Gerunds and Infinitives

This is a trouble spot for the ESL/EFL learner. We often wonder whether we should use a gerund or an infinitive. To understand how this works, we must know what a gerund is. A gerund is the –ing form of a verb, such as working, sleeping, or studying. In this form, it is not a verb at all; it is a noun. Therefore, we need to remember that a gerund is a noun. We can replace a noun with the pronoun (it).

Read this sentence: Reading enhances our ability to write.

Now ask yourself what the verb of this sentence is. Your answer will obviously be "enhances." In this case, "reading" is the subject of the sentences; it is a noun. I can replace "reading" with the pronoun "it" and the sentence will still be correct.

It enhances our ability to write.

On the other hand, an infinitive is the verb preceded by "to," meaning, "to do something." It is not a noun; it is an action. In the sentence above, "our ability to write" means our ability to do it.

This distinction has always worked for me. So when you are in doubt as to whether to use a gerund or an infinitive, ask yourself if it is "it" or "to do it." If you can use "it," a gerund will be correct. If you must use "to do it," an infinitive should be your choice.

Let us try it. Complete the following sentence using "write"

I enjoy _____.

To choose the right form, ask yourself whether you can say, "I enjoy (it)" or "I enjoy (to do) it."

The response will be, "I enjoy ‘it’.

Therefore, the sentence should be, "I enjoy writing."

Here is a list of verbs that are followed by gerunds:

Admit – appreciate – avoid – deny – enjoy – finish
Miss – postpone – practice – quit – recall – resist
Suggest – tolerate

Here is a list of verbs that are followed by infinitives:

Agree – ask – claim – decide – expect – have –
Hope – manage – offer – plan – pretend – promise –
Refuse – wait – want – wish

Here are verbs that can be followed by either an infinitive or a gerund:

Begin – continue – hate – like – love – start

Try using these verbs to get a sense of how they function. These always require a lot of practice

The Use of Articles "A," "An," and "The"

Suggestion: Please review previous materials.

There are many nouns in English that cannot be counted. We need to know such nouns so we may use the proper verb form that agrees with the noun. This lesson will address these nouns.

For the nouns that we can count, we use the articles "a" or "an" before the singular count noun. For example, "I have an apple;" and "I have a pen."

Notice that we used "an" with the noun "apple" because apple starts with a vowel. We used "a" with the noun "pen" because pen starts with a consonant. So, always use "an" with nouns that begin with a vowel and use "a" with nouns that begin with a consonant. 

Using "The"

Note that we use the article "the" with most nouns whose specific identity is known. Usually the identity will be clear for one of the following reasons:

1. The noun has been previously mentioned.
2. Using superlatives such as "best" and "most" makes noun’s identity specific.
3. The noun’s identity is clear because of the context.

We should not use the article "the" with:

1. Proper nouns such as names of people.
2. Plural nouns that indicate the meaning ‘all’ or ‘in general’.

For example: In Egypt, rice is preferred to other grains.
Notice that we did not say "the rice.

Other Problem Areas for the ESL/EFL Learner

1. Omitting the subject of an independent clause.
   Sometimes a learner may omit the subject of an independent clause. For example, one may say: "Your sister is very beautiful; seems intelligent, too."
   
   Notice that the subject in the second clause is not present. Therefore, we need to correct it to read:
   "Your sister is very beautiful; she seems intelligent, too."
   
   
2. Repeating the subject of a sentence.
   Non-native speakers tend to repeat the subject in a sentence. For example, one may incorrectly say: "My brother he is in Mexico."
   We do not need the pronoun "he" in that sentence.
   
   
3. Confusing the participial adjectives: present participles and past participles.
   Both present and past participles may be used as adjectives. One way you can figure out which to use is deciding who the doer and the receiver are. If the noun you want to describe is the cause of the action, use a present participle (-ing). If the "receiver," the noun that receives the action, is the noun that you want to describe, use the past participle.
   
   For example: "The movie was depressing. I was depressed."
   Here the cause of the action is the movie and the receiver is I.
   
   Another example: "The class is boring; the students are bored."
   
   The class is the cause and the students are the receivers.
   
   According to the Bedford Handbook for Writers, the participles that cause the most trouble for nonnative speakers are those describing mental state:
   
   Annoying / annoyed
   Boring / bored
   Confusing / confused
   Depressing / depressed
   Exciting / excited
   Exhausting / exhausted
   Fascinating / fascinated
   Frightening / frightened
   Satisfying / satisfied
   Surprising / surprised
   
   When you come across these words, always do the test. Ask yourself who the doer or the cause of the action is and who the receiver is. Use the present participle (–ing) form to describe the doer and use the past participle (–en) form to describe the receiver.
   
4. Confusing prepositions of time and place.
   Prepositions that show time and place can be confusing to the ESL/EFL learner. One of the reasons why these prepositions are difficult is that the difference between them is merely idiomatic.
   
   Here is a possible aid for you to decide which preposition to use:
   
   TIME:
   At: for a specific time. "I get up at 7:00."
   On: on a specific day. "I was born on a Friday."
   In: in a part of time. "I drink tea in the afternoon."
   
   PLACE:
   At: at a location. "Maria is at home."
   On: on the surface of something. "She put the glass on
   the table.
   In: in an enclosed space. "She lives in San Jose

Conclusion

Much of the materials covered in this lesson can easily be learned through interaction. Learning a new language can sometimes involve learning about the culture where the target language is spoken. Listening to people talk, reading, watching movies and of course asking questions can enhance your skills and speed up your learning process. I encourage you to actively engage yourselves in the learning process. Listen, observe, and ask questions.

Study well, do good work, and good luck. 

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