbs like can, may, must. Certain verbs and expressions also take the bare infinitive, such as have to, rather, sooner, need hardly. The document outlines the different structures and provides numerous examples to illustrate proper usage of gerunds and infinitives.
This document discusses the uses of infinitives, gerunds, and bare infinitives in English.
1. Gerunds are used as nouns or after prepositions. They also follow certain verbs and idiomatic expressions.
2. To-infinitives are used to indicate purpose, after modal verbs and verbs like "want" and "help", and in certain constructions.
3. The bare infinitive is used after modal verbs except "have to" and in expressions like "let me go" or "would rather". Some verbs like "see" can be followed by a gerund or bare infinitive.
The use of the infinitive and the gerundRomanychch
The document discusses the differences between using the infinitive and gerund forms of verbs in English. It notes that the infinitive can be used with or without "to" after certain verbs and adjectives. The gerund is used after prepositions and as the subject of a sentence. Certain verbs like remember can take either the infinitive or gerund but with different implied meanings.
The document discusses gerunds and infinitives. A gerund is a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun. An infinitive is the base form of a verb preceded by "to" or without "to". Gerunds can function as subjects, objects of prepositions, or in compound nouns. Infinitives are used after modal verbs or as subjects/objects. Certain verbs select gerunds or infinitives depending on subtle differences in meaning.
The document discusses the infinitive in English grammar. It defines the infinitive as the base form of a verb and notes there are to-infinitives and bare infinitives. It then examines the different functions of the infinitive in a sentence, such as subject, object, and adverbial uses. Finally, it explores the various forms of the infinitive including active/passive voices and perfect/continuous aspects.
The document discusses infinitives in English. It explains that infinitives are verb forms that are not conjugated for tense, and thus do not take suffixes like -s, -ing, or -ed. Infinitives are usually preceded by "to" and retain the base verb form. The only exceptions are the expressions "be used to" , "get used to", and "look forward to", where the verb after "to" takes the -ing form. Some examples of correct and incorrect uses of infinitives are provided.
This document provides 16 tips for using gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines gerunds and infinitives as non-finite verbs and discusses their functions. The tips cover topics like using gerunds as subjects and objects, distinguishing gerunds from infinitives and participles, verbs that take gerunds or infinitives, and identifying errors involving gerunds and infinitives. Examples are provided to illustrate each grammar rule or tip.
The document discusses inversion in English grammar. Inversion involves changing the typical subject-verb word order in certain contexts. It describes some common cases where inversion is used, such as for emphasis, in literary language, or with negative adverbs and conjunctions. Examples of different types of inversion are provided, including with complement-verb-subject word order and in sentences using negative adverbs like "never" or conjunctions like "not until". The document also provides exercises for learners to practice identifying and correcting examples of inversion.
This document discusses verb patterns in English, specifically gerunds and infinitives. It provides examples of verbs that take infinitives with "to" and without "to". Verbs that take the infinitive with "to" include want, help, refuse, and verbs of perception in their passive form. Verbs that take the bare infinitive include modal verbs like can, may, must. Certain verbs and expressions also take the bare infinitive, such as have to, rather, sooner, need hardly. The document outlines the different structures and provides numerous examples to illustrate proper usage of gerunds and infinitives.
The document discusses inversion in English grammar. Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. It is commonly used in questions by moving the verb in front of the subject. There are also some other situations where inversion is used, including with negative adverb phrases at the beginning of sentences to add emphasis, in conditional sentences using "had" or "were", after adverbial phrases of place, and after expressions like "so...that". Inversion changes the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence for specific grammatical purposes or effects.
This document discusses the differences between infinitives and gerunds in English grammar. It provides examples of verbs that are followed by infinitives, verbs that are followed by gerunds, and verbs that can be followed by either with or without changes in meaning. Key points covered include what infinitives and gerunds are, when to use each, and how the meaning can change depending on whether an infinitive or gerund is used after certain verbs.
This document discusses various types of inversion in English grammar. It begins by defining inversion as putting the verb before the subject. It then provides examples of inversion in questions, tag questions, conditional sentences, sentences using "so", "neither", "nor", and phrases like "only if". The document also covers inversion with adverbials, quotations, sentences using "as", and literary sentences beginning with an adjective. Inversion is used to provide emphasis and add sophistication to sentence structure.
Inversion means reversing the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence, usually for emphasis or effect. It is more common in formal writing and headlines. Some instances when inversion is used include:
- After place adverbials like "here", "there"
- In direct speech before a reporting verb
- After negative adverbials like "hardly", "scarcely"
- With conditionals using "should", "were", "had"
- After expressions like "so...that" or "such...that" for emphasis
- To express agreement with "so" or "neither/nor"
The document provides information about gerunds and infinitives in English. [1] Gerunds end in "-ing" but function as nouns, and can be subjects, objects of prepositions, or objects of certain verbs. [2] Infinitives are the base form of verbs and can be preceded by "to" or stand alone; they function as subjects, objects, adjectives, or adverbs. [3] Certain verbs are usually followed by gerunds or infinitives, with some verbs having different meanings depending on which one follows.
This document discusses the proper use of gerunds and infinitives in English. It provides examples of how to use infinitives and gerunds to express purpose, with certain adjectives, in the passive and past forms, when modifying with possessives, after verbs of perception, with let and help, and in causative constructions using make, have, and get. Key rules covered include using "to" instead of "for" to express purpose with verbs, exceptions for when "for" can be used, common adjectives that take infinitives, forming passive and past infinitives and gerunds, and the different meanings implied by make, have, and get in causative contexts.
This document discusses the proper use of gerunds and infinitives in English. It provides examples of how to use infinitives and gerunds to express purpose, with certain adjectives, in the passive and past forms, when modifying with possessives, after verbs of perception, with let and help, and in causative constructions using make, have, and get. It clarifies the differences between these uses and provides exceptions to the rules.
The document summarizes the different uses of the infinitive and -ing form of verbs in English. It discusses how infinitives and -ings can be used as subjects, objects, complements, after certain verbs and prepositions, and how their meaning can change depending on the context.
Inversion is used in certain grammatical structures in English including questions, sentences beginning with negative time expressions or phrases containing "no/not", and expressions like "only after" or "only if" at the start of a sentence. It can also be used with words like "so" and "neither" to show agreement, after adjectives like "so strange" or "such", and in certain conditional sentences by dropping "if" and using an inverted form. When inversion is used, the verb comes before the subject.
