Gerunds and Infinitives (Verbs): Fun & humorous ESL video to peak your students’ engagement!

Summary

This video explains the use of gerunds and infinitives in English grammar, providing clear examples and rules for each. It covers how gerunds (verb + ing) are used as nouns or pronouns for likes, dislikes, and general activities. It also contrasts gerunds with infinitives, detailing when to use each based on sentence structure, prepositions, and specific verbs. The video gives practical examples to clarify the usage of both forms in different contexts, like expressing purpose, preferences, and after certain verbs. It concludes with a reminder to visit their website and subscribe for more educational content.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gerunds are formed by adding '-ing' to a verb and function as nouns, used to express likes, dislikes, or general activities.
• 😀 Infinitives are formed by adding 'to' before the verb and are commonly used to express purpose, after certain verbs, and after adjectives.
• 😀 Common verbs followed by gerunds include admit, avoid, consider, and suggest, while verbs like agree, decide, and hope are followed by infinitives.
• 😀 Gerunds are used as subjects of sentences (e.g., 'Flying makes me nervous') and can also be used as the object of a sentence (e.g., 'I find listening to music very relaxing').
• 😀 Infinitives are used to express purpose, such as 'He ran to avoid being caught'.
• 😀 Gerunds follow prepositions and phrasal verbs (e.g., 'I’m good at dancing', 'She ended up going to prison').
• 😀 Some verbs, like 'prefer', can be followed by either a gerund or infinitive with little to no difference in meaning (e.g., 'I prefer doing yoga' vs. 'I prefer to do yoga').
• 😀 After modals and auxiliary verbs, infinitives are used without 'to' (e.g., 'You should see a doctor', 'We’ll go swimming tomorrow').
• 😀 Negative forms of gerunds and infinitives are created by adding 'not' (e.g., 'I don’t like shopping', 'I don’t want to go shopping').
• 😀 The verbs 'try', 'remember', 'forget', and 'need' have different meanings when followed by a gerund or infinitive (e.g., 'Try not to hurt yourself' vs. 'Try going to an Italian restaurant').

Q & A

What is a gerund?

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and acts as a noun. It is used to express likes, dislikes, or general activities.

How do gerunds differ from infinitives?

Gerunds are formed by adding -ing to a verb and function as nouns, while infinitives use the base form of a verb with 'to' (e.g., 'to run').

When do we use gerunds in sentences?

Gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence (e.g., 'Flying makes me nervous'), after prepositions (e.g., 'arrested for speeding'), and after certain verbs (e.g., 'admit', 'avoid').

When do we use infinitives?

Infinitives are used to express a purpose or reason (e.g., 'He ran to avoid being caught') and after certain verbs like 'decide', 'plan', and 'want'.

Can gerunds and infinitives sometimes be used interchangeably?

Yes, some verbs like 'prefer', 'start', and 'continue' can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive without changing the meaning (e.g., 'I prefer doing yoga' vs. 'I prefer to do yoga').

What is the difference between 'try to' and 'try doing'?

'Try to' means making an effort to do something (e.g., 'Try not to hurt yourself'), while 'try doing' means attempting something to see if it works or is enjoyable (e.g., 'Try going to an Italian restaurant').

What is the function of infinitives after certain adjectives?

Infinitives are used after adjectives to express something that is easy, hard, safe, etc. For example, 'This safe is easy to open.'

How are infinitives used after certain verbs like 'agree' and 'decide'?

Infinitives follow verbs like 'agree', 'decide', and 'promise' to express actions or intentions, such as 'He decided to go' or 'They promised to help.'

How do modal verbs affect the use of infinitives?

Modal verbs such as 'can', 'should', and 'must' are followed by the base form of the verb without 'to'. For example, 'You should see a doctor' or 'We'll go swimming tomorrow.'

What is a common mistake with using gerunds and infinitives?

A common mistake is confusing when to use a gerund or an infinitive after certain verbs. For example, 'I forgot to bring my luggage' (infinitive) vs. 'I remember seeing you in high school' (gerund).