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Gerunds and Infinitive Phrases
Today's Grammar HELP! Student Handbook - Online! lesson is Part 2 of our Introduction to Gerunds and Infinitive Phrases.
Please keep in mind that all the examples you see below
were contributed by ESL students in their writing and reading
classes. We bring you only authentic writing.
Introduction, Part 2
Somebody learning English can easily wonder whether in a particular place in a sentence he should use a gerund or an infinitive phrase.
In sentence below, should we place the gerund worrying or the infinitive phrase to worry in the first blank? Should we place the gerund doing or the infinitive phrase to do in the second blank?
-
He was so worried and he couldn't stop ______________ about what _____________.
You can find the answers by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
How Do We Know Which to Use?
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to learn which to use. You should study grammar charts and learn the rules presented in this chapter but, as always, the best way for you to learn is to read a lot, to read often, and to read different types of material.
Troublespots
Before we move on, let's take a short quiz. Read the sentence below.
-
When my sister was expecting her third child, we began praying that the baby would be born healthy.
Both bolded words above have the ~ing form. However, one is a verb form (present participle) and one is a noun form (gerund).
Which is which? Place your answers in the blanks below.
Gerund: __________
Present Participle Form of a Verb:
___________
You can find the answers by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
Warmup 2:
Warm-up
2
Find each ~ing form and underline
it. Is it a gerund, a
verb form (present participle), or an adjective?
Write gerund or "infinitive"
accordingly.
| Gerund (noun) or Verb Form (present participle)? | ||
| Ex. He's interested in studying abroad | studying | gerund |
| 1. It was sad watching her leave. | ||
| 2. He is making a great effort to quit smoking. | a) | |
| b) | ||
| 3. I had been wondering how to do it. | ||
| 4. We are devoted to helping our country. | ||
Check
your answers for the
gerund
and infinitive warmup activity above.
Next...
Please continue with our next lesson, "Position of Gerunds and Infinitive Phrases within a Sentence".
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