GERUNDS AND

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GERUNDS ANDINFINITIVES

ASKADEMIC GRAMMAR BANK

GERUNDS ANDINFINITIVES

A “gerund” or an “infinitive” is averb used as a noun.They can be used as

“an object or a subject.”

Gerunds can be used as the

subject of a sentence “as a single

word” or “a gerund phrase”.

Reading is essential to broaden

one’s horizon.

Cooking is my favourite work.

Having to work hard all the time

can strain one’s nerves.

Gerunds asSubject

When the subject of a sentence is“gerund” then we should use a

“singular verb”. However when “twogerunds are connected” then we

should use a “plural verb”.

Being interested in books

is a good quality.

Giving severe

punishments is unfair.

Swimming “and” running

are my favourite sports.

Ironing “and” washing are

the most boring jobs for

When two gerunds are connectedwith “but” – “or” then we should use a

SINGULAR VERB.

Living in the same house but notsharing the household dutiesshows her irresponsibility.

Reading a book for a while “or”listening to slow music listening toslow music gives relaxation.

Not being aware of the

facts can’t be regarded

as an excuse.

His not waiting to come

with us surprised us all.

To make thegerund negative

we can add “not” atthe beginning of it

A gerund used after

“be” defines a subject.

Their favourite pastime

“is” watching TV.

What he is most

interested in “is” driving

at high speed.

Gerund as aSubject

Complement

GERUND AS A DIRECT SUBJECT

AdmitAnticipateAppreciate

AvoidCan’t help

Can’t standCompleteConsider

Contemplate

DelayDeferDeny

DetestDiscussDislikeEnjoy

ExcuseFinish

Forgive

ImagineInvolve

KeepMean

MentionMindMiss

PostponePractise

RecallRecollect

RecommendRemember

ResentResistRiskStop

SuggestTolerate

Understand

He admitted stealing stealing his

mother’s silver tray but denied

selling it for drugs.

He avoided looking at me while I

was criticising him.

She excused taking my dress

without permission.

I admit being guilty.

I admit his being guilty.

Formal : I will never forgive

Jack’s (his*) scolding me in

public.

Informal: I will never forgive

him scolding.

The Possesive +Gerund

There are somecertain verbs usedwith prepositions.These verbs are all

used with “gerund” !*

Be accustomed to

Be used to

Look forward to

Be opposed to

Object to/have an objection to

Prefer sth to doing sth.

In addition to

Devote to

Dedicate to

Feel up to

VERB PREPOSITION GERUND

Abstain from

Apologise for

Adjust to

Approve of

Argue about

Believe in

Care about

Care for

Comment on

Complain about

Concentrate on

Consist of

Deal with

Decide against

Depend on(upon)

Dream of

Feel like

Forget about

Forgive for

Insist on

Look forward to

Object in

Participate in

Plan on

Refer to

Take adv. Of

Talk about

Think about/of

Succeed in

Worry about

VERB + OBJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND

Accuse sb. Of

Apologise to sb. for

Arrest sb. for

Blame sb. For

Charge sb. With

Complain to sb. About

Congratulate sb. On

Defer sb. From

Devote oneself to

Discourage sb. From

Forgive sb. For

Involve sb. in

Keep sb. From

Prevent sb. From

Punish sb. For

Stop sb. From

Suspect sb. Of

Thank sb. For

Warn sb. About/against

They’re generally used in “passive”form.

They accused the man of robbing thebank.

The man was accused of robbing thebank.

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND

accustomed toafraid ofangry atappropriate forashamed ofaware ofbored withcapable ofconcerned aboutcontent withdelighted at

different fromessential to/forexcellent in/atexcited aboutexposed tofamous forfed up withfond ofgenerous aboutgood atgrateful to sb. for

feel guilty for/aboutbe guilty ofincapable ofinterested injealous ofkeen onlazy aboutopposed toproud ofresponsible forsimilar to

sorry aboutsuccessful insuitable forsure of/aboutsurprised atterrified oftired of -*fromworried abouthappy about

Note: ** “tired of” means “bored with – fedup with” ** Don’t mistake with “tiredfrom” !

ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION + GERUND

Noun + Preposition + Gerund

on account ofin case ofin danger ofdifficulty inin addition toin charge ofin exchange forexcuse forin favour offor fear ofin habit of

in return forinstead ofinterested inin the course ofin the middle ofneed forreason forfor the sake ofthe point ofon the point of

Expressions +Gerund

The rood is winding, I don’tunderstand

“There is no point in waitinghim.”

I was “on the point of leaving”home when you came.

The point of ..

“the point of your driving fast.”

There is no/ there isn’t any point in ..

On the point of ..

Expressions +Gerund

“It’s no good /it’s no use trying” topersuade my father.

“There’s no point in running” forthe train.

This book This book “is worth / isnot worth reading.”

It’s no use/ it’s no good ..

There’s no point in ..

