I. Gerunds and Infinitives: Introduction and Review (All About Gerunds and Infinitives)

1.0 What do Gerunds and Infinitives Do?

Underline the gerunds and double-underline the infinitives in the following paragraphs.

If you are going to build energy-efficient high rises in the future, consider using mass timber beams instead of steel beams to build the structure.  ‘Timber’ is another name for large pieces of wood or wood beams.

People are reacting to the huge amounts of energy that are needed to melt steel in order to make steel beams.  Instead, you could use mass timber.  Making mass timber includes taking narrow strips of wood and gluing them together under extreme pressure in order to make extremely strong and large beams of wood, which are used to construct the building.

Besides saving energy by avoiding the energy-intensive process of melting steel, you can also avoid the use of cement.  Making cement is also a very energy-intensive process.  The process of making cement includes a process in which you need to heat the cement to very high temperature.  In addition, using mass timber means that carbon is actually stored in the wood when trees grow.  Trees also take carbon out of the air and then replace it with oxygen.  It seems like a great idea to use mass timber instead of steel and cement to build high rises.

2.0 Gerunds

2.1 Gerunds as Subjects

1. Use a Gerund from the following list to complete the sentences.
    
   Word List: applying, organizing, calling, receiving, communicating, collecting.
    
   1.                             your desk can improve your mental focus.
   2.                             a friend when you are stressed can reduce your anxiety.
   3.                             money for hungry children helped Jordan express his empathy.
   4.                             your needs at work helps others to know how best to work with you.
   5.                             a well-thought-out gift can make you feel appreciated.
   6.                             for a job these days has become mostly online.

    

2. Write your own gerund as a subject in the blanks below.
    
   1.                                  $200 could really make your day a good one.
   2.                                  a good job is not always easy.
   3.                                  with your parents is sometimes difficult.
   4.                                  a pet is usually a good experience.
   5.                                  a messy room can make you depressed.

2.2 Using Gerunds as Objects of a Verb: Verb + Gerund

1. Underline the gerunds that serve as the object of the verb in the following paragraph.
    
   Karna enjoys eating healthy foods.  He started cooking with a lot of fruit and vegetables about six months ago.  Since he and many people in his country are vegetarians, markets that make buying vegetables and fruit easy are not hard to find.  Cookbooks that specialize in cooking vegetarian food are common.  Karna enjoys finding new spices to use, which makes tasting new dishes interesting and enjoyable.
    
   What about you?  Do you find trying your dishes exciting and pleasurable?  Or, do you prefer sticking with your favourite foods?  I recommend starting with something easy.  You can find dishes that are similar to the dishes in your culture but are not too spicy or have tastes that you have not tried eating yet.
    
2. Use a gerund from the following list to complete the sentences.  First, change the verbs to gerunds.
    
   Word list: offend, get together, receive, meet with, wash, change, read
    
   1. Kazuo appreciates                          cards from coworkers at New Years.
   2. Jakub suggests                          for a picnic at the beach.
   3. Our boss often delays                          employees because he has a very busy schedule.
   4. I don’t mind                          dishes by hand because it relaxes me.
   5. If possible, Misako avoids                          others by checking her email at dinner.
   6. I would consider                          jobs if I found a job that has better benefits.
   7. Yasmin stops                          when her eyes start to hurt.

    

3. Put the following words or phrases in order using a Gerund as the Object of the sentence.  One word is a Verb that must be changed to a Gerund.  Remember that a Gerund might have its own object because it still has characteristics of a verb.  Capitalize the first letter of the sentence.
    
   1. have you / helping / who has had an accident / ever considered / someone?
                                                                                                                                      
   2. keeps buying / because / lottery tickets / he hopes to get rich / Jason
                                                                                                                                      
   3. getting / are discussing / they / a new car / are
                                                                                                                                      
   4. my shoes / for work / cleaning / I / before I leave / want to finish
                                                                                                                                      
   5. at it / Alesia / by waving frantically / tried stopping the bus
                                                                                                                                      

    

4. Answer the following questions using a gerund as the object of the verb.  Share your answer with a partner.
    
   1. What would you like to stop doing?
                                                                                                                                      
   2. What would you like to start doing?
                                                                                                                                      
   3. What do you usually avoid doing?
                                                                                                                                      
   4. What would you consider doing if you had a lot of money?
                                                                                                                                      
   5. What would you consider doing if you had more courage?
                                                                                                                                      

2.3 Objects of Gerunds: Verb + Gerund + Object of the Gerund

1. Add an object to the gerunds in the sentences below.  Following the gerunds in the following sentences, add an object from the list below.
    
