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Gerunds and infinitives
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Gerunds
Agerund is a noun made from a verb by
adding "-ing."
The gerund form of the verb:
read --- reading
write --- writing
swim --- swimming
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Gerunds
USE
1. Gerunds are often used as subjects
Examples:
Reading helps you learn English.
Swimming is a good exercise.
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Gerunds
USE
2. A Gerund can be used as an object
after certain verbs.
Examples:
I enjoy reading.
He dislikes playing badminton.
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Gerunds
Gerunds are used after a preposition
Example:
Before leaving the house, she checked all
windows.
After calling the police, the neighbors
stopped the noise
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Gerunds
Gerunds can be made negative by adding
"not."
Examples:
He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not smoking.
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Gerunds
The gerund is often used after certain verbs.
Examples:
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.
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Gerunds
Gerund is used after certain expressions
such as can’t stand, can’t bear, etc.
Examples
She can’t help talking so loudly.
I can’t stand her smoking in the office.
He can’t bear having so much
responsibility.
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Infinitives
Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb.
The infinitive form of:
learn ---- to learn
give ---- to give
Examples:
He wants to go now.
They want to learn English.
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Infinitives
Infinitives can be made negative by adding
"not.“
Examples:
I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.
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Infinitives
The infinitive is used:
1) To express a purpose
I got up early to do homework.
I have some letters to write.
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Infinitives
2) The infinitives are used after adjectives
It´s nice to come back to Cairo.
I am happy to be here
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Gerunds and Infinitives
Some verbs (e.g. love, hate, start, prefer) can
take gerund or infinitive, with similar meanings.
Examples:
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.
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Gerunds and Infinitives
BE CAREFUL!
A few verbs can be followed by either the gerund or
the infinitive but the meanings are different.
Examples:
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)
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Gerunds and Infinitives
Examples:
I tried to talk to him, but he didn’t answer his pone (I
attempted to do it).
I tried talking to him, but he´s still angry. (I did it but it
did not work)
I remember putting his keys on the table.
Remember to put his keys on the table.
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Gerunds and Infinitives
BE CAREFUL!
‘To’ can be part of the infinitive or it can
be a preposition.
Use gerund after the preposition ‘to’.
Examples:
I look forward to hearing from you. (√)
I look forward to hear from you. (X)
Verbs with infinitives and gerunds
Infinitives Gerunds
Verbs that express WANT or Verbs that express
NEED BEGIN, CONTINUE or
Well, I hope TO SEE you soon. END.
Verbs that express an The leaves have not
effort. stopped FALLING.
The information failed TO Verbs related to the
CHEER them up. senses.
“Seem” verbs They HEARD the door
A lot of motorists appeared opening.
TO HAVE joined carpools.
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Gerunds and Infinitives
Put the verbs in brackets into the gerund or the infinitive
1. I want to
_____
finish (finish) my work early tonight.
2. I saw them______
waiting (wait) for the buses
3. I’m going to the café _____ to meet(meet) Anna.
4. Sam is really good at _____ climbing (climb).
5. Thank you for ____ being (be) so helpful.
6. _____ (dance) on weekends is really fun.
Dancing
7. Let’s go now. I’m worried about missing _____ (miss) the train.
8. to help (help) me.
He refused _____
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Gerunds and Infinitives
9. There’s a lot of work ______to do (do) in the new
building.
10. ‘What’s this for?’ ‘It’s for _______
cooking (cook) the
vegetables.’
______ (swim) is a good form of exercise.
11. Swimming
12. I can’t stand _____
doing (do) the washing-up.
13. We managed ______ to pass (pass) the exam by _____ testing
(test) each other every evening.
14. We were getting tired, so we stopped _____ working
(work).
to find (find) virus-like activity on
15. Ted was angry _______
his computer.
