Gerunds & Infinitives – English Grammar Lessons

Summary

This video explains the concepts of gerunds and infinitives, highlighting their functions as nouns in sentences. Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to verbs and can serve as subjects or objects, while infinitives are structured with 'to' plus the base form of the verb. The video outlines key rules for their usage, including which verbs are followed by gerunds or infinitives, and emphasizes practice examples to reinforce understanding. By illustrating common verbs and sentence structures, viewers gain clarity on how to use these verbal forms correctly in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb and function as nouns in a sentence.
• 😀 Infinitives are formed with 'to' followed by the base form of a verb and also act as nouns.
• 😀 Gerunds can serve as the subject of a sentence, as in 'Gardening is my favorite hobby.'
• 😀 Infinitives can be used as the object of a sentence, such as in 'They need to study.'
• 😀 Certain verbs are always followed by gerunds, including 'enjoy,' 'consider,' and 'recommend.'
• 😀 Some verbs are always followed by infinitives, like 'decide,' 'hope,' and 'promise.'
• 😀 Some verbs can take either gerunds or infinitives without changing the meaning, such as 'like' and 'prefer.'
• 😀 After an adjective, it is common to use an infinitive, as in 'I was sad to see my test score.'
• 😀 After prepositions, gerunds are typically used, for example, 'I thought about taking piano lessons.'
• 😀 It is important to understand the specific usage rules for gerunds and infinitives to enhance English proficiency.

Q & A

What are gerunds?

Gerunds are words formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb, and they function as nouns in a sentence.

How are infinitive verbs formed?

Infinitive verbs are formed with the word 'to' followed by the base form of the verb, such as 'to eat' or 'to sleep'.

Can gerunds and infinitives act as subjects or objects in a sentence?

Yes, gerunds and infinitives can function as either the subject or object of a sentence.

Give an example of a sentence using a gerund as a subject.

'Snowboarding is her favorite sport' uses the gerund 'snowboarding' as the subject.

What are some common verbs that are always followed by a gerund?

Common verbs followed by a gerund include consider, discuss, enjoy, finish, and recommend.

What verbs are typically followed by an infinitive?

Verbs such as agree, decide, hope, and plan are usually followed by an infinitive.

Which verbs can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning?

Verbs like begin, continue, like, and prefer can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with no difference in meaning.

When do we typically use an infinitive after an adjective?

We usually use an infinitive after an adjective, for example: 'I was sad to see my test score.'

What should follow a preposition in a sentence?

After a preposition, we typically use a gerund, such as in 'I thought about taking piano lessons.'

What is an example of using an infinitive after a noun?

An example is 'The librarian told the students to be quiet,' where 'to be quiet' is an infinitive following the noun 'librarian.'