Chapter 12 Gerunds Participles and Infinitives By Krystin

Chapter 12 Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives By Krystin Prastil and Virgilio Meo

Verbals Made from a verb, but doesn’t tell you who, when, or how many Verbal Gerund Participle Infinitive

Gerund Verbal that functions as a noun Can be a subject, object or compliment position Verb + ing = gerund

What gerunds look like in sentences Examples Function of the Gerund Studying is hard work. Subject Some students enjoy studying. Object Nothing stops Lucy from studying. Object of the preposition from Lucy’s favorite activity is studying. Subject compliment

Gerund phrases Consists of a verbal, modifier(s), object(s) and/or complement(s) Functions as a noun

What gerund phrases look like in sentences studying + English + grammar = gerund phrase Function of gerund phrase Studying English grammar requires patience. Subject Everyone enjoys studying English grammar. Object Nothing stops Lucy from studying English grammar. object of the preposition from Lucy’s favorite activity is studying English grammar. Subject compliment

Possession Just like nouns, gerunds can show possessive His coming late created problems. The cat’s purring soothed the baby.

Gerunds can be negative Not studying can be a problem. Gerund Not studying English grammar can be a problem. Gerund phrase

Implications for ELLs might get confused on when to use a gerund I go to the store or I go to store Students need to learn to use –ing form of the verb “go” to show that they are complimenting the verb. Without the gerund, the sentence would be nonsensical. I am going to the store.

Participles and Participle Phrases Form of a verb that is used in a sentence to modify a noun, noun phrase, verb or verb phrase (-ing, -ed) Participle phrases function mainly as adjectives

4 Types of Participles Examples I read a boring book. Function of the Participle participial adjective modifying book The embarrassed child hid her face. I am reading a good book. I was reading a good book. The mother has scolded her child. present participle, part of a progressive verb phrase (be + V + ing) The mother had scolded her child. past participle, part of a perfect verb phrase (have + V + ed) Running too quickly, the child fell. participial phrase, modifying the child

Participle Positions Wanting to improve her grade, the student asked the teacher for help. Initial, modifying the student The children’s mother, insisting on their cooperation, asked them to clean their rooms. Middle, modifying the children’s mother The neighbor noticed the man talking on his cell phone. Final, modifying the man

Past Participle Phrases -ed occurs in participle phrases that act as an adjective; are closely related to passive voice The teacher was annoyed by the students’ behavior. Annoyed by the students’ behavior, the teacher gave them extra work.

Participles and Time Since participles don’t reflect time, do they all imply the same time? Two different types of references

Basic vs. Perfect: Event/action occurred prior to the event or action expressed by main verb Having reached a decision, the jurors returned to the courtroom. Basic: General, non-specific Wanting to end the argument, Peter left the room.

Passive participles Expressed in two types of time references General time: being + past participle Being watched by millions of viewers, the newsman became a household name. Earlier actions: having + past participle Having been sequestered for two weeks, the jurors were happy to return home.

Implications for ELLs Unlike gerunds, participles cannot take the place of noun Participles modify a noun, noun phrase, verb, or verb phrase

Gerund Phrases vs. Participle Phrases How can students tell the difference between the ing participle in a gerund phrase versus a participle phrase? If “it” can be substituted in for a phrase, it is a gerund Doing crossword puzzles relaxes Kylie. It relaxes Kylie. Example of a gerund While waiting for takeoff, the flight attendants passed out magazines. It, the flight attendants passed out magazines. Example of a participle

The “It” Test The candidate contested the outcome of the election, claiming voter fraud. PP Working even after retirement age, George has been indispensable to the company. PP You should consider doing your homework more carefully. G Exhausted by the climb, Taylor collapsed by the side of the road. PP Taking a vacation is important for all of us. G Brenda, taking a deep breath, continued her talk. PP

Infinitives

Infinitives can function as… a noun (can be subject or object) an adjective an adverb and complements The infinitive is a verbal that combines the “to” + the base or simple verb Examples: to find, to travel, to run, to jump

Infinitive as the subject of the verb To do the right thing is not easy. Place the infinitive at the beginning of the sentence. In English we avoid doing this except in formal situations. Instead we use the “filler” or “dummy” subject it. It is not easy to do the right thing. ------------------------------------- Infinitive as an object of the verb I want to help. The love to travel. --------------------------------------- Infinitive as an adjective The students have a lot of homework to do. Modifies noun

Infinitive as an adverb We must study to learn. Modifies verb and gives more info. Ask “Why? ” --------------------------------- Infinitive as a complement Her class is difficult to teach.

Practice… Identify how the infinitive is being used. • The most important thing is to learn. • To learn is important. • He wants to learn.

Answers • The most important thing is to learn. COMPLEMENT • To learn is important. SUBJECT • He wants to learn. OBJECT

Gerunds and Infinitives Both can be used as the subject or complement. Infinitives make a person sound sophisticated; however, we are more inclined to use the gerund as the subject or complement. Learning is important. To learn is important.

More on Gerunds and Infinitives As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. He enjoys swimming. gerund He wants to swim. infinitive

Infinitives as Direct Objects of Verbs The most common sentence position of infinitives and infinitive phrases is after a main verb. When infinitives and infinitive phrases follow verbs, they are functioning as objects. He agreed to come for the interview. Add an adverb. How would you add immediately to this sentence?

Correct answer… He agreed immediately to come for the interview. At times the adverb may come between the main verb and the infinitive or an infinitive phrase. A split-infinitive is when you place an adverb between the “to” and simple verb of an infinitive. Wrong answer/Informal… He agreed to immediately come for he interview.

More exceptions… Some verbs require an indirect object between the main verb and the infinitive/infinitive phrase. This object may either be a noun or a pronoun The teacher allowed her students to eat in class.

Exception to that exception… If we change one of the verbs to the passive, the original indirect object becomes the subject of the passive sentence. There is no indirect object between the verb and the infinitive. The teacher allowed her students to eat in class. Her students were allowed to eat in class.

Other patterns… Infinitives can be made negative by placing not before “to” + the simple/base verb. She decided not to go home. Infinitives can be made passive by following the structure “to” + be + past participle. Revered above all else are the lessons to be learned from “just going out and doing it. ”

Bare Infinitive Certain verbs are followed by the verb without the “to. ” They fall into one of two groups, the causatives verbs and the sensory verbs. P. 403

Causative Verbs Commonly used with help, have, let and make, these verbs express that “X” caused “Y” to do something. S CV O BV She made me wash the dishes. Forced S CV O BV My Dad let me go by myself. Gave permission S CV O BV He had the students do the assignment. Forced S CV O BV She got me to mow the lawn. Convinced S CV O BV My tutor has helped me improve/to improve. Aided

Infinitives and Time The infinitive does not inflect for person or number, but can indicate different time references. Basic Infinitive – expresses time that is simultaneous with or future from the time expressed by the main verb.

Problems for ELLs Infinitives can be confused with prepositional phrases beginning with “to. ” Advice to offer: “to” of an infinitive is followed by a verb describing an action, event, or state. Prepositional phrases beginning with “to” have a noun or noun phrase after the “to. ”

More problems for ELLs… Remembering which verbs require an indirect object before the infinitive and which do not. The teacher arranged me to have a tutor. Remembering to include the “to” before an infinitive. Her friend encouraged her study for university. The teacher made me to do my homework over again.