Gerund and Infinitive

1. Gerund and Infinitive

(a)    I enjoy music (b)   I enjoy listening to music (c)    I enjoy listening to music	S  V        O I enjoy something. (something = the object of the verb). The object of verb is usually a noun or pronoun, as in (a) The object of a verb can also be a gerund. A gerund is the –ing from of a verb. It is used as a noun. In (b), listening is a gerund. It is the object of the verb enjoy. In (c), listening to music is a gerund phrase.
(d)   I want an apple (e)    I want to eat an apple (f)    I want to eat an apple	S    V     O I want something.(something the object of the verb). In (d), the object of the verb is a noun (a apple). The object of a verb can also be an infinitive. An infinitive is to + the simple form of a verb. In (e), to eat is an infinitive. It is the object of the verb want. In (f), to eat an apple is an infinitive phrase.
(g)   I enjoy going to the mall.	Some verbs (e.g. , enjoy) are followed by gerund
(h)   Budi wants to go to the mall	Some verbs (e.g. , want) are followed by infinitive.
(i)     It began raining. (j)     It began to rain.	Some verbs (e.g. , began) are followed by either gerund and infinitive.

Explanation:

• The –ing form of a verb can be used as a present participle: example, I am listening to the teacher right now. (listening = a present participle, used in the present progressive).
• The –ing form of verb can be used as a gerund: example, I enjoy listening to music. (listening = a gerund, used as the object of the verb enjoy).

2. VERBA + GERUND

Common Verbs Followed by Gerund

Enjoy Finish Stop Quit Mind Postpone Put off Keep Keep on Consider Think about Discuss Talk about	(a)    I enjoy working in my garden. (b)   Andi finished studying at midnight.   (c)    It stopped raining a few minutes ago. (d)   Anas quit smoking.     (e)    Would you mind opening the window? (f)    I postponed doing my homework. (g)   I put off doing my homework. (h)   Keep working. Don’t stop. (i)     Keep on working. Don’t stop. (j)     I’m considering going to Australia. (k)   I’m thinking about going to Australia. (l)     They discussed getting a new car. (m) They talked about getting a new car.	Gerund are used as the object of the verbs in the list. The list also contains phrasal verbs (e.g., put off) that are followed by gerunds. These verbs are not followed by infinitive. For example: Incorrect: I enjoy to work. Andi finished to study. I’m thinking to go to Australia.
(n) I considered not going to class.		Negative form: not + gerund

3. VERBA + INFINITIVE

(a)    Badol offered to lend me some money. (b)   I’ve decided to buy a new house.	Some verbs are followed by an infinitive: an infinitive = to + the simple form of a verbs.
(c) I’ve decided not to keep my old car	Negative form: not + infinitive

Common Verbs Followed by Infinitive

Want                          Expect                  Promise          Appear                (can’t) afford Need                          Plan                      Offer               Pretend               (can’t) wait Would like                 Intend                   Agree             Forget Would love                Mean                    Refuse            Learn (how) Hope                          Decide                  Seen                Try

4. VERBA + GERUND OR INFINITIVE

(a)    It began to rain (b)   It began raining

Some verbs are followed by either an infinitive or a gerund. Usually there is no difference in meaning. (a) and (b) have the same meaning.

Common Verbs Followed by Either a Gerund or an Infinitive

Begin          Continue           Love          Can’t stand Start            Like                   Hate

Compare: like and love can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive: example, I like going/to go to movies. I love playing/to play chess.

Would like and would love are followed by infinitives: examples, I would like to go to a movie tonight. I would love to play a game of chess right now.

5. PREPOSITION + GERUND

(a)    Kate insisted on coming with us (b)   We’re excited about going to Ancol. (c)    I apologized for being late.

A preposition is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive. In (a): preposition (on) + gerund (coming)

6. MENGGUNAKAN BY DAN WITH UNTUK MENGEKSPRESIKAN BAGAIMANA SESUATU DIKERJAKAN

(a)    Pat turned off the tape recorder by pushing the top button.	By + a gerund is used to express how something is done.
(b)   Ana goes to work by bus. (c)    Anji stirred her coffee with a spoon	By or with followed by a noun is also used to express how something is done.

By is Used Means of Transportation and Communication

By Airplane By boat By car By subway By taxi By train By foot By mail By telephone By fax By air By land By sea

By chance By choice By mistake By check By hand (something was made by a person)

With is Used for Instruments or Part of the Body

-          I cut down the tree with an ax (by using an ax). -          I swept the floor with a broom -          She pointed to a spot on the map with her finger.

7. GERUND IS USED AS SUBJECT; USING IT + INFINITIVE

(a)    Riding horses is fun. (b)   It is fun to rude horses	(a) and (b) have the same meaning. In (a): A gerund (riding) is the subject of the sentence. Notice: the verb (is) is singular because a gerund is singular. In (b): the word it is used as subject of the sentence. The word it has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase at the end of the sentence: it means to ride horses.
(c)    Coming to class on time is important (d)   It is important to come to class on time

8. IT + INFINITIVE: USING FOR (SOMEONE)

(a)    You should study hard. (b)   It is important for you to study hard. (c)    Ana should study hard. (d)   It is important for Ana to study hard. (e)    We don’t have to go to the meeting. (f)    It isn’t necessary for us to go to the meeting. (g)   A dog can’t talk. (h)   It is impossible for a dog to talk

(a) and (b) have a similar meaning. Notice the pattern in (b): It is + adjective + for (someone) + infinitive phrase

9. INFINITIVE MENYATAKAN MAKSUD: MENGGUNAKAN IN ORDER TO

Why did you go to the post office? (a)    I went to the post office because I wanted to mail a letter. (b)   I went to the post office in order to mail a letter. (c)    I went to the post office to mail a letter.	In order to express purpose. In order to answer the question ;Why? Notice: in (c): in order is frequently omitted. (a), (b), and (c) have the same meaning.
(d)   I went to the post office for some stamps. (e)    I went to the post office to buy some stamps. (f)    INCORRECT: I went to the post office for to buy some stamps. (g)   INCORRECT: I went to the post office for buying some stamps.	For is also used to express purpose, but it is a preposition and is followed by a noun phrase, as in (d).

10. MENGGUNAKAN INFINITIVE DENGAN TOO DAN ENOUGH

Too + Adjective + (for someone) + Infinitive (a) A piano is too heavy                             to lift. (b) That box is too heavy        for me to lift. (c) That box is too heavy         for bob       to lift.	Infinitive often follow expression with too. Too comes in front of an adjective. In the speaker’s mind, the use of too implies a negative result. COMPARE: The box is too heavy, I can’t lift it. The box is very heavy, but I can lift it.
Enough + Noun + infinitive (d)   I don’t have enough money to buy that car. (e)    Did you have enough time to finish the test? Adjective + Enough + Infinitive (f)    Richy isn’t old enough to go to school. (g)   Are you hungry enough to eat three sandwiches?	Infinitive often follow expressions with enough. Enough comes in front of a noun. Enough follows an adjective.

Explanation:

Enough can also follow a noun: I don’t have money enough to buy that car. In everyday English, however, enough usually comes in front of a noun.

Posted in: GRAMMAR