Negation refers to negative statements, judgments, or doctrines. Negation uses helping verbs like do not, does not, did not, have not, and had not to form negative sentences in simple present, present continuous, simple past, and past perfect tenses. Model verbs like will not, would not, cannot, could not, should not, might not, must not are also used for negation except for "may". Negative questions and imperatives express negation without using an auxiliary verb by using negative words like no, not, never, none, nobody, nowhere. While double negatives are discouraged, they can sometimes intensify the negation or become affirmative in some languages. Prefixes and suffixes can also be used to create negative
This document discusses various types of inversion in English grammar:
1) Question inversion, which changes the word order in questions.
2) Subject-auxiliary inversion, which changes the normal subject-verb word order, as in "Along the street came a strange individual."
3) Inversion after negative adverbials, which occurs when negative time expressions like "never" are at the beginning of a clause for emphasis.
4) Inversion can also follow "so" or "such" when used with the verb "be", or after conjunctions like "as", "so", "neither", and "nor" to echo statements.
Gerund and infinitive. natalia soto. esc.45NataliaSoto72
This document discusses the differences between gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines a gerund as a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun, while an infinitive is the base verb form preceded by "to", such as "to run". The document provides examples of verbs that can take either gerund or infinitive complements and explains the general rules for using gerunds and infinitives as objects, subjects, or complements of sentences. It also discusses how the meaning can change depending on whether a gerund or infinitive is used after certain verbs.
The simple past tense is used to talk about actions or events that were completed in the past. For regular verbs, the simple past tense is formed by adding "-ed" to the base verb. For irregular verbs, the formation is less predictable and must be memorized. The negative form of the simple past tense uses "did not" or a contraction with the base verb form. The verb "to be" is also irregular in the past tense and uses "was" or "were" instead of "did" in the negative form.
The document defines and provides rules for using the simple past tense in English. It begins by explaining that the simple past tense is used to talk about things that happened or existed in the past. It then provides examples of forming the simple past of regular and irregular verbs, including how to make the simple past tense negative and how to ask questions in the simple past tense. The document concludes by listing common regular and irregular verbs in the past tense.
This document discusses gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines a gerund as a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun, and an infinitive as an uninflected verb form preceded by "to" that can function as different parts of speech. It provides examples of how gerunds can be used as subjects and after prepositions. It also explains how infinitives can be used after verbs like "want" or adjectives/adverbs, as well as for purposes. Finally, it notes that some verbs like "love" can take either form with similar meanings, while verbs like "stop" and "remember" have different meanings depending on the form.
Inversion refers to an irregular verb placement form where the question form takes the place of the standard positive sentence structure. Some examples of inversion include using "not only do I enjoy classical music" instead of "I not only enjoy classical music". Inversion can also occur with negative adverbials like "never", "rarely", and expressions like "only then", "only after", "little", "so", "such", and in conditional forms by dropping "if" and using the inverted form instead.
Gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that can fulfill different functions in a sentence beyond being a simple verb. Infinitives are usually structured as "to + base verb form" and can be used as subjects, objects after verbs, in verb+object+infinitive structures, after adjectives and nouns. Gerunds have the form of the verb + "-ing" and can be used as nouns, objects, or complements. They can appear after verbs, prepositions, and "to + -ing" structures. The document provides examples of different uses of gerunds and infinitives in sentences.
04 - Spanish Negation from Livemocha.comianhansen81
The document provides instructions for students on how to participate in a group tutoring session in Spanish. It explains how to set up audio devices and join the tutoring session voice conference. It also provides tips for forming negative sentences in Spanish by placing "no" before verbs or using other negative words like "nunca" and "nadie". Sample sentences are given and students practice turning affirmative sentences into negative ones.
This document provides information on the use of infinitives and gerunds in English. It defines to-infinitives and bare infinitives, and lists verbs that are commonly followed by infinitives with or without a pronoun object. It also defines gerunds as verb forms ending in -ing that can function as nouns, objects, or adjectives. Several examples are given of verbs taking gerund or infinitive complements.
The document discusses verb tenses in English, including the simple present, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, and present perfect tenses. It provides the forms, functions, and examples of each tense. For the simple present tense, it notes the third person singular form and usage for habits, general truths, and instructions. For the present continuous tense, it explains how it describes ongoing actions and planned future events. The simple past tense is used to talk about completed past actions, while the past continuous describes ongoing past actions. The present perfect tense links the present and past and is used for unfinished periods and repeated actions between the past and present.
This document provides guidance on asking questions in English by using interrogative words like who, what, whose, when, where, why, how, how long, how many, and how often. It gives examples of questions using these interrogative words in subject and object positions. It then provides a short practice section asking the reader to identify the interrogative word being asked about in sample questions.
There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining. Defining clauses provide essential information to identify a person or thing, while non-defining clauses provide extra background information. Punctuation differs between the two, with non-defining clauses always separated by commas. Relative pronouns also differ based on whether the clause is defining or non-defining, and prepositions can be placed either before or after the relative pronoun.
The document discusses inversion in English grammar. Inversion means putting the verb before the subject. It is commonly used in questions by moving the verb in front of the subject. There are also some other situations where inversion is used, including with negative adverb phrases at the beginning of sentences to add emphasis, in conditional sentences using "had" or "were", after adverbial phrases of place, and after expressions like "so...that". Inversion changes the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence for specific grammatical purposes or effects.
This document discusses the differences between infinitives and gerunds in English grammar. It provides examples of verbs that are followed by infinitives, verbs that are followed by gerunds, and verbs that can be followed by either with or without changes in meaning. Key points covered include what infinitives and gerunds are, when to use each, and how the meaning can change depending on whether an infinitive or gerund is used after certain verbs.
This document discusses various types of inversion in English grammar. It begins by defining inversion as putting the verb before the subject. It then provides examples of inversion in questions, tag questions, conditional sentences, sentences using "so", "neither", "nor", and phrases like "only if". The document also covers inversion with adverbials, quotations, sentences using "as", and literary sentences beginning with an adjective. Inversion is used to provide emphasis and add sophistication to sentence structure.
Inversion means reversing the typical subject-verb word order in a sentence, usually for emphasis or effect. It is more common in formal writing and headlines. Some instances when inversion is used include:
- After place adverbials like "here", "there"
- In direct speech before a reporting verb
- After negative adverbials like "hardly", "scarcely"
- With conditionals using "should", "were", "had"
- After expressions like "so...that" or "such...that" for emphasis
- To express agreement with "so" or "neither/nor"
The document provides information about gerunds and infinitives in English. [1] Gerunds end in "-ing" but function as nouns, and can be subjects, objects of prepositions, or objects of certain verbs. [2] Infinitives are the base form of verbs and can be preceded by "to" or stand alone; they function as subjects, objects, adjectives, or adverbs. [3] Certain verbs are usually followed by gerunds or infinitives, with some verbs having different meanings depending on which one follows.
