Infinitives and Gerunds
When I first started teaching I didn't even know
the meaning of 'gerund‘ while 'infinitive' seemed
somehow faraway and exciting.
Then I discovered the awful truth....
Mike JC Smith
The ideas and many of the examples in this presentation come from Explaining English Grammar by
George Yule - Oxford University Press 1998
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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The awful truth....
Most people don’t understand this.
What is worse, when we teach something we don’t,
ourselves, understand we often say,
“Oh, you just have to remember this.
Here are some lists.”
Have you ever said this to a student...
... simply because you, yourself, didn’t or don’t
understand?
I did that for a while...
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Searching for answers...
Most people don’t understand this.
A quick search on Google “esl gerund and infinitive”
“When two verbs are used together, the second verb is
often in the gerund form (-ing) or the infinitive. There are
no specific rules concerning which verbs take which
form. Like irregular verbs, you will need to learn which
form a verb takes. ”
Kenneth Beare, ESL About.com
http://esl.about.com/od/beginningenglish/ig/Basic-English/Gerund-or-Infinitive.htm
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Searching for answers...
Most people don’t understand this.
A quick search on Google “esl gerund and infinitive”
“... in many situations, although there is a slight
difference in meaning, gerunds and infinitives are used
interchangeably. ”
“With any luck your textbook will not address gerunds
and infinitives directly but will still give students lots of
practice using them”
Hermione_111, busyteacher.org
http://busyteacher.org/4123-gerund-vs.-infinitive-how-to-explain-the.html
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Google “esl gerund and infinitive”
Plodding on with lists/exercises
http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz-center/haightmult.htm
http://a4esl.org/q/h/9801/el-to-ing.html
http://www.fiestaesl.com/gerinf.html
Potentially dangerous
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/general-language-discussions/713-infinitive-gerund.html
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/gerund_infinitive.htm
http://esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us/eesllessons/gerundinf/gerundinf.htm
Might understand but not helping
http://esl.about.com/od/beginningenglish/ig/Basic-English/Gerund-or-Infinitive.htm
http://busyteacher.org/4123-gerund-vs.-infinitive-how-to-explain-the.html
http://eslteachingideas.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/gerunds-infinitives-esl-grammar-ideas.html
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund
Understand and attempting to explain
http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/part_1.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/gerinf.htm
Understand and explaining
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/gerunds.htm
George Yule http://amzn.com/0194371727
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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The lists...
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm
One of the best sites.
Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
She agreed to speak before the game.
begin
care
choose
condescend
consent
continue
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
fail
forget
get
happen
have
hesitate
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
long
love
mean
neglect
offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
refuse
remember
say
shoot
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
start
stop
strive
swear
threaten
try
use
wait
want
wish
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The lists...
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm
One of the best sites.
Verbs Followed by an Object (some don’t need) and an Infinitive
Everyone expected her to win.
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge
choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force
have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like
love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
prepare
promise
remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn
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The lists...
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm
One of the best sites.
Verbs Followed by a Gerund
They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider
delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
forbid
get through
have
imagine
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
resent
resist
resume
risk
spend (time)
suggest
tolerate
waste (time)
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The lists...
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm
One of the best sites.
Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund
We concentrated on doing well.
admit to
approve of
argue about
believe in
care about
complain about
concentrate on
confess to
depend on
disapprove of
discourage from
dream about
feel like
forget about
insist on
object to
plan on
prevent (someone)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
from
refrain from
succeed in
talk about
think about
worry about
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The lists...
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verblist.htm
One of the best sites.
Verbs that take Gerund and Infinitives
(do you agree?)
acknowledge
admit
advise
afford
agree
allow
anticipate
appear
appreciate
ask
avoid
beg
begin
celebrate
challenge
choose
command
consent
consider
continue
dare
decide
demand
deny
deserve
discuss
dislike
enable
encourage
endure
enjoy
expect
fail
feel
finish
forbid
force
forget
get
give up
hate
have
hear
help
(cannot) help
hope
imagine
intend
invite
involve
learn
let
like
love
make
mention
miss
need
neglect
notice
persuade
plan
practice
prefer
pretend
promise
recommend
refuse
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
regret
remember
remind
see
seem
start
stop
teach
tell
understand
want
watch
wish
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The lists...
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund
Understand but not helping.
