2. Learning to learn

Icono de iDevice Solved exercise: types of infinitives and gerunds

What is an infinitive and what is a gerund?

  • The infinitive is the base form of the verb, which does not refer to any number, person or case.
  • The gerund is somehow a verbal noun ending in -ing.

These forms do not express temporal or personal relations on their own. The choice or either form often causes some problems, but don't worry, you are going to learn it little by little and you will find it easy!

Examine these examples from the text in the previous section and match them with each case.

EXAMPLES RULES
1. They are so happy to see each other! a. gerund used as a noun, as the subject of the sentence
2. He's very interested in learning about Spain. b. gerund used after a preposition
3. He would like to know more about it. c. gerund used after certain verbs
4. Paco enjoys listening to Paul. d. infinitive used to express purpose
5. Attending school is compulsory up to the age of 16. e. infinitive used after certain verbs
6. Students take important exams to get their GCSE. f. infinitive used after certain adjectives

In this topic we are going to focus on verbs followed by either to-infinitive or gerund.


Pregunta de Selección Múltiple

Do these sentences need a gerund or an infinitive? You must take into account the rules we have just seen in the previous activity.

 

1. Paco wants ______ about education in the UK.

By Darren Hester, C. Commons
a. to learn
b. learning



2. Paul is good at ______ presentations at university.

a. to do
b. doing



3. They enjoy ______ to each other.

a. to talk
b. talking



4. Paul studies hard ______ his exams.

a. to pass
b. passing



5. ______ to Paul is fun!
a. To listen
b. Listening



Icono IDevice Important

You need to remember the rules when adding -ing to the verb since you need them for gerunds!

  • Normally just add -ing: work - working.
  • If the verb ends in -e, eliminate it before adding -ing: live - living.
  • If the verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, double the consonant: stop - stopping.
  • If the verb ends in -y, DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING!: study - studying.

Icono IDevice Listening activity

Let's listen to a song!

Click on the video and then answer the questions below:


1. What verb followed by an infinitive with 'to' is used several times?

2. What is the main idea in the song?



Icono IDevice Curiosity
Did you know that Cardiff was declared the capital of Wales in 1955? Until that year Wales did not have a capital! Why? The reason is that, at the beginning of the 19th century, Cardiff was a small town. During that century, it changed completely due to the development in coal export and, therefore, the population also grew. Cardiff became a city and, later on, was chosen as the capital of Wales.
By Yersinia, C. Commons

In this section, you have seen what gerunds and infinitives are, and different cases when they can be used. In the next section, we are going to focus on verbs, followed by either gerunds or infinitives. Let's go!
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