Infinitives and Gerunds What is an infinitive

Infinitives and Gerunds

What is an infinitive? to verb

How do you form infinitives? How do you form theinfinitive? Where are the an negative? • I want to eat lunch after class. • I would like to see a movie this weekend. • I often forget to write thank-you notes. not to verb

Common verbs that come before Infinitives • • • want need would like would love hope expect plan intend mean • • • decide promise offer agree refuse seem appear pretend forget • • learn (how) try (can’t) afford (can’t) wait

Infinitives Can be affirmative or negative: • They decided to go. • They decided not to go. Negative (not to + verb)

Infinitives can be used as the subject of sentences… … but I recommend using gerunds instead! By the way, I also recommend BBC’s animated Shakespeare: Hamlet, Part 1 – http: //www. youtube. com/ watch? v=j-S 0 M 1 Pk. Nc. Q

Infinitives Can be active or passive • I need to heat the food. • The food needs to be heated. .

Infinitives Can have progressive and perfect forms; • I don’t expect to be living here next year. (= I don’t expect that I will living here next year. ) He claims to have seen a UFO. (=He claims that he saw a UFO. )

How GERUNDS!!! What isform a gerund? Whatdo youunderlined words? are the a gerund? • I enjoy reading on the weekend. • I am thinking about going to New York this summer. • I first considered moving to the U. S. three years ago. verb -ing It is the –ing form of a verb that acts like a noun.

Common Verbs that come before gerunds… • • enjoy finish stop quit mind postpone put off keep (on) • • consider think about discuss talk about Choose 3 and make your own sentences. Subj + Verb + Gerund

Complete these sentences with a gerund or gerund phrase • It was cold and rainy yesterday, so we postponed going to ________ the zoo. • The Porters’ house is too small. They’re buying considering _________ a bigger house. traveling to • We discussed ________ Colorado for our vacation.

Practice A: Would you like to go for a walk? B: Has it stopped _______? raining A: Yes. B: Let’s go.

Practice A: I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my old car. I’m thinking about ____ a new buying one. B: Do you think you’ll get a BMW? A: No, I’m considering getting ______ a Honda.

Practice. A: What do you usually do in your free time in the evening? B: I enjoy _____ areading good book.

Practice A: Good news! I feel great. I don’t cough anymore, and I can breathe more easily. B: Oh? A: I quit _____. B: That’ssmoking wonderful!

Practice A: I’ve been working on this math problem for the last half hour, and I still don’t understand it. B: Well, don’t give up. trying Keep _____. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

Practice A: Are you a procrastinator? B: A what? A: A procrastinator. That’s someone who always postpones ____ things. doing B: Oh. Well, sometimes I put off _____ doing my homework.

Practice A: What are you doing? B: I’m helping Teddy with his homework. A: When you finish _____ him, helping could you help me in the kitchen? B: Sure.

Practice A: Could you please stop doing that? B: Doing what? whistling A: Stop _____. It’s driving me crazy!

Practice A: Do you have any plans this weekend? B: Henry going talked and I about _____ to the zoo on Saturday.

Practice A: I didn’t understand what you said. Would you mind _____ that? repeating B: Of course not. I said, “Three free trees. ”

go + gerund

go hiking

go skating

go bowling

go jogging / go running

go sailing / go boating

go skiing

Complete the sentences with an infinitive… • I’m planning ________ to go to Chicago next week. • I’ve decided _______ a to rent new apartment.

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund OR an infinitive • I began to learn English when I was 15 years old. What is this? an infinitive • I began studying at Cy. Fair College 2 years ago. What is this? a gerund

Common Verbs Followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive: • • begin start continue like love hate can’t stand Examples: • I continued studying English after I moved to the United States. • I continued to study English after I moved to the United States.

Gerund or Infinitive or Both? to study • I need ________ tonight. (study) cooking • I enjoy ________ fancy meals. (cook) to talk / talking • Ellen started _________ about her problem. (talk)

Gerunds after prepositions • be + adjective + preposition + gerund OR • verb + preposition + gerund

Prepositions can only followed by Prepositions beforeinfinitives!! gerunds, never Gerunds • I am afraid of swimming in the ocean. – subject + be-verb + adjective + preposition + gerund • I plan on studying English next semester. – subject + verb + preposition + gerund • I apologized for being late yesterday. – subject + verb + preposition + gerund • I am good at playing soccer. – subject + be-verb + adjective + preposition + gerund

Which preposition follows? • looking forward • thank (someone) • worry • be interested • apologize • be afraid • be nervous • be excited • insist • • • to for about in for of about on

Which preposition follows? • dream • feel • forgive (someone) • be tired • believe • plan • be responsible • stop (someone) • be good • • • about like for of in on for from at

Complete the sentences… • I believe ____ (tell) _________ in telling the truth no matter what. • I wish the weather would get better. I’m tired of being ____ (be) _______ inside all the time.

