Gerunds & Infinitives: 1.1 Gerunds As The Subject of The Sentence
Gerunds & Infinitives: 1.1 Gerunds As The Subject of The Sentence
Gerunds & Infinitives: 1.1 Gerunds As The Subject of The Sentence
1 GERUNDS
A GERUND is a verb in its "ing" form (the present participle); for example, raining, dancing, laughing,
thinking, creating, running, and so on.
By definition, they are activities . either physical or mental.
These words function as NOUNS in a sentence:
The subject of the verb: Swimming is a lot of fun and good exercise.
The object of the verb: I really like swimming.
The object of a preposition: I am looking forward to swimming in the ocean.
Any activity that can be expressed with the "ing" form of a verb can be the subject of a sentence.
All gerunds can be the subject of a sentence.
Breathing is necessary.
Driving a car requires good vision.
Helping other people feels good.
Here are some verbs plus an object plus a preposition followed by a gerund:
Here are some combinations of the verb "to be" plus an adjective plus a preposition followed by a
gerund:
to be accustomed to __________ing
to be interested in __________ing
to be excited about __________ing
to be capable of __________ing
to be responsible for __________ing
to be used to __________ing
to be tired of __________ing
to be bored with __________ing
to be good for __________ing
to be good at __________ing
to be bad at __________ing
to be guilty of __________ing
1.2.4 To Be + Noun + Preposition
Here are some combinations of the verb "to be" plus an object plus a preposition followed by a
gerund:
to be a victim of __________ing
to be an advocate of __________ing
to be a believer in __________ing
to be a supporter of __________ing
to be a critic of __________ing
When it comes to gerunds as the object of a verb, not all verbs are equal.
That is, some verbs can take a gerund as their objects, but other verbs cannot.
(Some verbs can take infinitives as their objects. Some verbs never take an object at all.)
These differences can only be learned, as individual vocabulary items.
2 INFINITIVES
An infinitive may exist with or without the word "to".
For example, following modal verbs (can, may, must, ... ).
Infinitives with the word "to" can function as either the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of a verb.
Here are some verbs plus an indirect object followed by an infinitive.
(These verbs can be followed by any infinitive. The infinitives used in these sentences are only
examples.)
3 GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES?
Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive.
Sometimes, there is no difference in meaning.
Sometimes there is.
These verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, with NO DIFFERENCE IN MEANING.
Some verbs can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund, but THEIR MEANINGS ARE NOT THE
SAME:
I will not forget to meet him. ≠ I will never forget meeting them.
(I will be sure to meet him in the (I will not lose the memory of meeting them.)
future.)
I will try to ring the bell. ≠ I will try ringing the bell.
(I will see if it is possible to ring the (I will ring the bell to see if it will help the
bell.) situation.)