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Tips on Gerunds and Infinitives
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.
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Tips on Gerunds and Infinitives
- 1. 16 TIPS onUSING GERUNDS & INFINITIVES Grammar Rules and Tips for using Gerunds & Infinitives
- 2. What are Gerunds& Infinitives? Gerunds and Infinitives are types of Non-Finite verbs. Non-Finite Verb: Verbs that have no separate subject and do not show tense (i.e.) these verbs are not conjugated in relation to a subject. Example: I like to give him money today. (here ‘like’ has ‘I’ as its subject so it is a Finite verb but ‘to give’ has no subject and limitation of number so it is a Non-Finite verb) Types and Functions of Non-Finite Verb: 1. Infinitives. She comes here to swim. (functions as a noun, adjective or adverb) 2. Gerunds . She does not like swimming. (functions as a noun) 3. Participle. She participates in swimming events. (functions as an adjective)
- 3. Tips on usingGerund
- 4. Subject: Gerunds canappear at the beginning of a sentence when used as a subject. Smoking is injurious to health. Object: Gerunds can act as an object following the verb. Dinesh quit smoking a year ago. Tip #1: Subject-Object Gerund vs Infinitive: Some verbs can be followed by both a gerund or an infinitive (being used as a noun) without causing a change in meaning. Infinitive: I like to swim. (general/ habit) Gerund: I like swimming. (general/ habit) Infinitive: I like to swim today. (note the meaning has changed from previous two examples) Gerund vs Participle: Gerunds always functions as nouns, whereas participles function as adjectives. Participle: Barking dogs seldom bite. (‘barking’ functioning as adjective to ‘dog’) Gerund: We can hear the barking. (‘barking’, functioning as a noun, is the sound heard by us) Tip #2: Gerund vs Infinitive, Participle
- 5. To + Gerund:used after certain verbs and phrases like ‘be used to, with a view to, accustomed to, owing to, given to, look forward to, prone to, in addition to,’ etc. He is used to swimming early in the morning. She is accustomed to speaking in English in school. Naveen comes here with a view to studying. Tip #3: To + Gerund: Tip #4: Preposition + Gerund Preposition + Gerund: is used after certain verbs and phrases that are followed by appropriate prepositions (in, on, from, of) instead of ‘to’. She restrains from making any statement. He is confident of winning. He rebuked you for coming late. (showing cause for the action) The book is for reading. (showing purpose for which the subject is used)
- 6. Direct Gerund: certainverbs are followed directly by gerunds (e.g.) avoid, love, like, dislike, prefer, consider, finish, miss, imagine, regret etc. She enjoys to ride riding on the hills. Paul avoids using chemicals on the vegetables he grows. Give up, Put off, Set about: Phrasal verbs like these ones are followed by Direct Gerund. The coach called off practicing for the day. Tom looked into finding a new job. Tip #5: Direct Gerund Possessive Noun/ pronoun + gerund: The noun or pronoun before a gerund should be in possessive case. Shweta insisted on Rahul’s coming with her. I did not like his singing. Tip #6: Possessive Noun/ Pronoun + Gerund
- 7. Tips on usingInfinitive
- 8. Subject: Infinitive canappear at the beginning of a sentence when used as a subject. To visit the Taj Mahal is my life-long dream. Object: Infinitive can act as an object following the verb. Nilesh always forgets to eat. How to + Infinitive: When used with verbs of manner/method like teach, show, explain, learn, know, discover, wonder etc, the infinitive is used as ‘how to’. He knows how to colour with crayons. Tip #1: Subject-Object, How + Infinitive As a Noun: To dance was her passion. (The infinitive ‘to dance’ is the subject of the verb ‘was’.) As an Adjective: Give him an ornament to polish. (The infinitive ‘to polish’ functions as an adjective and modifies ornament.) As an Adverb: He will complete the mission to set an example. (The infinitive ‘to set ’ modifies the verb will complete. This means it is functioning as an adverb.) Tip #2: Noun, Adverb, Adjective
- 9. Too: when usedwith ‘too’, the infinitive denotes negative meaning. She is too tired to help me. (meaning she can’t help me) Very: when used with ‘very’, the infinitive expresses affirmative meaning. We are very happy to see you. Enough: when used with ‘enough’, the infinitive expresses affirmative meaning I've had enough food to eat. Tip #3: Too, Very Enough Tip #4: Need, Dare Need, Dare: When these two words are used as auxiliaries in negative and interrogative sentences, Direct infinitive, that’s infinitive without ‘to’, is used after them. He need not work hard. He needs to work hard. Need he work there now? Do you need to work there now?
