Gerunds & Infinitives – English Grammar Lessons
Gerunds and Infinitives in English
Understanding Gerunds and Infinitives
- Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb, functioning as nouns in sentences. Examples include "reading," "singing," and "walking."
- Infinitives are formed with the word "to" followed by the base form of a verb, such as "to eat," "to sleep," and "to study."
Sentence Structure with Gerunds and Infinitives
- The basic sentence structure in English follows the pattern: subject, verb, object. Both gerunds and infinitives can serve as subjects or objects within this structure.
- Example 1: In “Snowboarding is her favorite sport,” "snowboarding" acts as the subject (gerund).
- Example 2: In “He likes reading,” "reading" serves as the object (gerund). In “They need to study,” "to study" functions as the object (infinitive).
Rules for Using Gerunds
- There are specific verbs that are always followed by a gerund. Common examples include:
- consider
- discuss
- enjoy
- finish
- keep
- practice
- quit
- recommend
- suggest
For instance, “They discussed having a party this weekend.”
Rules for Using Infinitives
- Certain verbs are consistently followed by an infinitive. Common examples include:
- agree
- decide
- hope
- learn
- need
- offer
- plan
- promise
- want
For example, “She decided to apply for a new job.”
Verbs That Can Use Either Form
- Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without changing meaning. These include:
- begin,
- continue,
- hate,
- like,
- love,
- prefer,
- start
Examples: “I like listening to music” vs. “I like to listen to music.”
Additional Usage Guidelines
- The subject of a sentence is often expressed using a gerund; e.g., “Gardening is my favorite hobby.” After adjectives, we typically use an infinitive; e.g., “I was sad to see my test score.”
- After prepositions, gerunds are usually employed; e.g., “I thought about taking piano lessons.” Conversely, after nouns or pronouns, infinitives are preferred; e.g., “The librarian told the students to be quiet.”
Practice Examples
- Engage with sentences using both forms:
- Call me when you finish cleaning.
- He promised to take his sister to the beach.
- Singing always cheers me up.