GERUND & INFINITIVES

Gerund = V+ing = Noun. (as subject, predicate, object).

Infinitives = to+Verb
Bare Infinitives = Verb (basic verb)
= Infinitives can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Because an
infinitive is not a verb, you cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. An
infinitive will almost always begin with to. Exceptions do occur,
however. An infinitive will lose its to when it follows certain
verbs.These verbs are feel, hear, help, let, make, see, and watch.
• Bare infinitive
• After aux. verb except to be
• After other verbs (watch, see, hear)
• After ‘had better’, or ‘would rather’
• After causative verbs (have, help, want, get, let)
• After need or dare (in negative).
• To Infinitives
• As subject – To talk is easy.
• Subject complement – you are to close the door
- She was to go that night (to show command or wish, or something has to do).
- Verb complement – I need to talk to you. He seems to walk away around the
corner.
- Object complement – You give me a solution to use.
- She will bring you the food to eat.
- You promised to buy me a diamond ring. (adverb modifies a verb)
- Tara has the ability to succeed. (adjective modifies a noun

- There are many function of To Infinitives. Remember, Infinitives is not a verb, and
not function as predicate.
Infinitives = whether it is to infinitive or bare infinitive, just remember the
function!

- I want eat
- I want eat fried chicken
- I want to eat fried chicken

- She needs school

- She needs to go to the school

- Because Freddie had never touched a snake, I removed the cover of the cage
and let him pet Squeeze, my seven-foot python.
• Hoping to lose her fear of flying, Rachel went to the airport to watch
passenger planes take off and land, but even this exercise did not convince her
that jets were safe.
• I said a prayer when I saw my friends mount the Kumba, a frightening roller
coaster that twists and rolls like a giant sea serpent.
• 1. Alan can’t stand _________ on trains. (riding/ to ride)
• Mr. Harris enjoys _________ people out to dinner. (inviting / to invite)
• In the old days, gentlemen challenged their rivals _______. (fighting / to fight)
• As the famous saying goes, there’s no use ______ over spilt milk. (crying / to
cry)
• Jim stopped _________ his shoelace. Wait for him. (tying / to tie)
• My wife always volunteers ___________ cakes PTA meetings. (baking / to
bake)
• Don’t waste my time ___________ about your salary. (complaining/ to
complain)
• Eva is having trouble _________ on the exam. (concentrating / to
concentrate)
• Please allow me ____________ your Facebook page. (joining / to join)
• You won’t forget _________milk on your way home, will you? (picking up /to
pick up)
• Common verbs that can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without
causing a change in meaning –begin continue hate intend like love prefer start
• Common verbs that can be followed by a gerund or infinitive but with a
change in meaning – forget remember stop
• Common verbs that are followed by an infinitive-afford agree appear arrange
ask care decide demand expect fail forget hope learn manage mean offer plan
prepare pretend promise refuse remember seem stop volunteer wait want
wish
• Common verbs that are directly followed by a noun or pronoun and then by
an infinitive – advise allow ask cause challenge command convince expect
forbid force hire instruct invite order pay permit program remind teach tell
urge want warn
• Infinitives or gerund ?
• Present continuous to inf., -
• Perfect continuous to inf., -
• Perfect to inf., -
• Passive inf., -
• Passive gerund – being with past participle.