IMPERATIVE, INFINITIVE, GERUND

IMPERATIVE
SINGULAR
Sit down and open your book
out of the way

The ambulance is coming, get

PLURAL
let's go to the beach

let's have lunch now

> HOW TO USE

a) Giving orders
go out! / shut the door!

hurry up you'll be late!

b) Giving advice
drive to the end of the street and turn left
c) Suggestions
come in and sit down

have a cup of tea

d) Signs
push / pull
e) Emphasis
do come in

(door)
/

insert a coin
do have a cup of tea

/ do sit down

> NEGATIVE: don't

let's not / don't let's
don't open the window, it is cold
don't be silly!

don't smoke in your room!

don't let's go into this house, it is haunted

let's not say a

word !
> never & always are before verbs:
never do that again
/

always listen to your parents

> Passive form: get + past participle

get vaccinated as soon as possible

1. How can I lose weight, Doctor ? Don't

2. Please

candy, and get more exercise.

me a glass of water. Ok! is that all ?

3. What did you say ? I can't hear you. Please

the radio off for a minute.

4. Where's Dad ? He's taking a nap. Please

him up.

5. Shh ! The baby is sleeping.

off your shoes and don't make any noise.

6. It's a nice day. Let's

take the bus. Let's walk to the theatre.

7. Johnny isn't back home, and it's after ten o'clock.

worry. He's only a

few minutes late.

8. I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. Please
say that again

9. Here's the hotel registration form . Please

10. Maria it's almost time to leave. I'm not ready.

me in twenty

minutes.

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is
"reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
Reading helps you learn English.
Her favorite hobby is reading.
I enjoy reading.

SUBJECT OF SENTENCE

COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE

OBJECT OF SENTENCE

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:
He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also
use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
Examples:
To learn is important.

SUBJECT OF SENTENCE

The most important thing is to learn.

He wants to learn.

COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE

OBJECT OF SENTENCE

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:
I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence.
However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English,

whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural
and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential
for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of
the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.
Examples:
Learning is important.
To learn is important.

NORMAL SUBJECT

ABSTRACT SUBJECT

The most important thing is learning.

The most important thing is to learn.

- LESS COMMON

NORMAL COMPLEMENT

ABSTRACT COMPLEMENT

- LESS COMMON

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In

such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in
the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
Examples:
He enjoys swimming. "ENJOY" REQUIRES A GERUND.
He wants to swim. "WANT" REQUIRES AN INFINITIVE.

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. Examples:

She suggested going to a movie.
Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives. Examples:

She wants to go to a movie.
Mary needs to talk about her problems

Gerunds and Infinitives 1

1. Dan enjoys

2. Cheryl suggested

3. I miss

4. Where did you learn

science fiction.

a movie after work.

in the travel industry. Maybe I can get my old job back.

Spanish? Was it in Spain or in Latin America?

5. Do you mind

6. He asked

7. You've never mentioned

8. If he keeps

9. Debbie plans

10. I agreed

me translate this letter?

to the store manager.

in Japan before. How long did you live there?

to work late, he's going to get fired!

abroad next year.

Jack wash his car.