Welcome to this week's writing lesson from

 MyEnglishTeacher.net

To Infinitive And Beyond! 

Lesson Topic: Infinitives

To help the poor people of the world is a noble goal.

In the above sentence, which words form the infinitive?  To help.  An infinitive is the base form of a verb with to.  Here are some more infinitives:

An infinitive phrase is a group of words with an infinitive (it is NOT the whole sentence).  Again, looking at the above example, what is the infinitive phrase?  To help the poor people of the world.  

book recommendation Grammar Tests and Exercises (with all the answers and explanations!) Here's help for anyone who has something to say or write but has difficulty doing so. Better Grammar in 30 Minutes features thorough coverage of key grammar skills, clear explanations with a minimum of grammatical terms and an abundance of exercises and activities to help reinforce new skill development. An answer key in the back encourages readers to work at their own pace.  Click here for more information.

Infinitives and infinitive phrases can be both subjects and objects in sentences.  Take a look at these examples:

There are some verbs that are followed only by infinitives.  For example,

These words are rarely followed by gerunds (nouns that look like -ing ending verbs). 

Students are often confused about this.  When should I use infinitives?  When should I use gerunds?  There are some situations when BOTH an infinitive and gerund can be used with no change in meaning.  For example,

These two sentences have the same meaning.

For some other verbs, there is a difference in meaning:

So, now you may want to ask, “What’s the difference between infinitives and gerunds?”  That’s a good question.  We are glad you asked!

Though there are always exceptions to the following, here are two suggestions that will help you distinguish the difference between infinitives and gerunds:

Suggestion #1

Infinitives are more often used to answer WHY-questions.  Look at the following conversation:

The phrase in order to is often used in this situation.  Therefore, Louise could have said, “I stopped in order to smoke.”  In order to is also used to answer why-questions.  In order to is NEVER used with gerunds

Gerunds are usually not used to answer why-questions.  Gerunds are nouns.  Gerunds directly receive actions (when in the object position) just like other nouns. 

Suggestion #2

Infinitives in the subject position are often used for general or habitual actions.  Here are some examples: 

NOTE: All of these sentences can use gerunds (living a happy life is everyone’s deepest desire).     

When the action happened in the past, a gerund is usually used.

This action happened in the past.  Therefore, use a gerund.  Using an infinitive to refer to a past action is not as common and natural as using a gerund.  

We highly recommend that you look at our lesson on gerunds.

book recommendation 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing A complete course in the art of writing and an essential reference for any working or would-be writer of any kind. Step-by-step, it shows how to come up with ideas, get past writer's block, create an irresistible opening, develop an effective style, choose powerful words and master grammar, rewrite, and much, much more.  Click here for more information.

Quiz time

Directions: Read the sentences below.  Using the different lists of verbs and the two suggestions above, decide if the sentence should use an infinitive or a gerund.  Some sentences may use both.

For individual charts, click below

Verbs followed by Infinitives

Verbs followed by Gerunds

Verbs followed by Object + Infinitive

1.  (To marry/Marrying) a knight in shining armor is the dream of many girls. 

2.  I shudder (to think/thinking) that I almost lost everything in the stock market.

3.  We dislike (to drink/drinking) soda from a can.

4.  The problem has been fixed.  You may resume (to answer/answering) the telephones.

5.  Sharon volunteered (to help/helping) the student with his math.

6.  They studied at Beijing University.  (To study/Studying) at Beijing University was a dream come true.

7.  She paid the mechanic (to fix/fixing) the car.

8.  My wife reminded me (to go/going) to the doctor’s office today.

9.  I would like (to thank/thanking) everyone for this award.

10.  This store prohibits (to loiter/loitering) anywhere on the premises.

Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives with little or no change in meaning.

I love to eat hamburgers.

I love eating hamburgers.  

Some verbs can be followed by both gerunds and infinitives, but THERE IS A CHANGE IN MEANING.  The most common of these types of verbs are forget, quit, remember, and stop.

Bob forgot to watch that TV show. >> Bob didn’t watch the show because he forgot to watch it.

Bob forgot watching that TV show.  >> Bob watched the show, but he forgot that he watched it.  

***************************************

Christine quit to teach. >> Christine quit her first activity because she wanted to teach.

Christine quit teaching. >> Christine doesn’t teach anymore.  

***************************************

Joseph remembered to wash the dishes. >>  Joseph had stopped his first activity so he could go and wash the dishes.

Joseph remembered washing the dishes. >>  After Joseph finished washing the dishes, he remembered that he had already washed the dishes.  

***************************************

Lori stopped to exercise. >> Lori had stopped her first activity so that she could go and exercise.

Lori stopped exercising. >>  Lori stopped the activity of exercising.