Gerunds & Infinitives

Gerunds & Infinitives

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1. A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that is used as a noun in a sentence. A gerund can be used as a subject, an object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition :

Examples :-

* Swimming is fun.
( = subject of the sentence )

* Ali enjoys swimming.
( = object of the verb enjoys )

* Ali wants to learn more about swimming.
( = object of the preposition about )







2. An infinitive is to + a verb. Infinitives are usually used as the object of a verb or following certain types of adjectives ( usually adjectives that describe how a person feels or thinks :

Examples :-

* Ali likes to swim.

* Ali is eager to swim. He likes to show how good he is at it.







3. Some verbs take only gerunds as their objects. Others take only infinitives. And others take either a gerund or an infinitive :

Examples :-

* Verbs that take a gerund : enjoy / quit / avoid / keep on / discuss / suggest ..

* Verbs that take an infinitive : hope (to) / plan (to) / want (to) / pretend (to) / ask (to) /promise (to) ..

* Verbs that take either one : begin /continue / hate / love / like / start ..















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