- 10. Bid, Know, Make,Help, feel, Hear, watch See: when these words are used in Active Voice, they are followed by Direct Infinitive. I made the student write an essay. (active voice-direct infinitive, so no ‘to’ used before ‘write’) The student was made to write an essay. (passive voice- infinitive, ‘to’ is used before ‘write’) Let: is followed by Direct Infinitive both in active and passive voice. Her parents let her go to cinema. (passive) Let's go out for a walk tonight. (active) Tip #5: Let, Bid Know, Hear, Help, Watch Had better, Had rather, Would better, Would rather, As soon, Sooner than: these phrases are followed by Direct Infinitive. We had better to take some warm clothing. Why, Why not: is followed by the Direct Infinitive when making suggestions. Why not buy a new bed? Why to wait until tomorrow? But, Than, Except, And, As, For: Direct Infinitive is used with these words. He did nothing but to sleep. Tip #6: Had better, As, Why Not, But, Except
- 11. Perfect Infinitive isused if the action expressed by the Infinitive precedes the action of the Finite verb OR in Third conditional sentences. He admitted to have uttered those words. (‘uttered’ happened before he ‘admitted’) She seems to have quit her job. She was sorry to have missed the show. He reported to have lost the file. Before I turn 40, I want to have written a book. (third conditional) Tip #7: Perfect Infinitive Appear, Seem, Believe, Consider, Think, Report, Happen, Arrange, Pretend, Hope, Say: Continuous Infinitive is used with these verbs when needed. I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened. You'd better be working on your report when I get there. (‘to’ removed as followed by ‘would rather’) You must be joking! (‘to’ removed as followed by modal verb ‘must) Tip #8: Continuous Infinitive
- 12. Will, Would, Can,Could, Must, May, Might: all these modal verbs are followed by Direct infinitive, without ‘to’. We should be hurrying. (with continuous infinitive form) Someone must have broken the window and climbed in. (with perfect infinitive form) They might have been talking before you came in. (with perfect continuous infinitive form) Alice could be given a prize for her artwork. (with passive infinitive form) Tip #9: Should, Could May, Might, Must With, By, As, In: all these and other prepositions are used with the infinitive when the infinitive qualifies the noun. She gave me a pen to write with. They offered me a bed to sleep in. Tip #10: With, By, As, In
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- 14. He is addictedto watch TV continuously. Please give me a pen to write. She is reported to work in Chandigarh nowadays. You should avoid to drive at night. I have no house to live. Spot the Error
- 15. He is addictedto watch TV continuously. He is addicted to watching TV continuously. Please give me a pen to write. Please give me a pen to write with. She is reported to work in Chandigarh nowadays. She is reported to be working in Chandigarh nowadays. You should avoid to drive at night. You should avoid driving at night. I have no house to live. I have no house to live in. Spot the Error
- 16. He is enoughill to go out. She is prone to injure herself. I still remember to meet you last year in Mumbai. It is no use to wait for her. She confessed to cheat in the exam. Spot the Error
- 17. He is enoughill to go out. He is too ill to go out. She is prone to injure herself. She is prone to injuring herself. I still remember to meet you last year in Mumbai. I still remember to have met you last year in Mumbai. It is no use to wait for her. It is no use waiting for her. She confessed to cheat in the exam. She confessed to have cheated in the exam. Spot the Error
- 18. Spot the Error Whynot to rest now? Shiela is bent to go to Hyderabad next week. My mother taught me how cook food. The machine is for to measure weight. I will have him to finish the food completely.
- 19. Why not torest now? Why not rest now? Shiela is bent to go to Hyderabad next week. Shiela is bent on going to Hyderabad next week. My mother taught me how cook food. My mother taught me how to cook food. The machine is for to measure weight. The machine is for measuring weight. I will have him to finish the food completely. I will have him finish the food completely. Spot the Error
- 20. Spot the Error Hedare not to go to the park at night. The train is expected leaving the station in five minutes. The trainer let him to take a break. He has given up to play sitar. She might to come tomorrow.
- 21. He dare notto go to the park at night. He dare not go to the park at night. The train is expected leaving the station in five minutes. The train is expected to leave the station in five minutes. The trainer let him to take a break. The trainer let him take a break. He has given up to play sitar. He has given up playing sitar. She might to come tomorrow. She might come tomorrow. Spot the Error
Editor's Notes
- #2 VO: 10 Tips on using adverbs
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- #14 VO: Each of the following sentences will contain a mistake in the usage of Adjectives. See if you can spot that mistake.