It’s worth/ it’s not worth ..

Expressions +Gerund

“It’s waste of money buying”things useless.

Yesterday I Yesterday I “spent thewhole day cleaning” the house.You “waste a lot of time buying”furniture last year.

A waste of time / money / energy ..

Spend / waste (time money energy.. )

Expressions +Gerund

Don’t go out Don’t go out “withoutputting on” your coat.

She passed university exam Shepassed university exam “bystudying” very hard.

The students were The studentswere “busy talking” when I enteredthe classroom.

Without doing ..

By doing ..

Busy doing sth ..

Expressions +Gerund

She is busy with her homework.They are busy with their financialproblems.

We “had fun telling” each otherour childhood

(!) If a “noun” comes after “busy”then we should use “with”.

Have fun / have a good time doing ..

Sit / stand / lie +expressions of place ..

After they left, After they left, “I lay inbed reading” until I got

sleepy.

The PerfectGerund

The thief admitted that he hadstolen the car.The thief admitted having stolenthe car.

When the action used with gerund, happened before the main verb, thenwe can use “perfect gerund”. (havingV3)

The PassiveGerund

I have been invited to the party.

I appreciate “being invited” to theparty.I don’t enjoy “being asked”“personal questions.

- being V3 –

I appreciate this.

Perfect GerundPassive

The man The man denied “having beeninvolved” in the robbery.She went to the party without

I don’t recall “having been told” aboutthis case before.

- having been V3-

“having been invited”.

Infinitive

She wants to study languages atuniversity.To be a student is very difficult.

Like gerund, an infinitive can be used as the subject or the object of a sentence as well. as well.

I “haven’t decided” yet to go to thecinema.I have decided “not to go” to the cinema.

Negative : It’s difficult for a mother It’sdifficult for a mother “not to feel”concerned about her concerned about herchildren.

(!) Negative infinitve and negative main verb of a sentence are different from oneanother.

Infinitive asSubject of a

Sentence

“To save” money is important.money is important.It’s important It’s important “tosave” money.

We can use infinitive as the subject but it’s not so common.

(~More common!)

Swimming is my favourite sport. is myfavourite sport.Reading is very important. is very important.To swim in this river isn’t wise at all. in thisriver isn’t wise at all

(!!) Using gerund or infinitive as the subject of asentence isn’t so different from each other,however we prefer *gerund* while making“generalization”..

It isn’t wise at all isn’t wise at all toswim in this in this river.It is important for children is importantfor children to read

* .. When we start a sentence with “it” ,we should use an “infinitive”.

For +Noun/Pronoun +

Infinitive

“Swimming” is easy is easy “forme”.“To swim” is easy is easy “forme”.It’s easy It’s easy “for me toswim”.

Of +Noun/Pronoun +

Infinitive

It’s “kind of you to help” me. It was very It was very “rude ofhim to treat” you like that

It’s necessary “for you tolearn” English.It’s clever “of him to learn”English.

(!!)** .. Don’t mistake “of+noun/pronoun” with “for+noun/pronoun” !

Infinitive asSubject

Complement

When I was a child, my ambition was “to be an architect”. What you need is What you need is“to get some fresh air”.

A nationwilde pastime is Anationwilde pastime is “watchingTV”.What I will do after dinner is What Iwill do after dinner is “to watch TV”.

** We use “gerund” for “generalexpressions”, whereas we use whereaswe use “infinitive” for “specificexpressions”.

Infinitive as DirectSubject

She “decided to move” anothercity.

She “persuaded me to go” withher.

She “expected (*me) to go” homeearly

Verbs followed by infinitive can beclassified in 3 groups.

Verb + Infinitive

Verb + noun/pronoun + infinitive

Either verb + inf. Or verb +noun/pronoun + inf.

Verb + Infinitive

affordagreeappeararrangecarechooseclaimconsentdecidedemanddeserveendavourfall

happenhesitatehopelearnmanagemeanofferplanpreparepretendproceedpromiseprove

refuseseemstrugglesweartendthreatvolunteerwait

Verb + Noun/Pronoun + Infinitive

adviseallowappointcausecautionchallengecommandcompelconvincedirectenableencourageforbid

forcehireimploreinstructinvitemotivateobligeorderpermitpersuaderemindrequestrequire

showteachtelltempturgewarn

Infinitive After Certain Noun

abilityambitionanxietyattemptdecisiondemanddesiredeterminationeagernesseffortfailure

offerplanpromiserefusalrequestrightschemewillingnesswish

~ Not every people has the*ability* “to think” logically

The best time “to go” on holiday “togo” on holiday is Spring.The best place “to fish” is …

Time and place” Time and place” with*Superlative” form are followed byinfinitive !! ..

