New Approaches to Foreign Language

Teaching in Turkey and Latvia- ICT in

Language Classes
Nr. 2013-1-TR1-COM13-48818 2

GERUNDS

Gerunds are nouns

formed from verbs

are defined as the ing form

of a verb. They have several
functions.

GERUNDS

SUBJECTS

COMPLIMENTS

OBJECT
of a
sentence

GERUNDS
Examples
SUBJECTS

Reading helps you learn English.

My favorite hobby is reading.

I enjoy reading

OBJECT
of a
sentence

Compliment

GERUNDS
Can be made negative by adding not.
Examples

He enjoys not working .

The best thing for your health is not
smoking.

INFINITIVES
Are the TO form of
the verb

SUBJECTS

To learn is important.
The most import thing is to learn.
He wants to learn.

OBJECT
of a
sentence

Compliment

INFINITIVES
The negative Can be made by adding not.
Examples

I decided not to go .
The most important thing is
not to give up.

Examples
Learning is important.

To learn is important.

Normal subject

Abstract subject
(less common)

The most important thing is

learning.

Normal Complement

The most important thing is

to learn.

Abstract Complement

enjoy requires a
gerund

H e e n j o ys s w i m m i n g .
wants requires an
infinitive

He wants to swim.

Gerunds and Infinitives

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as
objects

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as

infinitives

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as

objects. List of Verbs Followed by
Gerunds.

Examples:

She suggested going to a movie.

Mary keeps talking about her problems.

Some verbs are followed by infinitives.

List of Verbs Followed by Infinitives.
Examples:

She wants to go to a movie.

Mary needs to talk about her problems.

Lets practise!