Gerunds and Infinitives:  As Object of the Verb

 

A gerund and infinitive phrase can exist in several positions in a sentence: as the subject of a sentence or as the object of a verb. 

In this unit, we will discuss gerunds and infinitive phrases as the object of a sentence, that is, the object of the verb.

After you complete the activities and when you are ready to check your answers, go to our "Answer Key" shelf located in "Our Library".

Pattern 2:  Verb + Gerund


I ended up losing the competition.
verb + gerund
end up      +     losing

Notice that in the above sentence, "losing" is the object of the verb.  It answers the question "ended up what?"   Can you see that the infinitive phrase "losing the competition" functions as a noun?

Turning our attention to the chart below, for the following common transitive verbs, the object of this verb takes the form of a gerund:

appreciate doing it avoid doing it   can't help doing it consider doing
deny doing it discuss doing it dislike doing it end up doing it
enjoy doing it finish doing it keep doing it miss doing it
practice doing it quit doing it remember* doing it stop** doing it
* = to recall in the present something that was done or that happened in the past
** = to discontinue something

Look at the first example in this lesson, I ended up losing the competition.

Notice that the verb (to) end up is in the list above, so that the object of the verb want must be in an infinitive phrase form.  You put the verb in the desired verb tense.  Thus, our sentence concludes with: ended up losing (the competition).

Try It Yourself!


Try these below.  These sentences were taken from the essays of other learners of English such as yourself.  

WHERE'S THE ERROR?

Problem:       He tried to avoid go on welfare.
Solution:       He tried to avoid ________  on welfare.

You will find the answers in our "Answer Key".

Next:   verb + [gerund or infinitive phrase]

Let's go to the next page to verb + [Gerund or Infinitive Phrase].

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