Are you hoping to improve your English speaking and writing skills? If so, you should try practicing with gerunds and infinitives. They’re easy to master, I promise, especially with my handy guide! Yes, it’s daunting at first, but with some practice, you’ll be able to use these verb forms like a pro. My guide will even provide some exercises to help you get started.
What Are Gerunds?
Simply put, gerunds are verbs that act like a noun. In short, it’s an action that becomes a thing. Consequently, a gerund can turn a verb into a direct or indirect object, a sentence’s subject, or a preposition’s object.
Gerunds are still verbs, but their sentence role changes. These words are formed by adding “-ing” to the root of the verb. In essence, gerunds are past participle verbs.
Examples:
- I turned down a job offer so I could focus on studying.
- Being there for my parents was the only thing I could think about.
- As a writer, reading lots of books is essential to me.
Remember that in order for gerunds to be gerunds, they need to act as nouns in the sentence.
What Are Infinitives?
Infinitives are the basic dictionary form of verbs. To form an infinitive, one must simply add “to” before the verb’s root. Like gerunds, infinitives can also act as nouns or adjectives in a sentence.
For example:
- I want to buy some books to read. (adjective)
- I like to eat something new in every city I visit. (noun)
Now test what I’ve told you with these gerunds and infinitives exercises!
The Final Thoughts
In summary, a gerund is a form of a verb that functions as a noun. As I’ve explained, gerunds and infinitives can be used in many different ways, depending on their function in a sentence. The best road to learning how to use them correctly is to practice using them yourself. Have fun!