How to use gerunds and infinitives correctly, English Grammar

Gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that are often used as nouns or as part of a sentence structure. They can be confusing for English learners because they have different forms and functions. Here are some tips to help you use gerunds and infinitives correctly:

How to use gerunds and infinitives correctly

Gerunds:

A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun in a sentence. Gerunds can be used as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

• Swimming is good exercise. (subject)
• She enjoys cooking. (object)
• Her favorite hobby is dancing. (complement)

Here are some tips to help you use gerunds correctly:

Use gerunds after certain verbs such as "enjoy", "dislike", "mind", "avoid", "practice", "finish", and "suggest".

Examples:

• I enjoy reading books.
• She dislikes studying for exams.
• He suggested going to the park.

Use gerunds after prepositions such as "by", "after", "before", "without", "for", and "in".

Examples:

• He always travels by driving his own car.
• They arrived after waiting for an hour.
• She went to bed early before finishing her homework.

Infinitives:

An infinitive is a verb form that is preceded by "to" and can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb in a sentence. Infinitives can be used as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

• To study is important. (subject)
• She has a lot of books to read. (object)
• Her dream is to become a doctor. (complement)

Here are some tips to help you use infinitives correctly:

Use infinitives after certain verbs such as "want", "like", "need", "decide", "refuse", "hope", and "try".

Examples:

• I want to learn a new language.
• She decided to take a break from work.
• He hopes to get a promotion.

Use infinitives after adjectives such as "happy", "pleased", "eager", "reluctant", and "willing".

Examples:

• I am happy to see you.
• She is eager to start her new job.
• He was reluctant to admit his mistake.

In conclusion, gerunds and infinitives are verb forms that can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. By understanding the different ways they can be used, you can use gerunds and infinitives correctly and effectively in your writing.