Verbs that take Gerund and Infinitives
Same Meaning
(do you agree?)
attempt
begin
bother
cannot bear
cease
continue
hate
intend
love
prefer
start
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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The lists...
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund
Understand but not helping.
Verbs that take Gerund and Infinitives
Same Meaning But Different Use
(do you agree?)
Word
Infinitive meaning
Gerund meaning
forget /
remember
with regard to the future
Remember to switch off the lights.
with regard to the past
Do you remember switching off
the lights?
go on
start something new
Go on to read.
continue with the same action
Go on reading.
regret
with regard to the future
I regret to say that.
with regard to the past
I regret saying that.
stop
interrupt another action
I stopped to smoke.
terminate
I stopped smoking.
try
do something complicated
Try to solve this riddle.
do it and see what happens
Try talking to him.
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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The lists...
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/infinitive-gerund
Understand but not helping.
Verbs that take Infinitives or Present Participle
Words
Infinitive meaning
Gerund meaning
feel
hear
see
Emphasises that the action is
completed.
Example: I saw him go up the stairs.
Action can be completed, but not
necessarily.
Example: I saw him going up the
stairs.
go
come
expresses a purpose
Example: She is coming to show us
the pictures.
in connection with activities
Example: Let’s go shopping /
dancing.
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Let’s become more helpful...
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Major Concepts
We look at three major concepts to give the
learner a better chance of producing correct or
acceptable language
time sequencing
● 'noun-ness'
● factuality and reality
●
Does not put the whole truth, but it is the truth and
can be confidently applied by learners.
Avoids 'negative learning’.
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Native Utterences
Do you surf?
Yep I like/enjoy surfing.
Like to surf this afternoon?
Sure, surfing is better than studying.
Hmm, the surfing is better at Bondi than Manly.
Yep, I saw people surfing there today.
Let’s go surfing now...
Can you explain all this to a learner of English?
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Time Sequence Infinitive
This rule of thumb (by itself) is about 80% correct and
works for both transitive and intransitive verbs.
Would you like to surf?
Do you want to eat?
My doctor encouraged me to get fit.
He entered the competition to win a holiday.
All these are simple time sequences of verbs:
first like then surf
first want then eat
first encourage then get fit
first enter then win
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Reverse Time Sequence Gerund
This rule of thumb (by itself) is about 60% correct.
It is sometimes called ‘experiential’.
I like/love/enjoy surfing
He resented cooking for her.
He finished working at 4pm.
All these are reverse time sequences of verbs
(often as a consequence):
enjoyment follows surfing
resentment follows cooking
finish follows working
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Contrasting Time Sequences
He stopped to buy a magazine yesterday.
first stop then buy
She stopped buying magazines last year.
stop follows (and concludes) buying
You must remember to pay the bills.
first remember then pay
You must remember paying the bills.
remember follows pay
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Same Time Gerund/Pres Participle
This rule of thumb overlaps with ‘reverse time’ and also
covers sensory verbs.
I enjoy surfing. (enjoyment happens whilst surfing)
He resented cooking. (resentment during cooking)
He finished working at 4pm. (may refer to packing up)
I saw him going up the stairs. (see/go concurrent)
We heard her singing. (hear/sing concurrent)
Let’s go shopping. (go/shop concurrent)
Seeing is believing. (see/is/believe concurrent)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Sensory Contrasts
Sensory verbs can refer to completed actions or actions
that are felt to be repetitive or ongoing.
I saw him go/going up the stairs.
We heard her sing/singing.
I felt her touch/touching my hand.
I heard him knock/knocking.
He was talking*.
Completed – second verb is so close to the first verb that
it is part of it and becomes tenseless (non-finite)
Ongoing – action is continuous, progressive (*)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Noun-ness of Gerunds
Gerunds can name an activity.
(take articles, possessives, determiners like nouns)
The surfing is better at Bondi today.
I like her singing.
Gerunds can also name an event / course of action
(focus not on event / course of action, and
the performer / agent can be a different person)
He considered walking to the city.
She suggested driving.
(conveys a sense of time duration)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Verb-ness of Infinitives
Infinitives cannot name an activity (cannot work
with determiners and possessives).
The *to surf is better at Bondi today.
I like her/his *to sing.
Infinitives focus on action and actor/agent.
