Unit 2: Grammar - Gerund and infinitive (2 lesson periods)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

What is a Gerund?

• Gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the verb: “sleeping,” “drawing,” “swimming.” But they are not the “-ing” verb forms that you see in the present or past continuous tense. 

• They look the same, but gerunds are actually verb forms used as nouns.

-ing verb forms  = I am swimming.... He was laughing

GERUND                = Laughing is good for you

Wat doen jullie?

In het Nederlands kan iedere infinitief -net als in het Latijn- als onzijdig zelfstandig naamwoord gebruikt worden, bijvoorbeeld als onderwerp van een zin:

> Het fietsen is alleen op het fietspad toegestaan.

Dit werk-/naamwoord kan ook nog voorwerpen en bepalingen regeren:

> Pannenkoeken eten is zijn favoriete bezigheid.

Gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the verb: “sleeping,” “drawing,” “swimming.” But they are not the “-ing” verb forms that you see in the present or past continuous tense. They look the same, but gerunds are actually verb forms used as nouns.

Let’s take the infinitive of the verb “to sleep” and use it in two different sentences: I am sleeping.

This is the present continuous. “Sleeping” here is part of the verb. It is not a gerund. 

Here’s the second sentence: I don’t like sleeping.

This is present simple, but it contains a gerund. “Sleeping” is the direct object of this sentence.

Gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to the verb: “sleeping,” “drawing,” “swimming.” But they are not the “-ing” verb forms that you see in the present or past continuous tense. They look the same, but gerunds are actually verb forms used as nouns.

 Gerunds can be used as a subject of a sentence.

EXAMPLES

Bullying people is wrong.

Hunting tigers is dangerous.

Flying makes me nervous.

Brushing your teeth is important.

Smoking causes lung cancer.

 Gerunds can be used as an object of a sentence.

You may say: “I enjoy drawing.”

You may also say: “Yesterday, I decided to draw.”

Both sentences are correct, but one has an infinitive as the object and the other has a gerund as the object.

When to use a gerund?

Gerunds (ing)

1. After a preposition - She is good at playing games.
2. When it is the subject of the sentence - Smoking is bad for your health.
3. After some verbs (verbs of preference: hate, don't mind , like) - I don't mind running in the rain.

to + infinitive

 When to use it?

1. After adjectives - My house is easy  to find.
2. To express purpose  - She is saving money to travel 
3. After some verbs (want, need , learn, hope, expect, decide ) - I want to ride my bike

Some verbs require a gerund and some will require an infinitive. 

Here are a few examples of verbs that need to be followed by an infinitive:

agree: I agreed to go to a party with my friend.

decide: The president decided not to participate in the discussions.

deserve: Everyone deserves to be respected.

expect: I expect to know my exam grade by tomorrow.

hope: We were hoping to avoid traffic by leaving early.

Using the infinitive without "to" 

Any modal verbs; (would, could, might, must)
- I might go home. 

With the verbs; make/let

- I make him walk the dog 

- We let them win at football because they were only little children.

Recap: Gerunds and Infinitives

Gerunds are nouns formed from verbs. Gerunds are formed by adding –ing to the end of a verb. Some examples are eating, playing, and listening. Infinitives use to before the verb so the examples above would be to eat, to play, and to listen. Both can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. 

GERUND

- as a subject - Bullying is bad

- as an object - I enjoy drawing

- Verbs of preference - hate, love, don't mind,...

I love learning grammar

- After prepositions - at, of, with, by

I love learning by listening

To + Infinitive

- After adjectives - I am hard to convince

- Certain verbs - agree, decide, deserve, expect, hope, etc.

 He decided to learn grammar

- Express purpose

 I am looking to purchase a house

* Infinitive without 'to'

- would, could, should, may, might

  I could eat another 10 cheesburgers

- make/ let

  I made him learn the grammar

ex 1:Sentence examples showing a verb followed by a gerund:

I avoid swimming in shark infested waters.

I enjoy eating chocolate in the bath.

I practise singing in the shower.

I fancy ............. ing    ....... .............................................................

I deny   ...........................ing        ...............................................

They  miss .................ing     ..........................................................

He risks losing .....................................................................

ex 1:Sentence examples showing a verb followed by an infinitive +to

I expect to go to London at Christmas

She offers to help out every Tuesday

They refuse to do their homework

We want  to go to Spain at Easter

He threatens to leave his wife if she doesn't stop drinking.

We deserve   ...................................................

I manage ...................................................       

GERUND

- as a subject - Bullying is bad

- as an object - I enjoy drawing

- Certain verbs - agree, decide, deserve, expect, hope

ex 1:Sentence examples showing a verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive 

I like swimming with dolphins / I like to swim with dolphins

I prefer eating at home. / I prefer to eat at home

I continue ___________(ing).........../ I continue to ..........................

I love ___________   ................. / I love to ..............................

Homework for  Thursday

exercise 2, 3, 4 and 5 on page 24: 

There is no lesson tomorrow, so you could work on your homework then.

check your answers in pairs

what did you come up with?

Gerund sentences........................

sentences using the infinitive + to

Exercise 2

Which of the verbs in ex. 1 can immediately be followed by a that clause?

  ie: example:I really don't need that you help me

Note: Don't use that with verbs that convey the idea of want, need , prefer, would like

exercise 3

Complete the sentences with the appropriate verb form 

EXAMPLE: Our football team deserves to win because they have trained so hard

Key: 

• a) to win    

answers to ex 3

b) taking 

c) to get

d) to start

e) to play/perform/appear

f) seeing

g) to be/arrive

h) to shoot

exercise 4

Match each verb in both the gerund and the infinitive form with definitions a-j

EXAMPLE: a)  do something to see what happens as a result.

TRY 

Part Two

Homework check

Exercise 5 on page 25

Whole class activity

EXERCISE 6

REMEMBER THAT THE GERUND NORMALLY FOLLOWS  VERB AND PREPOSITION COMBINATIONS. 

Try to chose the correct preposition before completing the sentence with an appropriate verb in the gerund form. 

Example:  a) keen on sailing

individual 

activity

After watching the clip... What are gerunds again?

• Verb+ing
  
• USED AFTER A PREPOSITION
• USED AFTER A VERB OF PREFERENCE (like/hate/don't mind)
  
• Used when it is the subject of the sentence
• A gerund is a verbal noun, this means it looks like a verb but it performs the functions of a noun.
  

Homework for Tuesday

Exercise 7: cross out to where it is not needed.

Exercise 8 : Here is an example: When I was a child my parents wouldn't let me watch TV.

Exercise 9: Complete the gaps with the appropriate form of the verb

Watch the film clip on the following slide