GERUNDS

N
INFINITIVES
 GERUNDS

Gerunds are nouns

formed from verbs

are defined as the ”ing” form

of a verb. They have several functions.
 GERUNDS
Can be used as:

SUBJECTS

Reading helps you learn English.

Swimming is a good exercise.
 Traveling with a friend made the trip to New
York more enjoyable.
OBJECT of a sentence

I don’t like writing.

I enjoy reading.

COMPLEMENTS

My favorite hobby is reading.

 I do my reading in the morning.
My favourite occupation is reading.
Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

 He enjoys not working.

 The best thing for your health is not smoking.
The gerund is often used after certain verbs.

I dislike working after 5 pm.

We enjoy hiking.
She stopped working at 6 o’clock.
She suggested going for a movie.
Farah keeps talking about her problems.
 INFINITIVES

to walk
Are the “TO” form to read
of the verb to think

to eat
 INFINITIVES
Can be used as:

SUBJECTS To learn helps you learn English.

The most important thing is

COMPLEMENTS
to learn.

OBJECT of a sentence He wants to learn.

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not.“

I decided not to go.

The most important thing is not to give up.
 Gerunds and Infinitives

Some verbs (e.g. love, hate, start, prefer) can

take gerund or infinitive, with similar
meanings.

I love to eat chocolates.

I love eating chocolates.
I started to polish the car, but then decided not to.
I started polishing the car, but then decided not to.
 Gerunds and Infinitives

A few verbs (such as ‘stop’, ‘remember’ and ‘forget’) can

be followed by either the gerund or the infinitive but
the meanings are different.

 They stopped having lunch at the restaurant.

(They don’t eat at the restaurant anymore)

 They stopped to have lunch at the restaurant.

(They stopped another activity in order to have lunch at the
restaurant)
Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive.

1. I want _____ (finish) work early tonight.

2. Do you mind ______? (not smoke)
3. I’m going to the café _____ (meet) Anna.
4. Sam is really good at _____ (climb).
5. Thank you for ____ (be) so helpful.
6. He refused _____ (help) me.
7. There’s a lot of work ______ (do) in the new building.
8. I really love _____ (play) with the children.
9. ______ (swim) is a good form of exercise.
10. I can’t stand ______ in queues. (wait)
Answers :

1. to finish
2. not smoking
3. to meet
4. climbing
5. being
6. to help
7. to do
8. playing
9. swimming
10. waiting