   Word List: lantern boats, food, the bears, guests, houses
    
   1. Welcoming                                 is an important part of Bedouin culture and was often necessary for survival in the past.
   2. Feeding                                 in a national park causes them to become comfortable around people, but later they may become aggressive towards people.
   3. One of the festivals in Thailand includes releasing                                 with a candle in them into a river.
   4. In some parts of Southeast Asia, bamboo is common for building                                .
   5. One traditions of the Hindu religion includes giving                                 to guests.

    

2. Put the following words or phrases in order using a gerund as the subject of the sentence.  One word is a verb that must be changed to a gerund.  Remember that a gerund might have its own object because it still has characteristics of a verb.  Capitalize the first letter of the sentence.
    
   1. an exciting adventure / around the world / travel / is
                                                                                                                                      
   2. can give / a musical instrument / play / us / a lot of pleasure
                                                                                                                                      
   3. requires / a lot of effort / in our career / advance
                                                                                                                                      
   4. text / might annoy / every few minutes / your friends / them
                                                                                                                                      
   5. is important / when you move / adjust / to a foreign country / your expectations
                                                                                                                                      
   6. after a hard week of work / with friends / helps / meet
                                                                                                                                      
   7. punish / usually increases / your pets / their bad behavior
                                                                                                                                      

    

3. Write your own sentences using the following gerunds as the subject of the sentence.
    
   1. Planning                                                                                                                                 
   2. Calculating                                                                                                                                 
   3. Taking care of                                                                                                                                 
   4. Dreaming of your future                                                                                                                                 
   5. (Your own Gerund)                                                                                                                                 

2.4 The Negative Form of Gerunds

Transform the following positive sentences with gerunds to a negative form.

2.5 Using Gerunds in Descriptions: Subject + Linking Verb + Gerund Modifier

Reverse the underlined noun subject or object in the following sentences with the gerund that is currently serving as the subject or object of the sentences below.  The sentences all follow the Subject + Linking Verb + Modifier pattern that is used to describe something or to give information about the subject.

Example:
Answering my email at work is an ongoing battle.
An ongoing battle is answering my email at work.

2.6 Gerunds as the Object of a Preposition

1. First, underline the verb, adjective or noun + preposition combinations in the following sentences.  Then, indicate whether each sentence has either a verb, adjective, or noun followed by a preposition.  Write ‘v’ for verb, ‘a’ for adjective, or ‘n’ for noun.
    
   1.         My roommate keeps on playing his music loudly in the evening.
   2.         There is a possibility of not finishing the project on time.
   3.         Jason always works at answering his emails by the end of the day.
   4.         I always take advantage of summer by going camping.
   5.         This company aims at selling 1000 pairs of shoes by the end of the month.
   6.         Maria always forgets about taking her umbrella when it’s raining.
   7.         I am concerned about the rising temperature of our oceans.
   8.         Freya is very effective at organizing her team to complete a task.
   9.         The process of applying for jobs can be discouraging.
   10.         Being aware of invading computer viruses is important for businesses.

    

2. Make sentences by putting the following words or phrases in order.  Remember that could be either verbs, adjectives or nouns followed by a preposition.  Be sure to capitalize the first word in the sentence.
    
   1. not necessary for / in large cities with a good transit system / getting to / is / work / a car
                                                                                                                                      
   2. are / working as a Senior Manager / very different from / a middle manager / the responsibilities of
                                                                                                                                      
   3. very successful at / was / she / selling the products of her start-up company
                                                                                                                                      
   4. listening / had grown tired of / to her roommates’ complaints / she
                                                                                                                                      
   5. the day / I / when I pay off my car loan / look forward to
                                                                                                                                      

    

3. Complete the following sentences using a gerund as the object of a preposition.  Answer the following questions using the same preposition combinations as the questions (i.e. verb + preposition, adjective + preposition, or noun + preposition combination).
    
   Example:
   What are you excited about?
   I am excited about graduation.
    
   1. What are you effective at?
                                                                                                                                      
   2. What are your habits?  What do you make a practice of?
                                                                                                                                      
   3. What are you concerned about?
                                                                                                                                      
   4. What do you admit to doing when no one is around?
                                                                                                                                      
   5. What exciting thing are you planning on doing in the next five years?
                                                                                                                                      

3.0 Infinitives

3.1 Using Infinitives as the Subject of a Sentence or Clause

1. In the following paragraph, underline the infinitive that is used as the subject of the sentence.  Include infinitives used in the formula using ‘It’ + adjective + infinitive.  Be careful!  Not every infinitive in the following paragraphs is used as the subject of the sentence.  Some are used as the object of the verb.
    