- #15 VO: Can you spot the errors in these 5 sentences? Please pause the video here to see if you can spot all 5 errors.
- #16 VO: He is addicted to watch TV continuously– this is incorrect because a gerund (with ‘ing’ form) should be used as a noun is needed here. He is addicted to something, where that something is a noun. So the correct answer is He is addicted to watching TV continuously. Please give me a pen to write is incorrect. The infinitive ‘to write’ qualifies the noun pen and should take a preposition. The correct form is – Please give me a pen to write with. She is reported to work in Chandigarh nowadays-- is incorrect because the action work has already been happening in the past and is continuing till the present. Hence, the continuous infinitive should be used. The correct answer is She is reported to be working in Chandigarh nowadays. The sentence --You should avoid to drive at night—is incorrect because after the verb ‘avoid’ a gerund should be used. This is because the sentence structure requires a noun – You should avoid <something> where that something is a noun. Hence a gerund and not an infinitive should be used. The correct answer is You should avoid driving at night. I have no house to live is incorrect because here the infinitive ‘to live’ qualifies the noun ‘house’ so it is followed by the preposition ‘in’. The correct answer is I have no house to live in.
- #17 VO: Can you spot the errors in these 5 sentences? Please pause the video here to see if you can spot all 5 errors.
- #18 VO: the sentence He is enough ill to go out– is not correct because when expressing negative meaning, ‘too’ should ne used. So the correct answer is He is too ill to go out. She is prone to injure herself--this is incorrect because following the phrase ‘prone to’, a gerund should be used. So the correct answer is She is prone to injuring herself. The sentence I still remember to meet you last year in Mumbai.– is wrong because the action of meeting him happened in the past, hence we use the perfect infinitive. So the correct answer is I still remember to have met you last year in Mumbai. It is no use to wait for her—is wrong because after the phrase ‘is no use’ a gerund should be used. So ‘to wait’ is replaced by ‘waiting’ and the correct answer is It is no use waiting for her. The sentence She confessed to cheat in the exam.– is incorrect because here the infinitive ‘to cheat’ precedes the action stated by the finite verb ‘confess’, so the infinite will be in perfect infinitive form. The correct answer is She confessed to have cheated in the exam.
- #19 VO: Can you spot the errors in these 5 sentences? Please pause the video here to see if you can spot all 5 errors.
- #20 VO: the sentence Why not to rest now?– is incorrect because direct infinitive is used following the phrase ‘why not’. So ‘to’ will be removed and the correct answer is Why not rest now? Shiela is bent to go to Hyderabad next week—is incorrect because the appropriate preposition with verb ‘bent’ in this case is ‘on’ and the following gerund would be ‘going’. So the correct answer is -- Shiela is bent on going to Hyderabad next week. The sentence My mother taught me how cook food– is incorrect because here ‘teach/taught’ is a verb implying manner or method, so we will use ‘how to ‘ with the infinitive. The correct answer is My mother taught me how to cook food. The sentence -- The machine is for to measure weight.—is wrong because here the sentence is stating the purpose of the machine, so following the preposition ‘for’ the gerund would be ‘measuring’. The correct answer is The machine is for measuring weight. The sentence I will have him to finish the food completely– is incorrect because when the phrase ‘have + object’ is used in the sense of a wish, it is followed by Direct Infinitive, hence ‘to’ would be removed. The correct answer is I will have him finish the food completely.
- #21 VO: Can you spot the errors in these 5 sentences? Please pause the video here to see if you can spot all 5 errors.
- #22 VO: the sentence He dare not to go to the park at night– is wrong because in this negative sentence the verb ’dare’ is used as an auxiliary verb, so it will be followed by direct infinitive, that is ‘to’ will be removed. So the correct answer is He dare not go to the park at night. The train is expected leaving station in five minutes– is incorrect because the verb ‘expect’ are usually followed by infinitive, so ‘leaving’ is replaced by ‘to leave’. The correct answer is The train is expected to leave station in five minutes. The trainer let him to take a break.---is incorrect because direct infinitive is used after the word ‘let’, both in active and passive voice form. The correct answer is The trainer let him take a break. He has given up to play sitar– this is incorrect because a gerund follows phrasal verbs like ‘give up’. So the correct answer is He has given up playing sitar. The sentence She might be to come tomorrow– is incorrect because direct infinitive is used after modal verbs, so ‘to’ will be removed after ‘might’. The correct answer is She might come tomorrow.