Gerunds and Infinitives

Verb Forms Used as Other Parts of Speech

Gerunds and infinitives are special verb forms that can function like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in sentences.

🔄

Gerund

A gerund has an -ing form and looks like a verb but acts like a noun.

Reading is fun.

I enjoy gardening.

💡 Can be replaced with "it" → It is fun

➡️

Infinitive

An infinitive is a verb form (to be, to go, etc.) which can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

I want to eat. (noun)

I have groceries to buy. (adjective)

The homework was difficult to finish. (adverb)

🔄 How Gerunds Function

A gerund functions just like a noun in a sentence and can be replaced with a single noun or pronoun.

📍 As Subject

Reading is fun.
Swimming keeps me healthy.
Cooking relaxes her.

Test: Replace with "It" → It is fun

🎯 As Object

I enjoy gardening.
She loves dancing.
We finished studying.

Gardening is the object of the verb enjoy

🔗 After Prepositions

She's good at singing.
Thanks for helping.
He's interested in learning.

Always use gerunds after prepositions

🎯 Gerund vs Infinitive Practice

Choose the correct form to complete each sentence!

I want _______ a new language.

learning

to learn

✂️ Bare Infinitive

You may delete the "to" of the infinitive after these verbs:

hear

help

let

make

please

see

watch

Examples:

My teacher helps me (to) learn infinitives.

I watched him (to) play guitar.

Please let me (to) help you.