   Communicating with someone from another country can be tricky.  It is common to make serious mistakes without knowing the communication styles of someone from another country.  For example, in the United States, people often interrupt what someone is saying by starting to talk before the other person is finished.  To do this is very rude in Japan.  It is important in Japan to let the other person completely finish what they’re going to say before you begin to speak.  Also in Japan, it is common for people to spend some time thinking before they answer a question.  It is necessary to give them time to do this.
    
   On the other hand, in the United States, you still should not interrupt someone in the middle of a sentence at the least, and you should really not interrupt them in the middle of what they want to say.  It is important to listen from a drop in tone at the end of a sentence, which indicates the end of the sentence.  In addition, it is possible to tell when a person is finished what they want to say, because their tone gradually drops over the entire last sentence that they are speaking.
    
   In the United States, it is necessary to show someone who is talking that you are actually actively listening.  To just sit passively while they are talking communicates that you are not interested in what they are saying.  Instead, it is important to nod your head and say something like ‘uh-huh’ while they are talking to show that you are listening.
    
2. Use the following verbs in the word list and change them to infinitives.  Then, use them as the subject of the following sentences.
    
   Word list: drive, ride, graduate, give, have
    
   1.                                           a horse is a wonderful experience.
   2.                                           a car at the age of 15 is possible in some places.
   3. For some people,                                           a speech is worse than death.
   4. For some child prodigies,                                           from university at the age of 15 is possible.
   5.                                           good communication skills is important in our relationships.

    

3. Now, change the above sentences to sentences that use the ‘It’ + adjective + infinitive pattern instead of using an infinitive as the subject of the sentence.
    
   1.                                                                                                                                 
   2.                                                                                                                                 
   3.                                                                                                                                 
   4.                                                                                                                                 
   5.                                                                                                                                 

3.2 Infinitives Used as the Object of a Verb

1. Use infinitives as the object of a verb in the sentences below.  Change the verbs in the list below into an infinitive and use it to complete the sentences that follow.
    
   Word List: dive, let, guarantee, think, travel, die, be with, visit
    
   They were people who wanted (1)                                           to the bottom of the ocean to visit the Titanic, the ship that sank in 1912.  It might seem strange (2)                                           a place where the huge disaster of the Titanic took place, but in 2023, some adventurous people tried (3)                                           to the bottom of the ocean but met with failure when their submersible imploded.
    
   Maybe, in their minds, they liked (4)                                           that visiting the Titanic is sort of like paying respect to the people who died on the Titanic.  They might have hoped (5)                                           the people who died at the bottom of the lonely ocean.  To be fair, they had warned the people who went with them on the excursion that it could be dangerous.  They had never pretended (6)                                           complete safety.
    
   I am sure that the operators of the submersible didn’t intend (7)                                           on the day that they left for the bottom of the ocean.  They knew that the ocean at depths of close around 3800 meters (12,500 feet) could completely and instantly crush the submersible.  But they didn’t want (8)                                           fear stop them.
    
2. Complete the sentences below by adding your own infinitives.  Then, share your sentences with a partner.
    
   1. I want to                                                                 .
   2. I intend to                                                                 .
   3. I don’t pretend to                                                                 .
   4. I refuse to                                                                 .
   5. In the past, I tried to                                                                 .

3.3 Verb + Infinitive + Object of the Infinitive

1. Recognize and then underline the objects of infinitives in the following paragraph.
   Note: Since an object is always a noun or noun phrase, and a gerund or infinitive used as the object can also take the place of a noun, the object of a gerund or infinitive could be another gerund or infinitive (example: I am enjoying playing the guitar).  There is one infinitive that is acting as the object of another infinitive in this paragraph.  Be sure to find the object of an infinitive that is itself an infinitive.
    
   Every soccer team in the world hopes to win the World Cup someday.  No one plans to lose the prize.  They practice for hours a day because they hope to hear the cheers of the crowd from their home country as they work to become heroes in the eyes of their fans.  They refuse to give up on their dreams.  They really try to avoid the disappointment of the children who idolize them, and they really don’t want to see their fellow countrymen riot in the streets after their team loses in the final match of the tournament.  They hope not to need to fake an injury just to achieve a victory.  So, they buck up and grit your teeth as they go through another practice in the rain.
    
