Rules for Gerunds and Infinitives

by | Sep 9, 2024 | Verbs

Rules for Gerunds and Infinitives: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Them in English Grammar

Mastering English grammar can be challenging, especially when it comes to gerunds and infinitives. These verb forms play a crucial role in sentence structure, and understanding when to use each is key to improving your overall grammar skills. In this article, we’ll break down the rules for gerunds and infinitives, providing clear explanations and examples to help you learn how to improve English grammar effortlessly.

Introduction to Gerunds and Infinitives

Before diving into the specific rules, it’s important to know what gerunds and infinitives are and why they matter.

Gerunds: A gerund is a verb that functions as a noun by adding “-ing” to the base form. For example, “running” is the gerund form of “run.” Despite looking like a verb, it behaves like a noun in a sentence.

Example: “Running is my favorite hobby.”

Infinitives: An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to.” Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Example: “To run is my goal.”

Both gerunds and infinitives play essential roles in English sentences. By learning how to use them correctly, you’ll significantly improve your English grammar and ability to communicate fluently.

Rules for Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds: Rules and Usage

Gerunds can be tricky because they are verb forms that act as nouns. Let’s explore some key rules for using gerunds.

Gerunds as Subjects of a Sentence

A gerund can serve as the subject of a sentence, much like a noun.

Example: “Swimming is a great workout.”

In this case, “swimming” is the subject of the sentence, and it’s performing the action of the verb “is.”

Gerunds as Objects of a Sentence

Gerunds are often used as the object of a sentence, especially after certain verbs.

Example: “I enjoy reading.”

Here, “reading” is the object of the verb “enjoy.”

Verbs Followed by Gerunds

Some verbs are always followed by gerunds. Here are a few common examples:

Enjoy

Avoid

Consider

Mind

Suggest

Example: “She avoids talking during meetings.”

Knowing which verbs take gerunds is essential if you want to learn how to improve English grammar.

Gerunds After Prepositions

A crucial rule to remember is that after any preposition, you should always use a gerund, not an infinitive.

Example: “She’s interested in learning Spanish.”

The preposition “in” is followed by the gerund “learning.” This is a common structure in English and one that helps you build more complex and accurate sentences.

Gerunds After Certain Expressions

Certain phrases are always followed by gerunds, such as “It’s no use” or “It’s worth.”

Example: “It’s no use crying over spilled milk.”

Here, “crying” is the gerund following the expression “It’s no use.”

Infinitives: Rules and Usage

Infinitives are the base forms of verbs and have a wide range of uses in English grammar. Understanding when to use an infinitive can greatly enhance your sentence variety and fluidity.

Infinitives as Subjects or Objects

Like gerunds, infinitives can function as the subject or object of a sentence.

Example: “To swim is refreshing.” (subject)

Example: “I want to swim.” (object)

In both cases, the infinitive “to swim” is being used to describe an action.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Some verbs are followed by infinitives rather than gerunds. Common examples include:

Decide

Plan

Hope

Learn

Example: “He plans to travel soon.”

Knowing which verbs take infinitives is an important part of learning how to improve English grammar and use verbs correctly.

Infinitives After Adjectives

Infinitives often follow adjectives to explain more about the adjective.

Example: “She was happy to help.”

Here, the adjective “happy” is followed by the infinitive “to help,” which gives more information about the reason for the happiness.

Infinitives to Express Purpose

When expressing purpose, infinitives are typically used.

Example: “He went to the store to buy milk.”

In this case, “to buy” explains the purpose of “going to the store.”

Infinitives as Object Complements

Infinitives can also be used as object complements, modifying or explaining the object in more detail.

Example: “They encouraged him to try.”

In this sentence, “to try” complements the object “him.”

Common Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives with a Change in Meaning

Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning changes depending on which form you use. Here are a few examples:

Forget

Gerund: “I forgot meeting him.” (I don’t remember the past action.)

Infinitive: “I forgot to meet him.” (I didn’t remember to perform the action.)

Stop

Gerund: “She stopped smoking.” (She quit the habit.)

Infinitive: “She stopped to smoke.” (She paused in order to smoke.)

Try

Gerund: “Try doing yoga.” (Experiment with yoga as a solution.)

Infinitive: “Try to do yoga.” (Make an effort to perform yoga.)

Learning these differences is crucial if you’re aiming to sharpen your English skills and improve your grammar usage.

Verbs That Can Be Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives Without Change in Meaning

Some verbs can be followed by either gerunds or infinitives without a significant change in meaning. These verbs include:

Begin

Start

Continue

Love

Like

Hate

Prefer

Example: “I started running.” / “I started to run.”

Both sentences convey the same meaning. Understanding this flexibility can help you learn how to improve English grammar and express yourself more naturally.

Special Cases

Gerunds After Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are often followed by gerunds, which is a rule to remember when constructing sentences.

Example: “She gave up smoking.”

Here, “gave up” is a phrasal verb, and it’s followed by the gerund “smoking.”

Passive Infinitives

Infinitives can be used in passive form to indicate that something needs to be done.

Example: “The book needs to be read.”

This structure is often used in more formal or written English.

Causative Verbs

Verbs like “make,” “let,” and “have” are followed by the base form of the verb, rather than the infinitive.

Example: “She made him apologize.”

Learning these special cases will help you avoid common mistakes and improve your overall English grammar.

Exceptions and Irregularities

English is full of exceptions, and gerunds and infinitives are no different. Some verbs are rigid in their structure, meaning they can only be followed by either a gerund or infinitive, but never both.

Example: “Can’t help” is always followed by a gerund: “I can’t help laughing.”

Additionally, the choice between a gerund or infinitive can sometimes influence the tone of a sentence. Understanding these nuances will give you an edge as you continue to learn how to improve English grammar.

Exercises and Practice Sentences

Improving your grammar requires practice. Here are a few exercises to test your understanding:

Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises

“He forgot ___ (bring) his keys.” (Answer: to bring)

“She considered ___ (move) to New York.” (Answer: moving)

Identifying Correct Usage

Which is correct?

“She stopped smoking.”

“She stopped to smoke.”

Both can be correct, depending on the intended meaning.

Conclusion

Gerunds and infinitives are essential components of English grammar. By mastering their usage, you’ll enhance your ability to construct sentences accurately and fluently. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or reading, knowing when to use gerunds or infinitives can significantly improve your command of the language. Keep practicing, and you’ll continue to learn how to improve English grammar over time.

By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to mastering gerunds and infinitives, adding a new level of precision and style to your English communication.

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