Infinitive After Certain Adjectives

delightedgladhappypleasedrelievedluckyfortunatedissappointeddisgusteddistributedsadsorry

anxiouseagerdeterminedmotivatedpreparedreadywillingafraidcarefulhesitantreluctantcertain

astonishedsurprisedshockedStunnedLikelyAmazedProudUpsetContentashamed

I was “hesitant to accept” this job.I’m “reluctant to go”.

She was proud She was proud “to be” thetop student(!) She was proud (!) She was proud “ofbeing” the top.

But (!) when these adjectives are used with a “preposition” , they’re followed by “gerund”

DareWould you dare *do/to do* aparachute jumping ?No, I wouldn’t dare *do/to do* that

When used in “negative” or a “question” *dare* can be followed by either “to” or “bare infinitive”.

I daren’t “do” daren’t “do” aparachute jumping.

My friend My friend “dared‘me’ to” swim.Do you “dare ‘me’ to” talkback to…

But (! )

Gerund or Infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by “both gerund and infinitive”,with “no or little change” in the meaning. in the meaning.

advise allow

attempt begin

cannot bear continue

dislike dread

recommend

encourageforbidhate

intend need

neglect permitpreferstart

I advise “driving” more slowly. I advise *you* “to drive” more slowly. I don’t allow “chewing “ gum.I don’t allow *my students* to chew gum.

Advise, allow, encourage, forbid, permit, recommend” These verbs are used with “infinitive”

if there is an “indirect object”! If not, they’re used with “gerund”!!

I “need to iron” “need to iron” my shirt. myshirt.

My shirt My shirt “needs to be ironed”.“needs ironing”.

(active)

(passive)

Passive Infinitiveand Past Infinitive

I don’t want you I don’t want you “toorder” me what to do.I don’t want I don’t want “to beordered”.. I’m happy that I I’m happy that I“passed” the exam. I’m happy I’m happy “to have passed”the exam.

** Passive form of Inf. : Passive form ofInf. : to be V3** Perfect form of Inf. : Perfect form ofInf. : to have V3

I do/to be doneI have done/to have been

She is fortunate that she will study abroad.She is fortunate to study abroad.She is lucky that she will be sent abroad.She is lucky to be sent abroad.She is fortunate that she studied abroad.She is fortunate to have studied abroad.She is lucky that she was sent abroad.She is lucky to have been sent abroad.

Forget andRemember

Do you remember our Do you rememberour being stuck in the mud with her carlast winter?Please remember Please remember totell him that, I will be waiting him.I usually forget I usually forget to lockthe door.I usually forget I usually forget lockingthe door.

They’re used with gerund when we talkabout an action that happens BEFORE theact of remembering or forgetting

But (!) we use them with infinitive when wetalk about an action tha happens AFTER theact of remembering or forgetting.

I didn’t mean I didn’t mean to hurt you.Being a parent means Being a parent means having a lot ofresponsibilities.

When we use it “to intend” we use it with “infinitive’ However whenwe use it “to try to say something or to explain something” we use itwith “gerund”.

Regret

He regrets not attending the university.I regret to inform you that you couldn’tpass the exam

(!!) When we talk about a “past action” we usewith “gerund”. But ..* when we talk about a“future event” we use with “infinitive”.

When I entered the class, the studentsstopped chatting.I stopped my work to watch TV.

We use it with “gerund” when we mean “to give up”..

But (!) We use it with “infinitive” to say that we stop “in order to do sth.”

I tried hard I tried hard to catch the train but I couldn’t.I tried I tried taking an asprin for my headache.

We use try with “infinitive” to say that we “work for” sth.

But (!) We use it with “gerund” to use it “as an experiment”.

When he saw me , he stopped When he saw me with meand went on studying again.While she was studying, the bell rang; so, she went on tobreak.

We use it with “gerund” when we mean “to continue”.

But (!) we use it with “infinitive” when it means “to start”something.

Verb ofPercepention

I watched my son *play* withother children.I saw some children *playing*in the garden.

See, hear, watch, feel, (observe, notice, listen etc.) when we use “gerund” after those verbs, wemean after those verbs, we mean that we witnessed “just a part ofan action”.

But (!) But (!) when we use “bareinfinitive” we mean we saw “theentire action”.

When I got home, I When I gothome, I found my son“sleeping”.

* Smell, find, catch *

(!) These verbs are used only with “gerund” .

Passive Formsof Verbs of

Percenption

They last “saw” him They last“saw” him “driving” late lastnight.He “was last seen” He “was lastseen” “driving” late …

Someone Someone “saw” him“leave” the building hurriedly.He “was seen” He “was seen” “toleave” the building …

‘Gerund usage’ stays “the same”.However (!) ‘bare inf.’ usage turnsinto usage turns into “infinitive”!

InfinitiveWithout "To"

After "Let andHelp"

I let him I let him go.~ActiveHe was let He was let go.~Passive . ~Passive

She helped me She helpedme to do my homework.She helped me She helpedme do my homework.

Let + bare inf . (always!)

Help + infinitiveHelp + bare infinitive

Thank you!

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