2. Insert the nouns from the word list into the sentences below to provide an object of the infinitive.
    
   Word List: a life, childhood, all of his wealth, fun, childhood diseases, his money
    
   Jon hopes to give (1)                                           to charity some day.  He tries to live (2)                                           of generosity.  He has always intended to use (3)                                           to cure (4)                                          .  This is because he wants children to have (5)                                           and to enjoy their (6)                                          .
    
3. Complete the following exercise by adding an object following the infinitives in the sentence.
    
   1. Someday, I hope to get                                                                                                                                 .
   2. I hope to qualify for                                                                                                                                 .
   3. I intend to give                                                                                                                                 .
   4. I hope to travel to­­­­­­­                                                                                                                                .
   5. I refuse to call                                                                                                                                 .

3.4 Adjectives Followed by Infinitives

1. Use the verbs from the word list below to fill in the blanks that follow adjectives, which can be in the participle form.  Note that adjectives such as sorry, sad, upset, excited and disappointed are frequently followed by infinitives such as to hear, to see, to learn, or to discover.
    
   Word List: spend, hear, see, die, come in last, not add, win
    
   1. She was determined                                                the chess game.
   2. You are very unlikely                                                in an airplane accident.  They are very rare.
   3. Evangeline was content                                                her time reading books.
   4. I was disappointed                                                that I could not get the apartment that I wanted.
   5. Jason was ashamed                                                in the race in his gym class.
   6. The accountant was careful                                                an extra zero into the long number.
   7. She was excited                                                her name on the list of people accepted into the program.

    

2. Complete the following exercise by adding an infinitive following the adjectives in the sentence.
    
   1. I am content                                                                 .
   2. I am excited                                                                 .
   3. I am motivated                                                                 .
   4. I was surprised                                                                 .
   5. I am unlikely                                                                 

3.5 Infinitive of Purpose: In Order To

1. Use the following verbs from the word list to create infinitives in order to complete the sentences using an infinitive of purpose.
    
   Word List: get, reduce, get into, increase, achieve
    
   1. I tried to get a new job in order                                           my salary so that I could pay my bills.
   2. Mohammed contacted fifty former classmates in order                                           his sales targets.
   3. We all joined a health club in order                                           better physical condition.
   4. Companies sometimes reduce their number of employees in order                                           costs.
   5. The government has started to provide childcare in order                                           more women in the workforce.

    

2. Complete the following sentences with your own phrase using ‘in order to’.
    
   1. I sometimes fix my own car in order to                                                                 .
   2. I went to the dentist in order to                                                                 .

    

3. Now, add ‘in order to’ + rest of sentence in the following:
    
   1. Vladimir read the newspaper                                                                 .
   2. Yasmin always rides a bicycle to work                                                                 .

    

4. Complete the following sentences with a verb phrase and a phrase using ‘in order to’.
    
   1. I always                       in order to                                                               .
   2. I never                       in order to                                                               .
   3. I                       every day in order to                                                               .

    

5. Next, write two sentences of your own sentences using ‘in order to’.  This time, omit the words ‘in order’ from the phrase ‘in order to’.
    
   1.                                                                                                                                 .
   2.                                                                                                                                 .

3.6 Infinitives of Agency: Someone Causes Someone Else to Do Something

Use the following words and phrases, which are not in the correct order, to make sentences that use verbs of agency.   Be sure to use the correct form of the verb that follows the main verb + doer of the action.
 

 
*futility = uselessness

3.7 Other Patterns Used with Infinitives

1. Put the following words in the correct order to create a sentence that uses the Verb + Object + Infinitive pattern.
    
   1. to Miami / rented / Juan / a car / to travel
                                                                                                                                      .
   2. his credit card / for a new jacket Arturo / to pay / used
                                                                                                                                      .
   3. to text her parents / always borrows / Mina / her friend’s phone
                                                                                                                                      .
   4. Sanjay and his brother / to the football game / my car / to drive / borrowed
                                                                                                                                      .
   5. Anika / to create / a beautiful design / used / a new app
                                                                                                                                      .

    

2. Put the following words in the correct order to create a sentence that uses the Verb + Pronoun + Infinitive pattern.
    
   1. to call / asked / I / my sister / her
                                                                                                                                      .
   2. me / to create / my supervisor / a report / told
                                                                                                                                      .
   3. instructed / us / to use / a new offensive strategy / the team leader
                                                                                                                                      .
   4. them / I / to be / very organized / find
                                                                                                                                      .
   5. Gita / a very nice birthday party / me / always gives
                                                                                                                                      .

