0
Yaggy74 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Gerunds & Infinatives Help Please

Hi I was hoping someone might be able to help me with Gerunds and Infinatives, I cannot seem to get my head around them at all the more I read the more confused I get.

I will put down a couple of examples with my answers on the first part if you could please check if I am right or not that part seem too easy and the second part I really do not have a clue.

Thanks for yor time!

Please look at the highlighted words and indicate whether they are the gerund form or the infinative form:-

1. I began teaching my glass last September. Gerund form

2. I can't be bothered to do my homework. Infinative form

3. I can't bear watching my brother climb without ropes. Gerund form

4. I hate to see people suffer. Infinative form

5. I would prefer to eat out tonight. Gerund form

6. I intend to finish my work by the end of the day. Gerund form



That was the part that seemed too easy



Now for the harder part



Please look at the following and identify sentences which use the Gerund form, Sentences which do not use the gerund form:-



1. A friend of mine was accused of stealing food. Uses Gerund form

2. We were watching the last few episodes of lost yesterday. Does not use Gerund form

3. Amy regrets spending so much money on clothes today. Uses Gerund form

4. James intends seeing you immediately. Uses gerund form

5. He advised applying for the job at once. Uses Gerund form

6. Chloe was doing the washing up when I saw her yesterday. Does not use the Gerund form
  

Top answer

I think your answers are correct. I read an article on gerunds saying that with "would" the verbs prefer, like, hate are usually followed by the to-infinitive. Howoever your sentences I would prefer to eat ....

  • I think your answers are correct.
  • I read an article on gerunds saying that with "would" the verbs prefer, like, hate are usually followed by the to-infinitive.
  • Howoever your sentences I would prefer to eat ....
  • don't seem to have the same subject for the first and the second verb.
  • Therefore I would think they are gerunds
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
I think your answers are correct. I read an article on gerunds saying that with "would" the verbs prefer, like, hate are usually followed by the to-infinitive.

Howoever your sentences I would prefer to eat .... and I intend to finish...don't seem to have the same subject for the first and the second verb. Therefore I would think they are gerunds
0
I am currently studying a tefl course and struggling with the concept of gerunds.

My question is regarding the first set of questions you had. How did you get gerund on Sentence 5 + 6, when they are not in -ing form.

'I would prefer to eat out tonight' (to eat) is this not infinative?

'I intend to finish my work by the end of the day' (to finish) same- not infinitiv
0
Hi there

Well spotted yes you are right 5+6 are infact both infinative, I must have typed it incorrectly.
0
yaggy74Here are my observations on a few. I left out the correct ones.



2. I can't be bothered to do my homework. Infinative form - This sounds wrong to my ears!

I can't be bothered - usually is associated with gerund.

5. I would prefer to eat out tonight. Gerund form. "to eat" is infinitive.

6.
0
I agree with most of dimsumexpress's post (gerunds end in '-ing'.), except the last bit...
dimsumexpress6. Chloe was doing the washing up when I saw her yesterday. Does not use the Gerund form. Not correct, Washing up- is gerund.

'Washing-up' (should have a hyphen) is a noun; it's not a gerund.

0
oh me too and I am confused also......you are not alone.

Related Questions