Gerunds and Infinitives:  Pattern 6

 

Welcome to Our Online English Grammar HELP! Student Handbook.  In this lesson we continue our unit on gerunds and infinitive phrases.

What's wrong with this sentence?

Problem:   I spent three years to serve my country.

Before you begin the activities, we suggest that you read, listen to, and study the podcast and grammar lesson, What Is a Gerund? What Is an Infinitive Phrase?

Pattern 6: spend time + Gerund

 

Use this pattern when the head verb is (to) spent time.

  • I spent three years serving my country.
        (to) spend (time) + gerund       

   Many learners of English find it difficult to learn this pattern.  

Examples from other learners of English

 

  • Every morning I spend as much time as possible getting ready.     

  • Infants and toddlers spend most of their time either sleeping or playing.

QUIZ

Patterns 4, 5 and 6

Correct the following sentences:

1. Our teacher told us not to looked at the test paper until he said to.

2.  These movies and books will teach them be kind and honest.

3.  This made her to lose confidence in herself.

4.  He spends a lot of time to commute between home and school.

5.  They want that people know that it is important to get regular health checkups.

Next ...

 

Please continue with our next lesson, where we explore the pattern [OBJECT of the PREPOSITION] + gerund.

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