How are “by” and “with” used? To show something is done • I have tried to improve my health by dieting. by + gerund • I sometimes travel by taxi. by + noun • I did my taxes with an online program. with + noun

Common Uses of “by” and “with” by with • by + gerund • means of transportation • instruments – by plane – by car – by foot • means of communication – by mail – by phone – by email • others – by hand* – with an axe – with a broom • parts of the body – with her finger – with her hand

with or by? with • I opened the door ______ a key. by • I went to Cherryville _____ bus. with • I dried the dishes ______ a dishtowel by • I went to Portland _____ train.

Gerunds as Subjects • Speaking English is easy. • Watching scary movies is fun. • Going shopping is something I like to do. • Usually the first word of the sentence. • Always SINGULAR

It + Infinitive • It is fun to ride horses. • It is easy to bake a cake. • It is difficult to spell English words. It is the subject of the sentence. Common: It + be-verb + adjective + infinitive phrase

These sentences mean the same thing… • Speaking English is easy. • It is easy to speak English. • It is fun to ride horses. • Riding horses is fun.

Change this to a gerund as subject sentence… • It is important to get daily exercise. Getting daily exercise is important. • It isn’t hard to make friends. Making friends isn’t hard.

Practice • A: Read the sentence to your partner. A: It is easy to cook rice. • B: Tell your partner the same sentence as a gerund as subject sentence. B: Cooking rice is easy.

Practice • A: Read the sentence to your partner. A: Having good friends is important. • B: Tell your partner the same sentence as an it + infinitive sentence. B: It is important to have good friends.

It is + adjective + for (someone) + infinitive phrase • It is important for you to study. • It is important for Mary to study. • It isn’t necessary for us to go to the meeting. • It is impossible for a dog to talk.

Change to: It is + adjective + for (someone) + infinitive phrase • Students should do their homework. for students to do their homework – It’s important _______________. • Teachers should speak clearly. for teachers to speak clearly – It’s important _______________.

Complete each sentence with your partner… • • It’s easy for _____ to _____. It’s traditional for ____ to _____. It’s impossible for _____ to ______. It’s difficult for _____ to ____. It takes ____ minutes to ______. It takes patience to ____. It takes a lot of money to ____.

Practice • A: Why did you go to the language lab? • B: I went to the language lab to practice my pronunciation.

Practice • A: Why are you wearing that hat? • B: I’m wearing this hat in order to stay warm.

Expressing Purpose with Infinitives • I went to the post office because I wanted to mail a letter. • I went to the post office in order to mail a letter.

Why did you call the hotel desk? • I called the hotel desk… (in order) to a. keep their feet warm and dry b. listen to a ball game c. ask for an extra pillow d. help her pay the rent “I called the hotel desk (in order) to ask for an extra pillow. ”

Using “for” to express purpose • I went to the post office for some stamps. • for + noun phrase • Incorrect: – I went to the post office for to buy some stamps. – I went to the post office for buying some stamps.

to or for? for • I went to Chicago _____ a visit. n. to • I went to Chicago _____ visit my aunt and uncle. v. to • I take long walks _______ relax. v. for • I take long walks ____ relaxation. n.

Using Infinitives with Too and Enough • too + adjective + (for someone) + infinitive That box is too heavy for Bob to lift. • enough + noun + infinitive I don’t have enough money to buy that car. • adjective + enough + infinitive Jimmy isn’t old enough to go to school.

We can’t go swimming today. It’s very cold go swimming • It’s too _____ to _________.

I couldn’t finish my homework last night. I was very sleepy finish my homework • I was too _____ to _________.

This jacket is very small. I can’t wear it. small wear • This jacket is too ______ to _____.

Mike couldn’t go to his aunt’s housewarming party. He was very busy. • He was too busy to go.

I live far from school. I can’t walk there. • I live too far to walk to school.

Some movies are very violent. Children shouldn’t watch them. • Some movies are too violent for children to watch.

I can’t reach the top shelf. I’m not that tall reach • I’m not ____ enough to ______ the shelf.

I can’t lift a horse. I’m not that strong lift • I’m not ____ enough to ______ a horse.

It’s not warm today. We can’t go outside in shorts and sandals. • It’s not warm enough to wear shorts and sandals.

I didn’t stay home and miss work. I wasn’t really sick, but I didn’t feel good all day. • I wasn’t sick enough to miss work.

too enough Ø too Ø • Alan is ______ smart ______ to make that kind of mistake. enough Ø • Alan is ______ smart ______ to understand how to solve that problem.

Complete each sentence with your own information… • I’m too short to ____. • I’m not strong enough to ____. • Last night I was too busy to ____. • I don’t have enough money to ____.