This document discusses the proper use of gerunds and infinitives in English. It provides examples of how to use infinitives and gerunds to express purpose, with certain adjectives, in the passive and past forms, when modifying with possessives, after verbs of perception, with let and help, and in causative constructions using make, have, and get. Key rules covered include using "to" instead of "for" to express purpose with verbs, exceptions for when "for" can be used, common adjectives that take infinitives, forming passive and past infinitives and gerunds, and the different meanings implied by make, have, and get in causative contexts.
This document discusses the proper use of gerunds and infinitives in English. It provides examples of how to use infinitives and gerunds to express purpose, with certain adjectives, in the passive and past forms, when modifying with possessives, after verbs of perception, with let and help, and in causative constructions using make, have, and get. It clarifies the differences between these uses and provides exceptions to the rules.
The document summarizes the different uses of the infinitive and -ing form of verbs in English. It discusses how infinitives and -ings can be used as subjects, objects, complements, after certain verbs and prepositions, and how their meaning can change depending on the context.
Inversion is used in certain grammatical structures in English including questions, sentences beginning with negative time expressions or phrases containing "no/not", and expressions like "only after" or "only if" at the start of a sentence. It can also be used with words like "so" and "neither" to show agreement, after adjectives like "so strange" or "such", and in certain conditional sentences by dropping "if" and using an inverted form. When inversion is used, the verb comes before the subject.
Negation refers to negative statements, judgments, or doctrines. Negation uses helping verbs like do not, does not, did not, have not, and had not to form negative sentences in simple present, present continuous, simple past, and past perfect tenses. Model verbs like will not, would not, cannot, could not, should not, might not, must not are also used for negation except for "may". Negative questions and imperatives express negation without using an auxiliary verb by using negative words like no, not, never, none, nobody, nowhere. While double negatives are discouraged, they can sometimes intensify the negation or become affirmative in some languages. Prefixes and suffixes can also be used to create negative
This document discusses various types of inversion in English grammar:
1) Question inversion, which changes the word order in questions.
2) Subject-auxiliary inversion, which changes the normal subject-verb word order, as in "Along the street came a strange individual."
3) Inversion after negative adverbials, which occurs when negative time expressions like "never" are at the beginning of a clause for emphasis.
4) Inversion can also follow "so" or "such" when used with the verb "be", or after conjunctions like "as", "so", "neither", and "nor" to echo statements.
Gerund and infinitive. natalia soto. esc.45NataliaSoto72
This document discusses the differences between gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines a gerund as a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun, while an infinitive is the base verb form preceded by "to", such as "to run". The document provides examples of verbs that can take either gerund or infinitive complements and explains the general rules for using gerunds and infinitives as objects, subjects, or complements of sentences. It also discusses how the meaning can change depending on whether a gerund or infinitive is used after certain verbs.
The simple past tense is used to talk about actions or events that were completed in the past. For regular verbs, the simple past tense is formed by adding "-ed" to the base verb. For irregular verbs, the formation is less predictable and must be memorized. The negative form of the simple past tense uses "did not" or a contraction with the base verb form. The verb "to be" is also irregular in the past tense and uses "was" or "were" instead of "did" in the negative form.
The document defines and provides rules for using the simple past tense in English. It begins by explaining that the simple past tense is used to talk about things that happened or existed in the past. It then provides examples of forming the simple past of regular and irregular verbs, including how to make the simple past tense negative and how to ask questions in the simple past tense. The document concludes by listing common regular and irregular verbs in the past tense.
This document discusses gerunds and infinitives in English grammar. It defines a gerund as a verb form ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun, and an infinitive as an uninflected verb form preceded by "to" that can function as different parts of speech. It provides examples of how gerunds can be used as subjects and after prepositions. It also explains how infinitives can be used after verbs like "want" or adjectives/adverbs, as well as for purposes. Finally, it notes that some verbs like "love" can take either form with similar meanings, while verbs like "stop" and "remember" have different meanings depending on the form.
Inversion refers to an irregular verb placement form where the question form takes the place of the standard positive sentence structure. Some examples of inversion include using "not only do I enjoy classical music" instead of "I not only enjoy classical music". Inversion can also occur with negative adverbials like "never", "rarely", and expressions like "only then", "only after", "little", "so", "such", and in conditional forms by dropping "if" and using the inverted form instead.
Gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that can fulfill different functions in a sentence beyond being a simple verb. Infinitives are usually structured as "to + base verb form" and can be used as subjects, objects after verbs, in verb+object+infinitive structures, after adjectives and nouns. Gerunds have the form of the verb + "-ing" and can be used as nouns, objects, or complements. They can appear after verbs, prepositions, and "to + -ing" structures. The document provides examples of different uses of gerunds and infinitives in sentences.
04 - Spanish Negation from Livemocha.comianhansen81
The document provides instructions for students on how to participate in a group tutoring session in Spanish. It explains how to set up audio devices and join the tutoring session voice conference. It also provides tips for forming negative sentences in Spanish by placing "no" before verbs or using other negative words like "nunca" and "nadie". Sample sentences are given and students practice turning affirmative sentences into negative ones.
This document provides information on the use of infinitives and gerunds in English. It defines to-infinitives and bare infinitives, and lists verbs that are commonly followed by infinitives with or without a pronoun object. It also defines gerunds as verb forms ending in -ing that can function as nouns, objects, or adjectives. Several examples are given of verbs taking gerund or infinitive complements.
The document discusses verb tenses in English, including the simple present, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, and present perfect tenses. It provides the forms, functions, and examples of each tense. For the simple present tense, it notes the third person singular form and usage for habits, general truths, and instructions. For the present continuous tense, it explains how it describes ongoing actions and planned future events. The simple past tense is used to talk about completed past actions, while the past continuous describes ongoing past actions. The present perfect tense links the present and past and is used for unfinished periods and repeated actions between the past and present.
This document provides guidance on asking questions in English by using interrogative words like who, what, whose, when, where, why, how, how long, how many, and how often. It gives examples of questions using these interrogative words in subject and object positions. It then provides a short practice section asking the reader to identify the interrogative word being asked about in sample questions.
There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining. Defining clauses provide essential information to identify a person or thing, while non-defining clauses provide extra background information. Punctuation differs between the two, with non-defining clauses always separated by commas. Relative pronouns also differ based on whether the clause is defining or non-defining, and prepositions can be placed either before or after the relative pronoun.
