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  Unit 12: Grammar Focus 92/125 previousGo to the Unit Menunext
1. Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds (verb + -ing) and infinitives (to + verb) are forms of verbs that act like nouns and pronouns. Examples:
Swimming is fun (Subject)
Alex like swimming. (Object)
He's good at swimming. (Object of preposition)
  

Ali quit smoking in 1977. He just decided to quit one day.

   
A gerund is a verb + -ing.  An infinitive is to + the verb.
 

In both the examples above, the gerund and the infinitive are the objects of the verbs in the sentence. However, as noun substitutes, gerunds and infinitives can also be the subject of a sentence.
 
 
Smoking is hard habit to give up. To quit takes a lot of will power.

Some common verbs are always followed by a gerund:
   

Bob admitted taking the money from the desk.
The teacher considered calling the police.
Misty said she was so embarrassed that she felt like dying.
The teacher finally said she would recommend giving Jeannie a light punishment.

Some verbs are always followed by infinitives.
 

The president said he aimed to bring down taxes.
He asked Congress to pass a tax reduction bill.
The president's party consented to lower the taxes.
However, the opposition refused to cooperate.
The president promised to fight for lower taxes in the next term.
 

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.

Monica's husband, Bob, began taking cooking lessons last month.
Soon he began to try out all his new creations on her.
Helen said she likes eating as much as Bob likes to cook.
She loves to sample his new recipes and she loves not cooking herself.
However, she told me she regrets eating so much rich food.
She's going to try eating less of his great food...and, she's going to try not to hurt Bob's feelings!

  2. -ed / -ing Adjectives

Here are some of the most common errors using adjectives ending in -ing and -ed.The correct form is given first:
Correct FormsCommon Errors
There are few people, there's no food and the music is lousy. This party is very boring. This party is no fun at all. It's very bored.
When the adjective ends in -ing, it means that the person or thing causes this particular effect.
  • Rules frustrate me. Rules are frustrating.
  • Snakes terrify me. They are such terrifying creatures.
    • Nobody is having fun at this party. Everyone is bored. Nobody is having fun at this party. Everyone is boring.
    When the adjective ends in -ed, it means that the person or thing experiences this particular effect.
  • Rules frustrate me. I am frustrated when I have to learn them.
  • Snakes terrify me. I'm always terrified when I see one.

    • Click here to see a list of -ed or -ing adjectives.

    3. Go + Gerund

    This combination is usually used in many expressions related to recreational activities and shopping. For example:
    go boating, go canoeing, go fishing, go sailing, go camping, go hunting, go skating, go shopping, go skiing, go sightseeing, etc.

    4. Remember, Forget, Stop, regret

    After the verbs remember, forget, stop, regret the difference between the infinitive and the gerund concerns time and order of events. For example:
    Infinitive:
    I remembered to mail the letter. = First I remembered. then I mailed the letter.
    Gerund:
    I remembered mailing the letter. = First I mailed the letter. then I remembered it.

    Infinitive:
    I forgot to go to the meeting. = First I forgot. So I didn't go.
    Gerund:
    I forgot going to the meeting. = First I went to the meeting. Then I forgot about going there.

    Infinitive:
    I stopped to smoke. = First I stopped what I was doing. Then I smoked.
    Gerund:
    I stopped smoking. = First I was a smoker. Then I stopped.

    Infinitive:
    I regret to tell you that you failed the course = First I regretted it. Then I told you.
    Gerund:
    I regret telling you that you failed the course. = First I told you. Then I regretted it.

    5. Let, Make, Have, Help

    After the verbs let, make and have you must drop the infinitive to and use the base of the verb. For example:
    I let him borrow my car. = I allowed him to borrow my car.
    They make our cat stay outside. = They force our cat to stay outside.
    I had the barber cut my hair. = I asked the barber to cut my hair.

    Note: the verb help can be used with or without the infinitive e.g. I wanted to help her to do the homework. or I wanted to help her do the homework.


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