He wanted to eat. (never to be completed)
She told him to cook. (completed)
(no sense of time duration)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Factuality and Reality
Gerunds convey a sense of fact and reality
He denied shooting the bank teller.
a statement of fact meaning “I did not shoot the teller.”
although the teller had been shot
(fact – something happened)
Infinitives convey a sense of action or inaction .
He refused to talk further.
a statement of action or lack of action
cannot be true/false
(action – something was done or not done)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Verb Types and Distance
Commitment
Aspectual
Self-directed
NP V inf
demand, agree, decide, apply, ask,
consent, aim, attempt, beg
Other-directed NP V NP inf
order, command, tell, convince,
persuade, urge, advise, ask, permit
Point Time – infinitive
Period time - gerund
begin, commence, finish, remain,
start, continue, cease, carry on,
quit, stay, stop,
Linguistic Distance
Sensory
feel, look at, hear, see, smell,
watch, sense, observe, notice
time limited, completed, single act
-> bare inf
time unlimited, incomplete, series
of acts -> gerund
reflects Conceptual Distance
(reality, factuality, future, formality)
I told her to leave (separate)
I saw her leave
(concurrent)
I saw her leaving (concurrent,
incomplete)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Discussion 1
●
Complements following adjectives
It’s hard (find) a parking place here.
I was sorry (miss) you.
It’s awful (work) here.
It was good (see) you again.
●
(time sequence)
(‘miss’ is a point-in-time verb)
(conceptual distance = formality)
(conceptual distance = formality)
Try these adjectives
afraid, curious, first, kind, slow, annoying, delighted, free, quick, stupid,
careful, difficult, glad, reluctant, unkind, certain, eager, impossible, ridiculous,
unlikely, crazy, easy, keen, rude, willing
●
Can you apply any of the rules-of-thumb?
time sequencing, 'noun-ness‘, factuality and reality
●
Who is helping whom?
He is quick to help. vs He is hard to help.
Categorise the adjective set accordingly
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Discussion 2
●
Complements following prepositions
He left without …
I thought about …
He stopped me from …
I dream of …
We decided against …
●
hint: duration, course of action
Complements following nouns
It’s a nice change (go) somewhere different.
He regrets his decision (sell) the land.
Do you have enough money (pay) for all this?
She never has a kind word (say) about him.
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
hint: time sequence
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Teaching Ideas 1
●
Simple Sequences -> Infinitives
(Choose verbs carefully)
encourage / stay
warn / be careful
tell / keep quiet
convince / stay
●
Clause elements -> Infinitives
We tell / they come early -> We told them to come early.
We ask / we leave
-> We asked to leave.
You promise / you help
He order / we stand up
She pretended / she is ill
They permit / we enter
We agree / we work harder
●
Plans and Goals -> Infinitives
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Teaching Ideas 2
●
Turning over a new leaf. -> gerunds
I should start/stop …
begin, start, stop, quit, give up
●
Rules prohibiting and encouraging
The following are prohibited:
running, smoking, eating, chewing gum
The following are encouraged:
doing your homework, coming early, talking to native speakers, drinking
●
Personal ads
Blonde, enjoys running and dancing
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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Real teaching ideas...
It (was / is / will be) a nice change (go) somewhere different.
** leads into non-finite relative clauses
*** point-in-time verbs
(like stative verbs they change in
meaning in the v-ing form)
I should stop (smoke cigarettes). I really want (stop).
We decided against (see a movie). We decided (not see a movie). We decided (go walk in the park.) **
He denied (rob the bank). Really? I thought he (suggest rob the bank) in the first place.
I’m afraid (of) (ask for a raise). I’ve always been (too) nervous (about) (ask for raises).
I’ve always been curious (try yoga / about try yoga). Nah, I’m reluctant (try). I propose/suggest (try it). **
I was sorry (miss you) yesterday. Yes, I regret (miss my train). ***
I loved (hear you / your sing) yesterday. Oh yes, I (see you leave) afterwards. It was kind of you (come).
I (feel her brush past me) as I stood on the crowded platform. Later, I (notice her brush her hair). ***
Identify Verb 1 and 2
Verb 1: sensory AND Verb 2: complete? (verbs are joined as one)
Yes => bare infinitive
Verb 2: course of action, activity OR time duration OR V2 before OR concurrent with V1?
Yes => gerund
Verb 2: after Verb 1? point-in-time-verb?
Yes =>infinitive
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net
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