The document discusses word order rules for placing adverbs in English sentences. It provides examples of different types of adverbs and their typical placement, such as adverbs of time usually coming before the main verb. Adverbs of indefinite time generally come between helping verbs and main verbs when there are two verbs. The document also notes exceptions, such as adverbs of indefinite time coming after forms of "to be" like "am", and more precise adverbs of time coming before less precise ones. Forming sentences with different adverbs is then practiced as an example.
1) Adjectives are used to describe nouns and provide additional information about their qualities, characteristics, or properties.
2) Adjectives have a standard form and do not change based on the noun's gender or number. They can be placed before or after nouns and certain linking verbs.
3) Comparisons of adjectives involve forms like "more/less" to show differences or "as...as" to show similarities, as well as irregular comparatives like "better/best" and superlatives involving "the."
1) Determiners specify nouns and include articles, demonstratives, possessives, quantifiers, and numbers.
2) The definite article "the" is used to refer to something specific or unique. The indefinite article "a"/"an" is used for non-specific references.
3) Demonstratives like "this" and "that" indicate whether something is near or far from the speaker.
4) Possessives like "my" and "your" show who or what something belongs to. Quantifiers indicate amounts.
The passive voice is formed using "be" and the past participle of the main verb. The passive is used when the subject performing the action is unknown or unimportant. In the passive, the object of the active sentence becomes the subject, and the subject becomes a prepositional phrase introduced with "by". Some verbs have an irregular past participle that is used in the passive, and the tense and aspect of the main verb may change in the passive form.
The document discusses different types of nouns including countable and uncountable nouns, compound nouns, plural nouns, and capitalization rules for nouns. It provides examples and explanations of noun gender, nationalities, and irregular plural forms.
The document discusses active and passive sentences. It provides examples of sentences written in the active and passive voice in both present and past tense. It explains how to change an active sentence to the passive voice by using different verb tenses like present simple, past simple, present perfect, and more. Exercises are included to practice changing sentences between the active and passive voice.
The document discusses active and passive sentences. It provides examples of sentences written in the active and passive voice in both present and past tense. It explains how to change an active sentence to the passive voice by using different verb tenses like present simple, past simple, present perfect, and more. Exercises are included to practice identifying and writing sentences in the active and passive voice.
The Scientific Revolution saw a shift from medieval views of truth based on religious texts to questioning how the universe worked through observation and experimentation. Key figures included Copernicus who developed the heliocentric theory that the Earth and planets revolve around the sun, Kepler who calculated planetary orbits, and Galileo who used the telescope to confirm the heliocentric view. Newton later established the law of universal gravitation and laws of motion.
The document discusses different types of question tags in English, including:
1) Question tags used with falling intonation to expect agreement, and rising intonation to check information.
2) Examples of question tags filled in with "aren't you", "haven't you", etc.
3) Echo questions used to show interest, with a rising intonation and filling in the blank with "are you", "don't you", etc.
4) The use of "so" and "neither" to agree or disagree with positive and negative statements.
The document provides information and exercises about prepositions in English. It explains that prepositions are short words like "on", "in", and "to" that usually come before nouns or gerund verbs. Even advanced English learners find prepositions difficult since one preposition in their native language may have several translations depending on the situation. The document then gives rules for some commonly used prepositions of time and place and provides exercises for learners to practice using prepositions correctly in contexts like describing pictures, times, transportation, and people's biographies.
This document discusses verb tense agreement and provides guidelines and examples. It notes that verb tenses should remain consistent within the same time frame and not shift between past, present, and future. An example demonstrates incorrectly mixing past and present tense verbs, while the corrections show maintaining the same tense. Strategies for editing include circling verbs, making a timeline of tenses, and changing verbs if needed to ensure agreement.
The document discusses verb tenses in English, including the simple present, present continuous, simple past, past continuous, and present perfect tenses. It provides the forms, functions, and examples of each tense. Key points include how the third person singular takes -s in the simple present, how the present continuous describes ongoing actions, how the simple past describes completed past actions, how the past continuous describes past ongoing actions, and how the present perfect links the present and past.
This document lists the infinitive, simple past, and past participle forms of many English verbs. It provides these verb conjugations for over 150 verbs in a table with 3 columns for the infinitive, simple past, and past participle forms respectively.
This document discusses verb tense, specifically the three main tenses: past, present, and future. It provides examples of how to conjugate regular verbs like "swim" into their different tenses and highlights the importance of consistency within a sentence. Common mistakes are identified, such as using the wrong past tense form of a verb. The document advises that the tense should remain consistent throughout a sentence once established.
This document discusses direct and reported speech. Direct speech repeats the exact words spoken using quotation marks, while reported speech reports the general idea without quotations by making necessary tense and pronoun changes. It provides examples of direct and reported speech and explains how to report statements, questions, orders, requests, suggestions, intentions and promises. Time, place and pronoun references need to be changed in reported speech.
The document provides information on forming and using passive sentences in English. It discusses how passive sentences are formed by moving the subject to the end of the sentence and using a form of "be" plus the past participle of the main verb. It outlines constraints on forming passive sentences and different types of passive constructions, including get passives. Problems that English language learners face with passive sentences are also addressed.
This document provides an overview of English verb conjugations in the simple present, past, and future tenses. It outlines the basic structures for affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in each tense. For the simple present, regular verbs follow the pattern of subject + verb + object/particle while irregular verbs have unique conjugations. The simple past uses "ed" or "d" for regular verbs and irregular patterns for others. The simple future can use "will" or "be going to" and follows set structures like subject + will/won't + verb + object/particle.
This document provides information on gerunds and infinitives in English. It discusses how gerunds are used like nouns and after prepositions. Infinitives are used to express purpose or reason. Certain verbs are followed by gerunds or infinitives with or without changes in meaning. The differences between "remember/forget/regret" and "see/hear/feel" depending on gerund or infinitive are also explained. The uses of "used to", "would", "be used to" and "get used to" are covered.
The document discusses various types of verb patterns in English. It explains that verbs can be classified as finite or non-finite. Finite verbs show tense and voice, and depend on factors like the subject and helping verbs. Non-finite verbs do not show tense and can function as nouns, verbs, adjectives or prepositions. Specifically, it covers infinitives, gerunds, participles, and the differences between finite and non-finite verbs.
This document discusses the uses of different verb tenses in English including:
- Simple Present, Past, and Future Tenses
- Present, Past, and Future Continuous Tenses
- Present Perfect, Past Perfect, and Future Perfect Tenses
- Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous Tenses
- Future Perfect Continuous Tense
It provides examples and explanations of when each tense is used to describe actions, situations, or states in the present, past and future.
