Gerunds & Infinitives
Just like with verb tenses, gerunds and infinitives can leave English learners scratching their heads. Textbooks give us long lists of rules, but those can feel overwhelming and not very practical.
What are Gerunds and Infinitives?
Gerunds:
These are verb forms that act like nouns! They are formed by adding "-ing" to the base verb (e.g., reading, writing, speaking).
Infinitives:
These show the purpose of a verb and come in two forms: "to + base verb" (e.g., to read, to write, to speak) and the bare infinitive (without "to") used with certain verbs (e.g., I want to go. I made him leave.)
Examples
Gerunds:
- As subjects: Reading is my favourite hobby.
- After prepositions: I enjoy listening to music.
- As objects: She practices speaking English every day.
Infinitives:
- With some verbs: I want to travel the world.
- After adjectives: It's important to learn new things.
- Bare infinitive: He made me laugh.
Learning by Doing
Just like learning verb tenses, memorizing endless rules for gerunds and infinitives won't make you a fluent speaker. Here's what can help:
- Immerse yourself in English: Watch movies and shows, listen to audiobooks, and podcasts, and read books you enjoy. Pay attention to how gerunds and infinitives are used naturally in these contexts.
- Focus on meaning: Don't get hung up on the form - try to understand the overall meaning of the sentence and how the gerund or infinitive contributes to it.
- Practice using them! Start incorporating gerunds and infinitives into your speech and writing. Don't be afraid to experiment - the more you use them, the more comfortable you'll become.
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