MEETING 6

GERUNDS
A gerund is a noun in the form of “ing” which is derived from a verb.
Gerund can be used:
1. As a subject
e.g. Dancing is her hobby.
Smoking is bad for our health.
2. As an Object (After special verbs)
e.g. She avoided meeting her friend.
I don’t mind being the same group as you.

Verbs which are commonly followed by Gerunds

advise* dislike* keep propose*
admit dread like* regret*
allow* enjoy loathe remember*
anticipate excuse love* resent
appreciate fancy mean* risk
avoid feel like mind start*
begin* finish neglect* stop*
consider forget* permit* suggest
continue* forgive postpone try*
delay hate* practice
deny imagine prefer*
detest* intend prevent

( * ) means that the verbs can be followed by either Gerunds or to-inf

3. After a preposition (in, on, at, for, before, after, etc)

E,g. She succeeded in winning the contest.
4. As a predicate/subject complement (is used after “be”)
 E.g. Her hobby is swimming.
5. After a possessive pronoun ( my, your, his, her, Albert’s, George’s,etc)
E.g. Her going to Australia makes her parents worried.
6. As a noun modifier (gerund in compound)
E.g. My grandfather uses a walking stick.
7. In a short prohibition
E.g. No parking!
8. After certain expressions
 Look forward to
 Be accustomed to
 Be/get used to
 It’s no use/good
 Object to
 It needs/wants/requires
 Be worth
 Can’t stand
 Can’t help
 Can’t bear

To Infinitive
An infinitive is a verb form that acts as other parts of speech in a sentence. Is is formed with
to + base form of the verb.
E,g. I went out to post a letter yesterday.
Your writing is almost impossible to read.
Infinitives can be used:
1. As an object
e.g. Jim always forgets to eat.
2. As a subject
e.g. To travel around the world requires a lot of time and money.
3. As an adverb modifying a verb
e.g. You promised to buy me a diamond ring.
4. As an adjective modifying a noun
e.g Tara has the ability to succeed.

Verbs that can be followed by “to + infinitive (V1)”

Afford agree Appear arrange fail
care decide demand manage mean
forget hope learn pretend challenge
offer plan prepare remember forbid
promise refuse refuse wish expect
stop volunteer wait cause
advise allow ask invite
command convince expect order
force hire instruct remind
pay permit program teach
tell urge want warn

EXERCISE
1. Alan can’t stand……………..(ride) on trains.
2. Mr. Harris enjoys…………….(invite) people out of dinner.
3. In the old days, gentlemen challenged their rivals…………..(fight).
4. As the famous saying goes, there’s no use…………..(cry) over spilt milk.
5. Jim stopped…………..(tie) his shoelace. Wait for him!
6. My wife always volunteers…………..(bake) cakes for PTA meetings.
7. Don’t waste my time…………….(complain) about your salary.
8. Eva is having trouble…………….(concentrate) on her exam.
9. Please allow me………………(join) your Facebook page.
10. You won’t forget…………….(pick) milk on your way home, will you?
11. Laura hates……….(answer) the phone, and very often just lets it……………..(ring).
12. It’s no use my…………………(ask) you……………..((insist) on John’s…………………(be) present
without……………(wait) for any further invitation.
13. Hana rushed out of the room without…………..(give) me a chance……………(explain).
14. Before……………(give) evidence, you must swear…………….(speak) the truth.
15. Don’t forget………………(lock) the door before…………..(go) to bed!
16. Would you please………………(help) me……………….(move) the furniture?
17. You seem……………..(know) this area very well. Yes, I used……………(live) here.
18. I didn’t mean…. …………….(offend) anyone but I succeeded in……………….(annoy) them
all.
19. I’m keen on……………(work) in the computer industry.
20. He didn’t want…………….(risk)………………(get) wet as he had only one suit.