GERUNDS X INFINITIVES

GERUND: The gerund is a verb pattern ending with –ING. It is often used:

1. As the subject of a sentence

2. In progressive tenses
3. After prepositions
4. As a noun
5. As the object of a verb**

INFINITIVE: The infinitive is a verb form made by adding “TO” before it. It is used:

1. To indicate purpose
2. After adjectives
3. As the object of a verb**

 How do I know whether a verb is followed by a gerund or an infinitive?

There is absolutely no way to tell. Only after reading and practicing a lot will you notice if a
gerund or an infinitive should be used.

Read the following examples:

a) I have finally managed __________ the report. (V: finish)

b) He admitted _________ the woman’s purse. (V: steal)

Which pattern would you use to complete statements a) and b)?

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Note:

Sometimes the gerund AND the infinitive can be used as the object of a verb, though there
might be differences in meaning, as it follows:

1- He stopped to smoke.
2- He stopped smoking.

Which of the sentences best describe the picture on the left?

The same happens with other verbs, such as remember, like and regret.
 PERFECT TENSES

The meaning of perfect in perfect tenses indicates a complete action. They are formed
by using the auxiliary HAVE followed by a verb in the PAST PERFECT. The perfect
tenses are divided into a) present; b) past; c) future.
a) Present perfect:
Used to talk about complete actions in the present.
Example: I have finished the homework. They have cleaned the porch.
Note: This tense is also used to emphasize the result of an action, to talk about period
of time, to stress the starting point of an event and also for unfinished actions in non-
specific period of time.
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b) Past perfect
Used to talk about a past action that happened before another past action.
Example: He washed the clothes because he had spilled coffee on them.
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c) Future perfect
Used to talk about a future action in a specific future time.
Example: By 2020 I will have finished my PhD.
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 RELATIVE CLAUSES

 Relative clauses are sentences used to describe something. They are used as an
adjective.

Example: He likes taking evening classes.  He likes taking classes that happen in the evening.

A relative clause is introduced with a relative pronoun. There are four different relative
pronouns:

1. Who  introduces relative clauses describing people;

2. Where  introduces relative clauses about places;
3. Which  introduces relative clauses about things;
4. That  introduces relative clauses about either people or things.

More examples:

 She has a daughter who/that is a doctor.

 I have bought a car which/that is really fast.
 The people who/that live here are really friendly.
 They used the fruit that/which I sent them two weeks ago.

**Note: If the relative pronoun is the object of the sentence, then you can drop the pronoun.

She ate all the chocolate that/which I gave her.  She ate all the chocolate that I gave her.

I have read the book that/which you lent me.  I have read the book that you lent me.

Practice:
1. Change the following sentences into relative clauses:
a) I am driving this car. My mother gave me this car.
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b) They have bought the book. I recommended the book.
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c) Joanne was sick after she ate the cake. Her grandmother made the cake.
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d) He found the envelope. It contained two hundred dollars in.
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e) Celia took her son to school. Her son studies a lot.
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 EMBEDDED QUESTIONS
Embedded questions (or indirect questions) happen when there is a question within a
polite/indirect expression, within another question or in a positive statement.

Where are my books?

I wonder __________________________.
The expression I wonder is considered an indirect way of asking something.
Therefore, we use an indirect question after it. Depending on the structure,
there are different ways of creating embedded questions:

VERB TO BE: _______________________________________________________________

AUXILIARIES: ______________________________________________________________

MODALS: _________________________________________________________________

**Note: Bear in mind we never use auxiliaries in embedded questions; instead, we conjugate
the main verb. If it is a yes/no questions, use if or whether in the indirect question.

Examples:

Where does your brother live?  I want to know where does your brother lives.

Did they cook last night?  Do you know if/whether did they cooked last night?

Practice:
1. Change the following direct questions into indirect questions; add an indirect
expression before them.

a) How can I make coffee using this machine?

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b) Which bus do I have to take?

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c) What time are your friends going?

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d) Could your father lend me his car?

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e) Will Jeany and Yuri come to the auditorium?

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