Week 4 Gerunds and Infinitives

Uses of the Infinitive

1. Use the infinitive (to play, to walk, to eat, etc.) after some verbs such as need, plan, promise, want, would like, pretend, learn, hope, forget, decide, among others. 

- My mom wants to buy a new car

-I hope to finish this report by 5pm

2. Use the infinitive after adjectives (beautiful, smart, tall, etc.):

-It's easy to make a sandwich

-It's difficult not to eat chocolate (negative infinitive)

-It's important not to fight with your friends (negative infinitive)

3. Use the infinitive to indicate a reason, a purpose:

-I went to S-Mart to buy milk

-My mom stayed home to rest

Now take Quiz 7:

Uses of the Gerund

Use a gerund after certain verbs such as dislike, enjoy, feel like, spend time, keep on, etc.:

-On our next vacation we will spend time lying on the beach

-My friend feels like cooking pizza

Use a gerund after prepositions:

-I'm happy about visiting my friends in Oaxaca

-My mom is afraid of walking on the street at night

Use a gerund as a subject:

Waking up late on Sunday is great

Camping in the forest makes me feel alive

Now take Quiz 8: