Gerund and Infinitives
Why can we say, I want to see a movie but not I want seeing a movie? Or I enjoy seeing a movie but not I enjoy to see a movie?
Infinitive Verbs
Infinitive verbs have this label because they are verbs that: do not show time (or tense) do not have a subject and are preceded by to as in I want to go.
Comparison
A. Verb + Infinitive (1a) I attempted to solve the problem. (2a) She remembered to write me. (3a) He stopped to smoke.
B. Verb + Gerund (1b) I attempted solving the problem. (2b) She remembered writing me. (3b) He stopped smoking last year.
(1a) describes a mental effort with a hoped-for conclusion (1b) describes a process engaged in, but not completed successfully. (2a) describes a particular action (2b) describes a mental process or state. (3a) describes a single event (3b) describes a habit
Verb/Gerund Variations
Verb + Preposition + Gerund He thought about leaving early.
Verb + Object + Preposition + Gerund
The police suspected the tall young man of robbing the bank. The police suspected him of robbing the bank.
Gerunds and Gerund Phrases
A gerund is a verbal that functions as a noun. A gerund phrase consists of a verbal, modifier(s), object(s), and/or complement(s).
Gerunds (1) Studying is hard work. (2) Some students enjoy studying. (3) Nothing stops Lucy from studying. (4) Lucys favorite activity is studying.
function of the gerund
subject object object of the preposition subject complement
In Sentence (1), Studying is the subject of the verb is. Because Studying functions as a non-countable noun, it is followed by the singular verb is. In Sentence (2), studying is the object of the verb enjoy, a verb that is followed by a gerund form of another verb. In Sentence (3), studying is the object of the preposition from. In Sentence (4), studying is a subject complement because it is renaming or identifying the subject of the verb. Studying tells us what Lucys favorite activity is.
Gerund Phrases
Gerund Phrase (1a) Studying English grammar requires patience. (2a) Everyone enjoys studying English grammar. (3a) Nothing stops Lucy from studying English grammar. (4a) Lucys favorite activity is studying English grammar.
Function of the Gerund Phrase subject objects
object of the preposition subject complement
Possessive Gerunds
Since gerunds function as nouns, can we also use them in a possessive sense?
(1) His coming late created problems. possessive pronoun before the gerund phrase (2) Judes writing was very good. possessive s inflection on a proper noun before the gerund phrase (3) The cats purring soothed the baby. possessive s inflection on a noun before the gerund phrase
Participles
Participles as being the ing or ed form of the main verb that accompanies an auxiliary verb in order to form a verb phrase. Present participle refers to the ing form used with present progressive forms of the verb phrase. Past participle refers to the ed form used with past progressive forms of the verb phrase or with passive voice.
Examples of Participles
Position of Participles Phrase
Gerund Phrases versus Participial Phrases
How can I tell the difference between gerund phrases and participial phrases? The key to distinguishing gerund and participial phrases is to consider their function in a sentence. An -ing participle is functioning as a noun and part of a gerund phrase if it is:
1. 2. 3. 4. the subject, the direct object, the object of a preposition, or the subject complement
An -ing participle is functioning as an adjective and part of a participial phrase if it is: 1. describing a noun or a noun phrase
Gerund Phrases versus Participial Phrases
An easy way to help you differentiate between the two structures is to try substituting it. If the gerund or gerund phrase is functioning as a noun, as in Sentence (1), you can substitute it and the sentence is still grammatical, as in Sentence (1a). (1) Doing crossword puzzles relaxes Lyle. (1a) It relaxes Lyle. If, on the other hand, the participle is part of a participial phrase and functioning as an adjective, substituting it will give you a nonsense sentence. Compare Sentences (2) and (2a). (2) While waiting for takeoff, the flight attendants passed out magazines. *(2a) It, the flight attendants passed out magazines.
ANY QUESTIONS
