Infinitives and Gerunds

Gerunds Here is a brief review of gerunds and how to form them. Gerunds are nouns formed from verbs: walking, talking, thinking, listening Gerunds are formed by adding ING to verbs: think + ing = thinking

However, there are a few spelling rules that you need to know in order to form gerunds correctly. The spelling of a gerund depends on the vowels(a, e, i, o, u) and consonants (b, c, d, f, etc.) at the end of the verb: If there is more than one consonant, just add ING: think + ing = thinking If there is more than one vowel, just add ING: beat + ing = beating

If there is one vowel and one consonant, and the syllable is stressed, double the consonant and add ING: hit + t + ing = hitting If there are one or more consonants and E, remove the E and add ING: take + ing = taking In most other cases, just add ING: study + ing = studying see + ing = seeing

Infinitives Recognize an infinitive when you see one. To sneeze, to smash, to cry, to shriek, to jump, to dunk, to read,to eat, to slurp—all of these are infinitives. An infinitive will almost always begin with to followed by the simple form of the verb, like this: to + verb = infinitive

Important Note: Because an infinitive is not a verb, you cannot add s, es, ed, or ing to the end. Ever! Infinitives can be used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Look at these examples: To sleep is the only thing Eli wants after his double shift waiting tables at the neighborhood café. To sleep functions as a noun because it is the subject of the sentence. No matter how fascinating the biology dissection is, Emanuel turns his head and refuses to look.

Here is a brief review of the differences between gerunds and infinitives. Gerunds are formed with ING: walking, talking, thinking, listening Infinitives are formed with TO: to walk, to talk, to think, to listen

Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs: Both gerunds and infinitives can be the subject of a sentence:: Writing in English is difficult. To write in English is difficult. Both gerunds and infinitives can be the object of a verb:: I like writing in English. I like to write in English.