Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 1 Infinitives and Gerunds When I first started teaching I didn't even know the meaning of 'gerund‘ while 'infinitive' seemed somehow faraway and exciting. Then I discovered the awful truth.... Mike JC Smith The ideas and many of the examples in this presentation come from Explaining English Grammar by George Yule - Oxford University Press 1998
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Mike Smith 1 Infinitives and Gerunds When I first started teaching I didn't even know the meaning of 'gerund‘ while 'infinitive' seemed.
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Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 1
Infinitives and Gerunds
When I first started teaching I didn't even know the meaning of 'gerund‘ while 'infinitive' seemed
somehow faraway and exciting.
Then I discovered the awful truth....
Mike JC Smith
The ideas and many of the examples in this presentation come from Explaining English Grammar by George Yule - Oxford University Press 1998
The awful truth....
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 2
Most people don’t understand this.
What is worse, when we teach something we don’t, ourselves, understand we often say, “Oh, you just have to remember this.
Here are some lists.”
Have you ever said this to a student... ... simply because you, yourself, didn’t or don’t
understand?
I did that for a while...
Searching for answers...
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 3
Most people don’t understand this.A quick search on Google “esl gerund and infinitive”
“When two verbs are used together, the second verb is often in the gerund form (-ing) or the infinitive. There are
no specific rules concerning which verbs take which form. Like irregular verbs, you will need to learn which
Sensoryfeel, look at, hear, see, smell,watch, sense, observe, noticetime limited, completed, single act-> bare inftime unlimited, incomplete, series of acts -> gerund
Linguistic Distancereflects Conceptual Distance(reality, factuality, future, formality)
I told her to leave (separate)I saw her leave (concurrent)I saw her leaving (concurrent,
incomplete)
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 26
Discussion 1
● Complements following adjectivesIt’s hard (find) a parking place here. (time sequence)I was sorry (miss) you. (‘miss’ is a point-in-time verb)It’s awful (work) here. (conceptual distance = formality)It was good (see) you again. (conceptual distance = formality)
● Can you apply any of the rules-of-thumb?time sequencing, 'noun-ness‘, factuality and reality
● Who is helping whom? He is quick to help. vs He is hard to help. Categorise the adjective set accordingly
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 27
Discussion 2
● Complements following prepositionsHe left without …I thought about …He stopped me from …I dream of …We decided against …
● Complements following nounsIt’s a nice change (go) somewhere different.He regrets his decision (sell) the land.Do you have enough money (pay) for all this?She never has a kind word (say) about him.
● Clause elements -> Infinitives We tell / they come early -> We told them to come early.We ask / we leave -> We asked to leave.You promise / you helpHe order / we stand upShe pretended / she is illThey permit / we enterWe agree / we work harder
● Plans and Goals -> Infinitives
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 29
Teaching Ideas 2
● Turning over a new leaf. -> gerundsI should start/stop … begin, start, stop, quit, give up
● Rules prohibiting and encouraging The following are prohibited: running, smoking, eating, chewing gum
The following are encouraged:doing your homework, coming early, talking to native speakers, drinking
● Personal adsBlonde, enjoys running and dancing
Mike Smith www.mjcsmith.net 30
Real teaching ideas...
It (was / is / will be) a nice change (go) somewhere different.
I should stop (smoke cigarettes). I really want (stop).
We decided against (see a movie). We decided (not see a movie). We decided (go walk in the park.) **
He denied (rob the bank). Really? I thought he (suggest rob the bank) in the first place.
I’m afraid (of) (ask for a raise). I’ve always been (too) nervous (about) (ask for raises).
I’ve always been curious (try yoga / about try yoga). Nah, I’m reluctant (try). I propose/suggest (try it). **
I was sorry (miss you) yesterday. Yes, I regret (miss my train). ***
I loved (hear you / your sing) yesterday. Oh yes, I (see you leave) afterwards. It was kind of you (come).
I (feel her brush past me) as I stood on the crowded platform. Later, I (notice her brush her hair). ***
Identify Verb 1 and 2
Verb 1: sensory AND Verb 2: complete? (verbs are joined as one) Yes => bare infinitive
Verb 2: course of action, activity OR time duration OR V2 before OR concurrent with V1? Yes => gerund
Verb 2: after Verb 1? point-in-time-verb? Yes =>infinitive
** leads into non-finite relative clauses*** point-in-time verbs (like stative verbs they change in meaning in the v-ing form)