Gerunds, Present Participles, and Infinitives

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Gerunds, Present Participles, and Infinitives An infinitive is the basic form of a verb. It is commonly used after the word to. Example: He likes to run. She needs to study. A gerund is a verb ending in -ing that acts like a noun. Because they act like a noun, gerunds may be used as the subject of a sentence: Example: Running regularly will make you feel better. Studying requires most of my time during the day. There are some verbs that must be followed by a gerund. Example: I enjoy writing. Would you mind reading my essay? If a gerund is combined with a preposition, it is called a gerund phrase: Example: He spends all his time studying to be a doctor. A present participle is a verb ending in -ing that still acts like a verb when used in the present or past progressive tense: Example: The girl is speaking to her friends. We were listening to music. (See reverse side for examples of when to use gerunds vs infinitives.) An infinitive or a gerund can be used to express a similar idea. Infinitives are used to describe San Antonio College Writing Center | 210-486-1433 Edited 16 May 2017 actions that may take place in the future or that are possible. Gerunds are used to describe actions that are factual. For example: Infinitive: I would like to go to the mall. Gerund phrase: I like going to the mall. In this example, the infinitive is used to express a desire to do something that hasn’t happened yet. The gerund phrase is factual. Here are a few more examples: Infinitive: Do you like to dance? Gerund: Did you like dancing last night? Infinitive: Did you start to write your paper? Gerund: I started writing my paper, and now I’m almost done. Infinitive: I need to sleep more at night. Gerund: Sleeping six to eight hours every night is good for you. Verbs of perception (feel, hear, notice, observe, see, smell, watch) are often followed by gerunds, but never infinitives. For example: --I think I hear someone playing a piano. --Do you smell something burning? San Antonio College Writing Center | 210-486-1433 Edited 16 May 2017 .

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Verbs Followed by Gerunds & Infinitives
Verbs Followed by Gerunds & Infinitives In English, if you want to follow a verb with another action, you must use a gerund or infinitive. EXAMPLE: We resumed talking. (gerund – verb + ing) I want to see a movie. (infinitive – to + base verb) There are certain verbs that can only be followed by one or the other, and these verbs must be memorized. Many of these verbs are listed below. Verbs commonly followed by a gerund Verbs commonly followed by an infinitive EXAMPLE: “He misses playing with his friends.” EXAMPLE: “She threatened to quit if she didn’t get a raise.” abhor give up (stop) agree mean acknowledge keep (continue) appear need admit keep on arrange neglect advise mention ask offer allow mind (object to) attempt pay anticipate miss beg plan appreciate necessitate can/can’t afford prepare avoid omit can/can’t wait pretend be worth permit care profess can’t help picture chance promise celebrate postpone choose prove confess practice claim refuse consider prevent come remain defend put off consent request delay recall dare resolve detest recollect decide say discontinue recommend demand seek discuss report deserve seem dislike resent determine shudder dispute resist elect strive dread resume endeavor struggle endure risk expect swear enjoy shirk fail tend escape shun get threaten evade suggest grow (up) turn out explain support guarantee venture fancy tolerate hesitate volunteer fear understand hope wait feel like urge hurry want feign warrant incline wish finish learn would like forgive manage yearn 1 • Verbs Followed by Gerunds & Infinitives more free resources, lessons, and quizzes at by Alex © LangVid Language Training, 2013 www.engVid.com Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive with little to no change in meaning: EXAMPLES: “It started to rain.” ~OR~ “It started raining.” begin like can’t bear love can’t stand prefer continue propose hate start Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive with a change in meaning: I forgot to meet him.
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