4.0 Using Gerunds and Infinitives for the Past, Present, and Future and for Realistic and Unrealistic Situations

4.4 Verbs Followed by Either a Gerund or an Infinitive, With no Change in Meaning

1. Without looking at charts of verbs that are followed by either a gerund or infinitive, try to predict whether or not the following verbs are followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive.  Put ‘g’ next to those that would likely be followed by a Gerund and put ‘i’ next to those that would likely be followed by an Infinitive.  All these verbs can be changed to either only a Gerund or an Infinitive.  None of them can be changed to either a Gerund OR an Infinitive.
    
   1.         enjoy
   2.         decide
   3.         expect
   4.         keep
   5.         quit
   6.         learn

   7.         plan
   8.         discuss
   9.         hope
   10.         finish
   11.         intend
   12.         practice

   13.         want
   14.         recommend
   15.         aim
   16.         avoid

    

2. Change the following verbs to either a gerund or an infinitive.  All these verbs can be changed to either a gerund or an infinitive.  A few of them can be changed to either a gerund OR an infinitive.  The verbs may be in the subject or object position in the sentence.
    
   When listing a series of infinitive-action nouns in parallel, remember that you do not need to repeat ‘to’, as follows: “I like to swim, hike, and play football.”
    
   It seems like (1)                       (be) an astronaut would be a rewarding and exciting career.  I enjoy (2)                       (explore) new things, so in the future I don’t expect (3)                       (have) a boring career.  I will never quit (4)                       (try) new things, and I never want (5)                       (avoid) things that are a challenge.  I will begin (6)                       (take) courses in science, aeronautics, and astrophysics.  I think that I would enjoy (7)                       (study) these things.  I aim (8)                       (travel) to space within 15 years at the maximum.
    
   I discussed (9)                       (follow) my dreams with my academic advisor, and he suggested (10)                       (decide on) what motivates me.  It may be difficult, but I just need (11)                       (keep on) going, (12)                       (continue) along my path, even if the going gets rough sometimes.  This will teach me (13)                       (quit, not) just because there are obstacles.  I have decided (14)                       (do) this.  My first step is (15)                       (learn) to fly an airplane.
    
3. Finish the following sentences using your own ideas.  Use either a gerund or an infinitive.
    
   1. I prefer                                                                 .
   2. Mateo quit                                                                 .
   3. Malik prefers                                                                 .
   4. My father expects                                                                 .
   5. I avoid                                                                 .
   6. Liam likes                                                                 .
   7. My mother recommends                                                                 .

    

4. Finish the following sentences using your own ideas.  Use a verb followed by a noun or pronoun plus a gerund or an infinitive.
    
   1. My mother often asked                                           to                                          .
   2. My friends expect                                           to                                          .
   3. My teacher always wanted                                           to                                          .
   4. My father expects                                           to                                          .
   5. My grandmother wanted                                           to                                           .

4.5 Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives, but With a Change in Meaning

Write two sentences for each verb.  One sentence should use the verb followed by a gerund and the other sentence should use the verb followed by an infinitive.

5.0 Transforming Nouns into Gerunds and Infinitives

Read the paragraph below, which uses academic nouns and verbs that can be changed to Gerunds, Infinitives, or Infinitives of Purpose.  Change the following noun or verb forms to Gerunds, Infinitives and Infinitives of Purpose.

Note: Sometimes the spelling of a noun form is quite different than a gerund form.  In this case, first change the noun form to a verb form and then add ‘-ing’.

Communication skills with family and with significant people in our lives is important for the maintenance of those relationships.  These skills are important because they prevent misunderstanding and promote positive interactions.  This helps with the development of feelings of trust in our relationships with others, because it protects the vulnerabilities of others and contributes to a feeling of intimacy.  If you have good skills in communication, it also works for interpersonal relationships at work.

Having skills in (1)                                           (communication) with family and with significant people in our lives is important for (2)                                           (maintenance) those relationships.  These skills can help (3)                                           (prevent) misunderstanding and (4)                                           (promote) a positive way of (5)                                           (interaction).  This helps (6)                                           (development) feelings of trust in (7)                                           (relationship) to others.  It strengthens our ability (8)                                           (relationship) with others, because it serves (9)                                           (protect) the vulnerabilities of others and (10)                                           (contribute) to a feeling of intimacy.  (11)                                           (have) good skills in (12)                                           (communication) does the same for interpersonal relationships at work.