Gerunds and infinitives

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Gerund and infinitives

There are times where we can use a verb as a noun. When this happens, we call this particular verb a gerund. Sometimes, instead of the gerund, we have to use to + infinitive. 

A gerund/to + infinitive can take the place of the subject (onderwerp), direct object (lijd voorwerp) or indirect object (meewerk. voorwerp) in a sentence.

Subject: Listening to music is what I love to do.

Object (direct or indirect) : I was thinking about meeting them. / Jonathan considered telling him everything.

Gerunds (verb + -ing)

You use a gerund (-ing form)

• after a preposition
• after a phrasal verb
• after verbs that indicate likes/dislikes: like, dislike, love, hate, fancy, envy,
• after verbs that indicate using the senses: see, watch, hear, smell, feel
• after certain expressions: it's no use, it's not worth, there's no point
• after certain other verbs like: start-stop, avoid, miss, suggest, consider, imagine

The to-infinitive

You use the to-infinitive only as an object, never as a subject in the sentence:

• after certain verbs that express wishes or orders : afford, agree, ask, choose, help, hope, want, intend, pretend, promise, expect, prefer, used
• after certain adjectives: difficult, possible, happy, certain, simple
• after verbs : verb + somebody + to do + something: ask, encourage, permit, allow, persuade, teach, force
• after specifically these verbs: decide, expect, choose, hesitate, learn, refuse, manage

Now in Dutch:

Een werkwoord (verb) kan soms worden gebruikt als zelfstandig naamwoord (noun). Wanneer een werkwoord deze rol aanneemt spreek je van een gerund (werkwoord + ing).

Het lijkt veel op de continuous tense, maar is dus een andere tijd. Soms moet of kun je in plaats van de gerund ook to + hele werkwoord gebruiken.

Je kunt de gerund gebruiken als onderwerp van de zin, als lijdend voorwerp of als meewerkend voorwerp.

Onderwerp: Listening to music is what I love to do.

Lijdend/Meewerkend voorwerp: I was thinking about meeting them.

Lijdend/Meewerkend voorwerp: Jonathan is considering telling him everything.

Wanneer gebruik je de gerund?

• Na werkwoorden waarmee je aangeeft wat je wel of niet leuk vindt (like, dislike, love, hate, fancy, envy):
  - I like running on the street!
• Na zintuigelijke werkwoorden (see, watch, hear, smell, feel)
  - I watched him kayaking trough that river.
• Na de specifieke werkwoorden avoid, consider, give up, go on, keep, manage, mind, prefer, recommend, start, stop en suggest
  - I recommend drinking a large glass of water.
• Na uitdrukkingen:
  - She can't stand dancing with him.
• Na voorzetsels:
  - He eats his breakfast before heading out to work.

Wanneer gebruik je de to + infinitive?

Na werkwoorden die een wens uitdrukken (wish, hope, want, dream, desire):

- I hope to see you next Friday.

Na werkwoorden die een bevel uitdrukken (demand, forbid, prohibit, allow, restrict):

- I demand to have dinner right now.

Na de specifieke werkwoorden decide, expect, choose, hesitate, learn, refuse, manage:

- She didn't hesitate to dive into the water.

- We managed to get into the building through the back door.

TOT SLOT

De gerund suggereert dat het al gebeurd is (al gaande is):

- I remember doing groceries (is al gebeurd)

De to + hele werkwoord suggereert dat het nog niet gebeurd is (in de toekomst pas echt gaat gebeuren):

- I remember to do groceries (moet je nog gaan doen)

Jenny suggested … to the party in a taxi

1. go
2. to go
3. going

I look forward to … from you in the near future

1. hear
2. to hear
3. hearing

I don't mind .. it

1. do
2. to do
3. doing

The children were made .. out of bed

1. get
2. to get
3. getting

I'm going to town … a new jumper

1. buy
2. to buy
3. buying

Let me … tea

1. make
2. to make
3. making

I can't afford … you any more money

1. lend
2. to lend
3. lending

Extra exercise: gerund or infinitive

01. Drew pretends … (know) all the answers. 

02. Ferdinand is quite capable of … ( solve) this puzzle. 

03. He cannot afford … (buy) a new coat. 

04. He prefers … ( go) on holiday to Spain, 

05. Henry gave up … (try) to convince Emma that he was right . 

06. His parents are very proud of … (raise) him well. 

07. I am looking forward to … (receive) your reply. 

08. I begged my dad … (give) me more pocket money, but he refused. 

09. I detest … (have) to do the dishes every night. 

10. I must insist on … (finish) the work first.  

11. It’s not worth … (argue) about this matter.  It is not important at all. 

12. Jane was difficult …(please). 

13. Jennifer chose … (stop) smoking when she saw a picture of a tarred lung. 

14. John is great at … (solve) maths problems. 

15. Kaylee left home … (study) Law. 

16. Miss Jones encourages her pupils … (think) for themselves and form their own opinions. 

17. Mr Smith is worried about … (be) late for work. 

18. My friend loves … ( play) a musical instrument. 

19. My mother gave up … (play) pro tennis when she got me. 

20. Nathalie is keen on ...( pursue) a career in fashion.

21. Never apologise for … (speak) your mind. 

22. She burst out … (laugh) when she heard the news. 

23. She doesn’t believe in … (tell) white lies. 

24. We were happy …(stay) at home and watch Netflix all night. 

25. Your teachers expect you … (work) very hard  

Answers

01. Drew pretends to know all the answers.   

02. Ferdinand is quite capable of solving this puzzle.  

03. He cannot afford to buy a new coat.   

04. He prefers  to go on holiday to Spain,   

05. Henry gave up trying to convince Emma that he was right .  

06. His parents are very proud of raising him well.   

07. I am looking forward toreceiving your reply.   

08. I begged my dad to give me more pocket money, but he refused.   

09. I detest having to do the dishes every night.  

10. I must insist on finishing the work first.  

Answers

11. It’s not worth arguing about this matter.  It is not important at all.   

12. Jane was difficult to please.   

13. Jennifer choose to stop smoking when she saw a picture of a tarred lung.   

14. John is great at solving maths problems.   

15. Kaylee left home to study  Law.   

16. Miss Jones encourages her pupils to think for themselves and form their own opinions.   

17. Mr Smith am worried about  being  late for work.   

18. My friend loves playing a musical instrument.   

19. My mother gave up playing pro tennis when she got me.  

20. Nathalie iseen on pursuing a career in fashion.  

Answers

21. Never apologise for speaking your mind.

22. She burst out laughing when he heard the news

23. She doesn’t believe in telling white lies.   

24. We were happy to stay at home and watch Netflix all night.   

25. Your teachers expect you to work very hard