Gerunds are the –ing form of verbs used as a noun. They can be either used as a subjects or an object. When a gerund is used as a subject, it is always singular and has to be followed by the third-person-singular form of the verb.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Having good study habits is important for students.
Regular exercising is good for your health.
I don’t mind washing the dishes every day.
My son enjoys swimming in the sea.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.1-1 Verbs following by a gerund:
A gerund is often used as the object of a certain verb. Words that have to be followed by gerunds are listed in the table 9.1.
Table 9.1: Verbs following by a gerund:
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
admit
avoid
can’t help
celebrate
delay
deny
discuss
dislike
enjoy
explain
feel like
finish
imagine
keep
mind
miss
postpone
practice
prohibit
quit
recommend
regret
report
resist
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Do you mind taking out the garbage?
My husband dislikes playing golf.
Chris enjoys listening to jazz.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.1-2 Special usage of Gerunds:
1) Gerunds can be the objectives of prepositions.
My father gave up smoking two years ago.
Ben is thinking of studying abroad after graduation.
My parents are used to going mountain climbing on Saturday.
We are looking forward to serving you again.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
2) The preposition “by” following a gerund is often used to express how a thing is done.
You can learn new words by memorizing them.
You can lose weight by exercising.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
3) The word “go” is followed by a gerund:
We go hiking every Saturday morning.
People go snorkeling in Kenting National Park in summer.
We went skiing in Korea last winter.
4) How about, what about is followed by a gerund
How about having a drink after work?
What about playing golf this weekend?
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
5) It is no use + gerund.
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
It is no use arguing with Mom.
6) I have trouble (difficulty, a hard time, problem) +gerund.
She has difficulty writing a correct English essay.
I have a hard time working with her.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
7) It is worthy+ gerund.
The novel is worthy reading.
The movie is worthy watching.
8) S(thing) +need+ gerund.
My car needs washing.
Her scooter needs repairing.
9) We also use “ing” clause after the following words (sense verbs) : see, hear,
watch, notice, observe, smell, listen to, find, feel, and look at.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
I saw John crossing the road.
I saw John cross the road.
I heard someone playing the piano in the classroom.
I heard someone play the piano in the classroom.
The police found a homeless lying on the sidewalk.
The police found a homeless lay on the sidewalk.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.1.3 Exercise A: Complete each sentence with correct answer.
I do mind ______ (drive) such a long distance to work.
Sandra very much enjoys ______ ( listen) to classical music.
Why do you keep on _____ (look) at me like that?
I considered ______ ( quit) the boring job.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Could you wash the dishes when you finish ________ ( eat)?
If you cross the street without ______( look), you’ll be run over by a car.
It’s hot today. We feel like _____ ( go) swim in the sea.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.2 Infinitive
An infinitive is a verbal consisting of the word “to” plus a verb. It may function as a noun an adjective, or an adverb. In the negative sentence, the negative word “not” precedes the infinitive.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
To cheat is wrong. (subject)
Everyone wants to go to the party. (object)
We must study to learn. (adverb)
My parents tell me not to swim in the rivers.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.2-1 Verbs following by infinitives
1) Verbs that have to be followed by an infinitive are listed in the table 9.2.
Table 9.2: Verbs following by infinitives
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
afford
demand
happen
prefer
agree
deserve
intend
prepare
arrange
desire
learn
pretend
ask
expect
mean
refuse
care
fail
need
seem
choose
forget
offer
swear
decide
get
plan
vow
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
June promised to come home by eight.
Ricardo deserves to have a better life.
Carrie has already agreed to marry Harry.
The witness swore to tell the truth.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Verbs that have to be followed by an object and infinitive are listed in the table 9.3.
Tyler told his son not to hang out with his classmates after school.
Miss Lin encourage Alex to study abroad.
They wanted us to leave.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.2-2 Special usage of Infinitives:
1) “It” is often used to start an infinitive sentence.
To learn a new language is not so difficult.
It is not so difficult to learn a new language.
Walking to the station takes about ten minutes.
It takes about ten minutes to walk to the station.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
2) Infinitives can be used after adjectives to express feelings. These adjectives are: afraid, glad, pleased, surprised, shocked, happy, anxious, sad, sorry, and delighted.
I am delighted to see you here.
She is anxious to go back to her hometown.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
3) Subject + be verb + too+ adjective + ( for +person) + infinitive
Mrs. Black is too weak to walk.
Manuel is too young to be a father.
It is too late for you to go out alone.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
4) Subject + be + adjective + enough +infinitive
Courtney is old enough to go to school.
Shawn was not tall enough to play basketball.
The curtains are not long enough to reach the floor.
Causative verbs are used when people do not perform the actions themselves. But they are responsible for the actions being performed. Causative verbs include have, let, make, and get.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Have: “have” means to give someone the responsibility to do something. There are two basic structures. One is active, the other is passive. The structure of the former is: have + person + verb. The structure of the latter is: have + thing + participle
I had my toilet fixed this morning.
I had a plumber fix the toilet this morning.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Get: “get” has the same meaning with “have”. There are two basic structures, too. One is active, the other is passive. The structure of the former is: get + person + to verb. The structure of the latter is: get + thing + participle.
Mrs. Green got the kids to go to bed early.
Mrs. Green got the lawn mowed.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Make: “make” means to force someone to do something. There are two basic structures. One is active, the other is passive. In Active Voice, “make” is followed by a verb. In passive voice, infinitive is used.
Don’t make me fight with you.
Megan was made to sing an English song in oral class.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
I make this CD player work.
I can make your son work part time on weekends.
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Let: “let” means allow someone to do something. There is only active structure and the structure is : let + person + verb word
You should let the students take a break.
Will you let me use your car?
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
9.3-1 Exercise: Complete each sentence with correct causative verb:
Victor’s mother doesn’t _____________ him have a dog.
I am unable to __________my children clean their own room.
Miss Chang ______ each of us to make a sentence with “not only…but also”
Unit 9: Gerund, Infinitive and Causative
Miss Chang ___________ her students use a dictionary during the test.
Mrs. White doesn’t _____________ her children watch TV. She thinks it is a waste of time.
The manager ___________ his secretary make a cup of coffee for him.
The bank robbers _________ the customers lie on the floor.
