Gerund or Infinitive?

Gerunds and Infinitives

In an English sentence, sometimes you need to use a gerund, and sometimes you need to use an infinitive. But what does that mean???

A gerund is a verb+ing. It works like a noun, not a verb.

It can be used

- as a subject: Swimming is fun.

- as an object: I like sleeping.

- after a preposition: I'm fond of travelling.

An infinitive is the base form of a verb.

You use it

- After a verb: They want to go home.

- After an object: I told her to call me.

- After an adjective: I'm happy to see you.

Or to show purpose:

• I went to the mall to buy some shoes.

We said that you can use a gerund as a subject. That means that when you when you want to take a verb and make it the subject of a sentence, you should change it into a gerund. Let's try.

(Study) grammar is boring.

Studying grammar is boring.

Studying is the subject, so we need to use

a gerund, not an infinitive.

(eat) ice cream is nice.

(listen) to your teacher is important.

(be) late makes your teacher mad.

Eating ice cream is nice.

Listening to your teacher is important.

Being late makes your teacher mad.

We also said that you can use a gerund as an object. Remember, objects are really nouns, not verbs. Let's try some objects.

My dad quit (smoke).

My dad quit smoking.

My favorite hobby is (take) photos.

I didn't finish (write) my essay.

I enjoyed (get) into trouble in high school.

My favorite hobby is taking photos.

I didn't finish writing my essay.

I enjoyed getting into trouble in high school.

Here are some verbs that normally take gerunds as objects.

There's a bigger list at this website:

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerund_list.htm

The last way that we use gerunds is after a preposition.

I'm tired of (listen) to you.

You need to focus on (drive) right now.

She doesn't believe in (come) on time.

I'm tired of listening to you.

You need to focus on driving right now.

She doesn't believe in coming on time.

Now let's look at infinitives:

The first way that we use infinitives is

after a verb.

They want (leave) class early.

They want to leave class early.

I'm happy I chose (go) to university.

She needs (get) up earlier.

He promised (buy) me an iPhone.

I'm happy I chose to go to university.

She needs to get up earlier.

He promised to buy me an iPhone.

Here is a list of verbs that take infinitives after them.

There's a bigger list at this website:

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/infinitive_list.htm

We also use infinitives after an object.

Find the object in this sentence.

I told her to be quiet.

I told her to be quiet.

I asked my little sister (change) the channel.

My mom wants me (get) married after I graduate.

The accident taught my uncle (drive) more slowly.

We also use infinitives after an adjective.

I'm sad to see you leave.

I'm sad to see you leave.

He was surprised (see) a lion on campus.

I'm lucky (have) such a good teacher.

My little brother was afraid (touch) the snake.

He was surprised to see a lion on campus.

I'm lucky to have such a good teacher.

My little brother was afraid to touch the snake.

We also use infinitives is to show purpose= the reason why you do something.

John went to the mall to buy a phone.

Why did John go to the mall?

To buy a phone.

(That is the purpose/ the reason why he went to the mall)

I called my dad (ask) for some money.

She woke up early (write) her essay.

My little brother screamed (get) some sweets.

Aisha’s teacher was disappointed (see) her skipping class.

Aisha’s teacher was disappointed to see her skipping class.

(eat) French fries in class is messy.

Eating French fries in class is messy.

My sister is always worried about

(catch) a cold.

My sister is always worried about

catching a cold.

I really can't afford (buy) a new car right now.

My dad told me (quit) complaining.

My dad told me to quit complaining.

I went to my teacher's desk (ask) about gerunds and infinitves.

I went to my teacher's desk to ask about gerunds and infinitves.

I want to finish (talk) about gerunds and infinitives.

I want to finish talking about gerunds and infinitives.

This is the end of the presentation.

Now you need to practise.

This website has great explanations and a lot of practice activities:

http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm

Preposition!

A prepostion is a short word that tells where, why, or how.

verb

object

infinitive

adjective

infinitive

Subject

Verb

Object

Verb

Infinitive

Smoking is the object,

so use a gerund

preposition

gerund

I'm thinking about buying a motorcycle.

Infinitives

I asked my little sister to change the channel.

My mom wants me to get married after I graduate.

The accident taught my uncle to drive more slowly.

objects

Why did you call?

adjective

infinitive

Why did she stay up?

I called my dad to ask for some money.

She stayed up late to write her essay.

My little brother screamed to get some sweets.

Why did he scream?

that's an adjective, so use an infinitive.

These are objects,

so use a gerund.

start to

agree to

deserve to

seem to

wish to

forget to

want to

choose to

promise to

need to

decide to

know how to

offer to

expect to

hope to

plan to

refuse to

learn to

This is the subject, so use a gerund

go shopping

This is a preposition, so use a gerund

enjoy talking

quit chatting

recommend visiting

discuss going

finish working

miss seeing

mind doing

postpone talking

put off writing

avoid finishing

keep working

imagine buying

This is a verb that always has an infinitive after it. Did you memorize the list?

I really can't afford to buy a new car right now.

There is an object before, so use an infinitive.

Why did you go? "To ask" is the purpose, so use infinitive.

Finish is a verb that uses gerunds as objects. Did you memorize the list?