Spoken English Beginner Session 7 - Present Perfect Tense vs Past Tense vs Pa...Ash (Ashvini) Vyas
This document discusses the differences between the past simple tense, past continuous tense, and present perfect tense in English. It provides examples and explanations of when to use each tense. The past simple tense is used to talk about completed actions in the past, while the past continuous tense describes actions that were ongoing or in progress at a specific time in the past. The present perfect tense refers to actions that started in the past and continue to the present or actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past. Adverbs can help identify whether to use the past simple or present perfect tense. The document also notes certain verbs that are only used with the past simple tense.
The document provides examples of verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives in English. It discusses special expressions that take gerunds, such as "have fun doing" or "spend time doing." It also covers verbs that can be followed by infinitives, like "hope to do" or "promise to do." Finally, it examines verbs that can take either a gerund or infinitive, but sometimes with a difference in meaning, such as "remember doing" versus "remember to do." The document aims to clarify rules and patterns around using gerunds and infinitives after verbs in English.
The document provides information on using gerunds and infinitives in English. It lists rules for when to use gerunds (verb+ing) and infinitives (to+verb) in sentences. Specifically, gerunds are used after prepositions, as subjects/objects, and after certain verbs. Infinitives are used after most adjectives, to indicate purpose, and after certain verbs. The bare infinitive (without "to") is used after modal verbs and "why" expressions. The document also provides extensive lists of verbs that are followed by gerunds, infinitives, or can be used with both.
The document discusses different types of multi-word verbs in English - prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs, and phrasal-prepositional verbs. Prepositional verbs consist of a main verb and a preposition, like "look at". Phrasal verbs consist of a main verb and a particle, like "break down". Phrasal-prepositional verbs consist of a main verb, a particle, and a preposition, like "run out of". Many multi-word verbs are idiomatic and should not be taken literally. Examples of different types of multi-word verbs are provided.
This document provides information about using imperative verbs (orders, suggestions, invitations) in Spanish. It discusses three main cases: (1) using the basic verb form without "to" for commands/orders, (2) asking for and giving directions, and (3) a sample dialogue for asking and giving directions. It also includes word lists for directions terms.
This document provides examples and explanations of the present simple passive voice in English grammar. It begins by showing the basic structure of a passive clause, which includes the subject, auxiliary verb "be", main verb in the past participle form, and optional agent introduced by "by". Examples are given of affirmative and interrogative forms in the present simple passive. It explains that the present simple passive is used to describe something that is regularly or routinely done, as expected. Active and passive voice examples are given to illustrate this.
The document discusses verbs and verbals in English. It explains that verbs indicate actions or states of being while verbals like gerunds, infinitives, and participles function as other parts of speech. It then covers the auxiliary verbs be, do, have, and modal verbs. It provides examples of how these verbs are used and concludes with a discussion of subject-verb agreement including situations that can be singular or plural.
This document provides information on different types of pronouns in English, including:
- Present and past participles and their uses in progressive tenses, gerunds, adjectives, and together with other words.
- Reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, himself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves and how they refer back to the subject of the sentence or clause.
- Personal pronouns like I, you, he, she, it, we, they and the distinction between subject and object pronouns.
- Indefinite pronouns like somebody, someone, something, anybody, anyone, anything, nobody, no one, nothing, everybody, everyone, everything
This document provides information on different types of pronouns in English, including:
- Present and past participles and their uses in progressive tenses, gerunds, adjectives, and together with other words.
- Reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, himself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves and how they refer back to the subject of the sentence.
- Personal pronouns like I, you, he, she, it, we, they and the distinction between subject and object pronouns.
- Indefinite pronouns like somebody, someone, something, anybody, anyone, anything, nobody, no one, nothing, everybody, everyone, everything and their
The document provides information on the simple past and past continuous tenses in English:
1. The simple past is used to indicate a specific time when an action began or finished, while the past continuous emphasizes that an action was ongoing at a specific time in the past.
2. Examples are given to illustrate the difference between the simple past ("I ate dinner") and past continuous ("I was eating dinner").
3. Guidance is provided on when to use each tense depending on whether actions happened consecutively or simultaneously in the past.
The document provides information about the simple past tense, present continuous tense, and past continuous tense in English.
It explains that the simple past tense uses the past form or auxiliary "did" plus the base form of the verb. Regular verbs end in "-ed" and irregular verbs have variable past forms. The present continuous tense uses "be" plus the base form plus "-ing" to talk about present or future actions. The past continuous tense uses the past form of "be" plus the present participle to talk about an action that was happening at a specific time in the past.
This document provides information about how to form and use the Simple Past Tense in English. It discusses:
1. The structure of positive, negative, and question sentences in the Simple Past Tense, which uses the past form of irregular verbs and the auxiliary "did" + base form of regular verbs.
2. Examples of common irregular and regular verb forms in the Simple Past Tense.
3. Exceptions for the verb "to be", which is conjugated rather than using an auxiliary.
This document contains the table of contents and sections of a Spanish grammar guide created by Ana Cartwright for her Spanish 2 class. The guide covers topics such as nationalities, stem changing verbs, object pronouns, preterite tense, superlatives, and more. Each section provides explanations, examples, and conjugations of grammar points.
Phrasal verbs are two-word verb phrases in English consisting of a verb and a particle such as an adverb or preposition. They can have a literal meaning but often have an idiomatic meaning that is different from the literal sense. There are four main types of phrasal verbs based on their structure. Phrasal verbs can be transitive, taking a direct object, or intransitive. With transitive phrasal verbs, the particle and object can be separated except when the object is a pronoun. Phrasal verbs exercises involve identifying their structure and completing sentences with the appropriate phrasal verb form.
The document discusses the differences between "used to", "be used to", and "get used to". "Used to" refers to habitual actions in the past that are no longer happening. "Be used to" means to be accustomed to something familiar. "Get used to" means to become accustomed to something initially unfamiliar. Both "be used to" and "get used to" are followed by a noun or gerund (verb + ing).
Use the past perfect progressive to talk about an action that was in progress before a specific time in the past. The progressive emphasizes the continuing activity, not the end result.
Conditional sentences, notes and exercisesliclauraflores
Conditional sentences are used to express that an action in the main clause can only take place if a certain condition in the if-clause is fulfilled. There are three types of conditional sentences: Type I refer to the future, Type II refer to hypothetical present situations, and Type III refer to impossible past situations. The document provides examples and explanations of how to form each type of conditional sentence in English.
