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Tagged with: Intermediate Grammar, Gerunds, Infinitives
I. Gerund
Gerund is a verb that is used as a noun. It is formed by adding -ing to the root of the verb.
- Examples: read - reading; play - playing; dance - dancing.
Gerunds are used:
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as the subject of a sentence |
Learning foreign languages is not easy. |
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as the object after certain verbs1 |
I really enjoy reading comics. |
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after certain verbs + prepositions2 |
I plan on going to college. |
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after certain adjectives + prepositions3 |
Bob is not very good at managing children. |
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after prepositions |
We'll have no difficulty in selling this product. |
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after verbs of perception (action is going on)4 |
I saw him staggering down the road towards the pub. |
1 - See the list of verbs that are followed by gerunds. You can also download this list: Verbs Used with Gerunds
2 - See the list of verbs + prepositions that are followed by gerunds. You can also download this list: Verbs with prepositions followed by gerunds
3 - See the list of adjectives + prepositions that are followed by gerunds. You can also download this list: Adjectives with prepositions followed by gerunds.
4 - Learn the rules of the use of gerunds and infinitives after verbs of perception.
II. Full Infinitive
Full infinitive consists of two words: particle to and the base form of the verb.
- Examples: to read, to play, to dance, to talk, to do, to be.
Infinitives with to are used after:
|
certain verbs5 |
I want to dance with you. |
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adjectives in construction "It is (not)+ Adj" |
It’s not always easy to read in English. |
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after other adjectives |
I am proud to be a teacher. |
|
question words |
Can you tell me where to put the chairs? |
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the first/last/only |
Henry Ford was the first to use flow production in a car factory. |
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adjective + for + (pro)noun |
Until then cars had been too expensive for many people to buy. |
5 - See the list of verbs that are followed by an infinitive. You can also download this list: Verbs Used with Infinitives
III. Bare Infinitive
Infinitives without to (called bare infinitives) are used after:
|
modal verbs |
Tom can’t speak Spanish at all. |
|
verbs make and let |
My teacher wouldn’t let me leave the classroom. She made me finish my classwork. |
|
verbs of perception (completed action)6 |
I saw her open the fridge and help herself to the cake. |
6 - Learn the rules of the use of gerunds and infinitives after verbs of perception here.