Exercise on present perfect and past perfectliclauraflores
The document provides exercises to practice using the present perfect, past perfect, and negative forms of these tenses. It includes filling in verbs in sentences, writing questions, and noting exceptions to spelling rules when adding "-ed" to verbs. The exercises cover a range of grammar topics including using auxiliary verbs like "have" and "has", forming questions, and transforming sentences to the negative form.
The document contains exercises on verb tenses including present progressive, past progressive, simple present, and simple past tenses. It provides examples of forming affirmative and negative sentences as well as questions using verbs in these tenses. There are also exercises filling in verbs in the correct tense based on time frames described.
The document contains exercises on verb tenses including present progressive, past progressive, simple present, and simple past tenses. It provides examples of forming affirmative and negative sentences as well as questions using these verb tenses and asks the reader to complete sentences by selecting the correct verb form. There are also exercises on the present simple tense of the verb "to be" including forming affirmative, interrogative, and negative sentences. Finally, there are exercises to fill in blanks with the verbs "was", "were", or forms of "to be" in the present tense.
The document discusses the use of the prepositions "in", "on", and "at" to indicate time and place in English. It provides examples of how each preposition is used for years, months, days, dates, addresses, and other locations. It also discusses using "at" for general vicinity and "in" for enclosed areas or buildings. Sample conversations demonstrate asking for and providing more specific location details over multiple questions using these prepositions.
This document lists common English verbs and their infinitive, simple past, and past participle forms. It includes over 100 verbs organized into sections with their conjugations. The verbs range from basic ones like "buy" and "mean" to less common ones like "fling" and "plead".
The document provides examples of sentences in active voice and examples of rewriting those sentences in the passive voice. It also provides additional sentences and asks to rewrite them in the present and past passive tense. The document is teaching how to identify active and passive voice and how to rewrite sentences from active to passive voice.
The document provides examples of sentences in active voice and examples of rewriting those sentences in the passive voice. It also provides additional sentences and asks to rewrite them in the present and past passive tense. The document is teaching how to identify active and passive voice and how to rewrite sentences from active to passive voice.
The document provides examples of sentences in active voice and examples of rewriting those sentences in the passive voice. It also provides additional sentences and asks to rewrite them in the present and past passive tense. The document is teaching how to identify active and passive voice and how to rewrite sentences from active to passive voice.
This document provides examples and explanations of using countable and uncountable nouns correctly with articles (a, an, some, any) and quantifiers (how much, how many) in English. It lists common nouns classified as countable or uncountable. It then gives examples applying the rules around using articles with singular or plural countable nouns, positive sentences with countable/uncountable nouns, any in negative sentences and questions. Finally, it provides examples choosing between how much and how many depending on whether the noun in the question is countable or uncountable.
Countable and uncountable nouns can be distinguished based on whether they can be counted or not. Countable nouns refer to things that can be counted, like pens, dogs, bottles. They can be singular or plural. Uncountable nouns refer to substances or abstract concepts that cannot be counted, like milk, furniture, happiness. Uncountable nouns are usually singular. Both countable and uncountable nouns can be used with quantifiers like some, any, a little, much. Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable depending on meaning. A partitive structure using a measure word is used to quantify uncountable nouns.
Countable and uncountable nouns can be distinguished based on whether they can be counted or not. Countable nouns refer to things that can be counted, like pens, dogs, bottles. They can be singular or plural. Uncountable nouns refer to substances or abstract concepts that cannot be counted, like milk, music, happiness. They are usually treated as singular. Both types of nouns have different rules for articles and quantifiers used with them. To quantify an uncountable noun, a partitive structure using a measure word is used, like "two cups of coffee" or "a slice of bread".
This document provides examples of using the verb "to be" in the present simple tense in English. It gives the positive forms and contractions of the verb to be with different subjects like I, he, she, it, we, you, they. It then provides an exercise with 10 sentences where the user must choose the correct form of the verb to be, either am, is or are. Finally, it gives another practice activity to form positive sentences by dragging words into the correct order using the verb to be.
The Elizabethan era in England saw a flourishing of the arts, especially theater. William Shakespeare wrote 38 plays that were typically performed in London's Globe Theater, an open-air playhouse built around 1599 that hosted performances of Shakespeare's plays. Life in London during this period centered around the capital and largest city, with various occupations like boatmen, water carriers, and barbers reflecting the character of daily life in mid-1500s London.
The document discusses adverbs and provides information on their form and function. It begins by explaining that adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. It then discusses how most adverbs are formed by adding "-ly" to adjectives. Some exceptions are noted. The document also covers different kinds of adverbs including adverbs of manner, place, time, certainty, degree, and relative adverbs. Comparative and superlative forms of adverbs are explained. In summary, the document provides a comprehensive overview of adverb usage and structure in the English language.
The document provides an overview of the Holocaust and the Nazi persecution of Jews that ultimately led to the systematic murder of approximately 6 million European Jews. It describes how the Nazis viewed Jews and other groups as racially inferior. It outlines the increasing restrictions and violence against Jews in the 1930s, including the Nuremberg Laws and Kristallnacht pogrom. It details the mass killings that began in 1941 when the Nazis implemented the "Final Solution" through concentration camps and extermination camps like Auschwitz, where millions of Jews were murdered in gas chambers or died of starvation, disease, and overwork.
The document summarizes key events of the Paris Peace Conference following World War I. The Big Four leaders - Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Orlando - debated the peace terms. Wilson proposed his Fourteen Points plan calling for self-determination and a League of Nations. The resulting Treaty of Versailles assigned blame and reparations to Germany, redrew borders in Europe and mandated new countries in the Middle East, but left bitterness on both sides.
World War I was a global military conflict from 1914-1918 involving many of the world's great powers. More than 70 million soldiers fought and over 15 million died, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in history. World War II began in 1939 as a result of worldwide tensions and involved most nations around the globe in two opposing alliances. It resulted in over 70 million casualties and the rise of two superpowers. The document provides a detailed overview of the key events and battles of both world wars.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. He is commonly known as "Mahatma Gandhi" (Great Soul) and "Bapu" (Father). Gandhi practiced and advocated non-violence and truth, even in the most extreme situations. As a British-educated lawyer, Gandhi first employed his ideas of peaceful civil disobedience in the Indian community's struggle for civil rights in South Africa.
1. ING' FORM
INTRODUCTION
The '-ing' form of the verb may be a present participle or a gerund.
The form is identical, the difference is in the function, or the job the word does in
the sentence.
The present participle:
This is most commonly used:
• as part of the continuous form of a verb,
he is painting; she has been waiting
• after verbs of movement/position in the pattern:
verb + present participle,
She sat looking at the sea
• after verbs of perception in the pattern:
verb + object + present participle,
We saw him swimming
• as an adjective, e.g. amazing, worrying, exciting, boring
The gerund:
This always has the same function as a noun (although it looks like a verb), so it
can be used:
• as the subject of the sentence:
Eating people is wrong.
• after prepositions:
Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
She is good at painting
• after certain verbs,
e.g. like, hate, admit, imagine
• in compound nouns,
e.g. a driving lesson, a swimming pool, bird-watching, train-spotting
ING' FORM
THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE
The present participle of most verbs has the form base+ing and is used in the
following ways:
a. as part of the continuous form of a verb
(See continuous tenses in VERB TENSES)
Example:
2. I am working,
he was singing,
they have been walking.
b. after verbs of movement/position in the pattern: verb + present
participle
Example:
• She went shopping
• He lay looking up at the clouds
• She came running towards me
This construction is particularly useful with the verb 'to go', as in these common
expressions :
to go shopping to go walking
to go ski-ing to go swimming
to go fishing to go running
to go surfing to go dancing
c. after verbs of perception in the pattern:
verb + object + present participle
Example:
I heard someone singing.
He saw his friend walking along the road.
I can smell something burning!
NOTE: There is a difference in meaning when such a sentence contains a zero-
infinitive rather than a participle. The infinitive refers to a complete action, but the
participle refers to anincomplete action, or part of an action.
Compare:
• I heard Joanna singing (= she had started before I heard her, and
probably went on afterwards)
• I heard Joanna sing (= I heard her complete performance)
d. as an adjective
Examples:
amazing, worrying, exciting, boring.
• It was an amazing film.
• It's a bit worrying when the police stop you
• Dark billowing clouds often precede a storm.
• Racing cars can go as fast as 400kph.
• He was trapped inside the burning house.
• Many of his paintings depict the setting sun.
3. e. with the verbs spend and waste, in the pattern:
verb + time/money expression + present participle
Example:
• My boss spends two hours a day travelling to work.
• Don't waste time playing computer games!
• They've spent the whole day shopping.
f. with the verbs catch and find, in the pattern:
verb + object + present participle:
With catch, the participle always refers to an action which causes annoyance or
anger:
• If I catch you stealing my apples again, there'll be trouble!
• Don't let him catch you reading his letters.
This is not the case with find, which is unemotional:
• We found some money lying on the ground.
• They found their mother sitting in the garden.
g. to replace a sentence or part of a sentence:
When two actions occur at the same time, and are done by the same person or
thing, we can use a present participle to describe one of them:
• They went out into the snow. They laughed as they went. They
went laughing out into the snow.
• He whistled to himself. He walked down the road. Whistling to
himself, he walked down the road.
When one action follows very quickly after another done by the same person or
thing, we can express the first action with a present participle:
• He put on his coat and left the house. Putting on his coat, he
left the house.
• She dropped the gun and put her hands in the air. Dropping the
gun, she put her hands in the air.
The present participle can be used instead of a phrase startingas, since,
because, and it explains the cause or reason for an action:
• Feeling hungry, he went into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
(= because he felt hungry...)
• Being poor, he didn't spend much on clothes.
• Knowing that his mother was coming, he cleaned the flat.
'- ING' FORM
GERUND OR INFINITIVE?
4. The two groups of verbs below can be followed either by the gerund or by the
infinitive. Usually this has no effect on the meaning, but with some verbs there is a
clear difference in meaning. Verbs marked * can also be followed by a that-clause.
Example: to prefer
I prefer to live in an apartment.
I prefer living in an apartment.
A. Verbs where there is little or no difference in meaning:
allow deserve neglect
attempt fear* omit
begin hate* permit
bother intend* prefer*
cease like recommend*
continue love start
Notes:
1. Allow is used in these two patterns:
a. Allow + object + to-infinitive:
Her parents allowed her to go to the party.
b. Allow + gerund:
Her parents don't allow smoking in the house.
2. Deserve + gerund is not very common, but is mainly used with passive
constructions or where there is a passive meaning:
a. Your proposals deserve being considered in detail.
b. These ideas deserve discussing. (= to be discussed).
3. The verbs hate, love, like, prefer are usually followed by a gerund when the
meaning is general, and by a to-infinitive when they refer to a particular time or
situation. You must always use the to-infinitive with the expressions 'would love to',
'would hate to', etc.
Compare:
• I hate to tell you, but Uncle Jim is coming this weekend.
• I hate looking after elderly relatives!
• I love dancing.
• I would love to dance with you.
ING' FORM
GERUND OR INFINITIVE?
B. Verbs where there is a clear difference in meaning:
Verbs marked with an asterisk* can also be followed by a that-clause.
come mean* stop
forget* regret* try
go on remember*
5. NOTES:
Come:
Come + gerund is like other verbs of movement followed by the
gerund, and means that the subject is doing something as they
move:
• She came running across the field.
Come + to-infinitive means that something happens or
develops, perhaps outside the subject's control:
• At first I thought he was crazy, but I've come to
appreciate his sense of humour.
• How did you come to be outside the wrong house?
• This word has come to mean something quite different.
Forget, regret and remember:
When these verbs are followed by a gerund, the gerund refers to
an action that happened earlier:
• I remember locking the door (= I remember now, I locked
the door earlier)
• He regretted speaking so rudely. (= he regretted at some
time in the past, he had spoken rudely at some earlier time
in the past.)
Forget is frequently used with 'never' in the simple future form:
• I'll never forget meeting the Queen.
When these verbs are followed by a to-infinitive,the infinitive
refers to an action happening at the same time, or later:
• I remembered to lock the door (= I thought about it, then
I did it.)
• Don't forget to buy some eggs! (= Please think about it
and then do it.)
• We regret to announce the late arrival of the 12.45 from
Paddington. (= We feel sorry before we tell you this bad
news.)
Go on:
Go on + gerund means to continue with an action:
• He went on speaking for two hours.
• I can't go on working like this - I'm exhausted.
Go on + to-infinitive means to do the next action, which is often
the next stage in a process:
• After introducing her proposal, she went on to explain the
6. benefits for the company.
• John Smith worked in local government for five years, then
went on to become a Member of Parliament.
Mean:
Mean + gerund expresses what the result of an action will be, or
what will be necessary:
• If you take that job in London it will meantravelling for
two hours every day.
• We could take the ferry to France, but that will
mean spending a night in a hotel.
Mean + to-infinitive expresses an intention or a plan:
• Did you mean to dial this number?
• I mean to finish this job by the end of the week!
• Sorry - I didn't mean to hurt you.
Stop:
Stop + gerund means to finish an action in progress:
• I stopped working for them because the wages were so
low.
Stop tickling me!
Stop + to-infinitive means to interrupt an activity in order to do
something else, so the infinitive is used to express a purpose:
• I stopped to have lunch. (= I was working, or travelling,
and I interrupted what I was doing in order to eat.)
• It's difficult to concentrate on what you are doing if you
have to stop to answer the phone every five minutes.
Try:
Try + gerund means to experiment with an action that might be
a solution to your problem.
• If you have problems sleeping, you could trydoing some
yoga before you go to bed, or you could try drinking some
warm milk.
• 'I can't get in touch with Carl.' 'Have you triede-
mailing him?'
Try + to-infinitive means to make an effort to do something. It
may be something very difficult or even impossible:
• The surgeons tried to save his life but he died on the
operating table.
• We'll try to phone at 6 o'clock, but it might be hard to find
a public telephone.
7. • Elephants and mice have to try to live together in
harmony.
ING' FORM
THE GERUND
This looks exactly the same as a present participle, and for this reason it is now
common to call both forms 'the -ing form'.However it is useful to understand the
difference between the two. The gerund always has the same function as a noun
(although it looks like a verb), so it can be used:
a. as the subject of the sentence:
• Eating people is wrong.
• Hunting elephants is dangerous.
• Flying makes me nervous.
b. as the complement of the verb 'to be':
• One of his duties is attending meetings.
• The hardest thing about learning English is understanding the gerund.
• One of life's pleasures is having breakfast in bed.
c. after prepositions. The gerund must be used when a verb comes after a
preposition:
• Can you sneeze without opening your mouth?
• She is good at painting.
• They're keen on windsurfing.
• She avoided him by walking on the opposite side of the road.
• We arrived in Madrid after driving all night.
• My father decided against postponing his trip to Hungary.
This is also true of certain expressions ending in a preposition, e.g. in spite of,
there's no point in..:
• There's no point in waiting.
• In spite of missing the train, we arrived on time.
d. after a number of 'phrasal verbs' which are composed of a verb +
preposition/adverb
Example:
to look forward to, to give up, to be for/against, to take to, to put off, to keep on:
• I look forward to hearing from you soon. (at the end of a letter)
• When are you going to give up smoking?
• She always puts off going to the dentist.
• He kept on asking for money.
NOTE: There are some phrasal verbs and other expressions that include the
word 'to' as a preposition, not as part of a to-infinitive: - to look forward to, to
8. take to, to be accustomed to, to be used to. It is important to recognise that 'to' is
a preposition in these cases, as it must be followed by a gerund:
• We are looking forward to seeing you.
• I am used to waiting for buses.
• She didn't really take to studying English.
It is possible to check whether 'to’ is a preposition or part of a to-infinitive: if you
can put a noun or the pronoun 'it' after it, then it is a preposition and must be
followed by a gerund:
• I am accustomed to it (the cold).
• I am accustomed to being cold.
e. in compound nouns
Example:
• a driving lesson, a swimming pool, bird-watching, train-spotting
It is clear that the meaning is that of a noun, not of a continuous verb.
Example:
• the pool is not swimming, it is a pool for swimming in.
f. after the expressions:
can't help, can't stand, it's no use/good, and the adjective worth:
• The elephant couldn't help falling in love with the mouse.
• I can't stand being stuck in traffic jams.
• It's no use/good trying to escape.
• It might be worth phoning the station to check the time of the train.
ING' FORM
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND
The gerund is used after certain verbs.
Example:
miss: I miss living in England.
The most important of these verbs are shown below.
Those marked * can also be followed by a that-clause
Example:
VERB GERUND
She admitted... breaking the window
THAT-CLAUSE
9. She admitted... that she had broken the window.
acknowledge,* keep,
admit,* loathe,
anticipate,* appreciate,* mean,(=have as result)*
avoid, mention,*
celebrate, mind,
consider, contemplate, miss,
defer, pardon,
delay, postpone,
deny,* prevent,
detest, propose,*
dislike, recall,*
dread, recollect,*
enjoy, remember,
entail, report,*
escape, resent,
excuse, resist,
fancy (=imagine)*, risk,
finish, save (=prevent the wasted
forgive, effort)
imagine,* stop,
involve, suggest,*
understand,*
Notes:
Appreciate is followed by a possessive adjective and the gerund when the gerund
does not refer to the subject. Compare :
I appreciate having some time off work. (I'm having the time...)
I appreciate your giving me some time off work. (You're giving me the time...)
Excuse, forgive, pardon can be followed by an object and the gerund or for +
object and the gerund (both common in spoken English), or a possessive
adjective + gerund (more formal and less likely to be said):
Excuse me interrupting.
Excuse me for interrupting.
Excuse my interrupting.
Suggest can be used in a number of ways, but BE CAREFUL. It is important not to
confuse these patterns:
suggest/suggested (+ possessive adjective) + gerund:
He suggests going to Glastonbury
He suggested going to Glastonbury
He suggested/suggests my going to Glastonbury
suggest/suggested + that-clause (where both thatand should may be omitted):
He suggests that I should go to Glastonbury
He suggested that I should go to Glastonbury
He suggested/suggests I should go to Glastonbury
He suggested/suggests I go to Glastonbury
He suggested I went to Glastonbury.
suggest/suggested + question word + infinitive:
He suggested where to go.
10. Propose is followed by the gerund when it means 'suggest':
John proposed going to the debate
but by the infinitive when it means 'intend':
The Government proposes bringing in new laws..
Stop can be followed by a gerund or infinitive, but there is a change of meaning -
see GERUND / INFINITIVE? section.
Dread is followed by the infinitive when used with 'think', in the expression 'I
dread to think':
I dread to think what she'll do next.
Prevent is followed
EITHER by a possessive adjective + gerund:
You can't prevent my leaving.
OR by an object + from + gerund:
You can't prevent me from leaving.
Examples:
• Normally, a mouse wouldn't contemplate marrying an elephant.
• Most mice dread meeting elephants.
• We can't risk getting wet - we haven't got any dry clothes.
• If you take that job it will mean getting home late every night.
• I can't imagine living in that big house.
• If you buy some petrol now, it will save you stopping on the way to
London.
• She couldn't resist eating the plum she found in the fridge.
• They decided to postpone painting the house until the weather improved.