Gerund or Infinitive?

FORM * MEANING * FUNCTIONS * RELATION TO NOUN CLAUSES * PRACTICE


Gerunds and infinitives can both be used as subjects, subject complements, and direct objects of verbs. The choice between which to use as a direct object is sometimes dictated by the verb. But the choice of whether to use a gerund or infinitive as a subject, subject complement, or object of other verbs is left to the speaker/writer. This choice can indicate shades of meaning.


MEANING
INFINITIVE
GERUND
potential
idea/plan/future
single/repeated
request/instruction/causation
actual/fact
past/end
ongoing
attitude (no plan)
(often reduced from modals/
subjunctive/imperative)


Choose gerunds or infinitives .. in the appropriate form .. in the following sentences (from various texts we have read this semester), and then check below to see how your choices compare with those made by the original writers.


subject/subject complement


1. "Their strategy is the clock." The White House did get one
2. one man for the atrocities committed after .. would be ..
3. came to the fore, while took what was left.
4. so would be considered greedy.
5. Clinton's strategy was questions about his ethics, his aides
6. "The temptation was tit for tat
7. I'm sure to the state finals is beyond your wildest dreams
8. idea of saving Medicare "was the poorest Americans pay more."
9. But their custom was visitors, and they treated the newcomers with
10. make "Our goal was sure we had a way to characterize the
11. and when nighttime began to be practiced by the newcomers, it ..
12. 's my trade.
13. One kind of fearful pleasure was long winter evenings with the old Dutch wives
14. this bridge was the severest trial.
15. Yet these crimes squarely on the shoulders of .. would not be fair.
16. " and came to the fore, while Christianizing took a back seat.
17. above others would be undemocratic, they
18. On one night of the year through neighborhoods and across country lanes .. is great fun.
19. he even suggested that was to be forbidden at certain periods of the ..
20. windows and shop signs, by the 1920's had become nasty ...
21. wonder what it would feel like walking and just going.
22. the field openly against his rival would have ...
23. them to Indianapolis and in front of 15,000 people is kind of like you and I going to the moon.
24. The plan for the transportation center is the interior and conditions more ..
25. .. had to be conveyed to Seville; north was out of the question.
26. "What was to be done? and was now too late; and besides, what



direct object

possible subjects are included, but may not be needed/possible, with the gerunds and infinitives you choose for these: (answers)

1. they could afford, but not at the cost of the public good.
2. by which they agreed a "Civil Body Politic"
3. center will allow into the city by train or over-the-road bus
4. He appeared a horseman of large dimensions, and mounted on a
5. I appreciate away from Jimmy the way you have.
6. will have to arrange them done at their own expense.) ... you should
7. Columbus asked his partner, and Pinzón accepted.
8. and he asked restored "the capital of my honour . . .
9. midterms, I attempted solace under a tree on the Quad. I had just
10. two patents authorizing in the northern part of the company's
11. mischief-making began by the newcomers,
12. he began ; he thought his whistle was answered; it was
13. the good people, causing in a continual reverie.
14 . he paused, and ceased but, on looking more narrowly, perceived that
15. Katrina again chose the embers of the smoldering rivalry. Thus
16. second wondrously combines the dead -- by tidying graveyards and offering
17. He came the explorer and discoverer, the man of
18. Did you ever consider married? Come on. You must have a lot of
19. some of the sailors who dared Columbus on his dangerous first journey were
20. He then decided three of his ships directly to his brother and
21. his chivalrous spirit disdained while living.
22. and dread over his shoulder, lest he should behold some
23. of that spirit driving and ."
24. the group's members elected Leiden. A small ship, the Speedwell, carried
25. Bobadilla was empowered back to Spain any person regardless of rank.
26. this enabled by the trade winds, and on November 3 the
27. children were encouraged door to door and treats from homes and
28. Ichabod endeavored the horrible missile, but too late.
29. health plan entitles this center.
30. could not have been expected . To judge this action from the moral
31.going to be expecting the last shot. We're going to use you as a decoy
32. Half the colony failed the first winter, but the remainder lived on
33. and was expressly forbidden so, at any rate on the way out.
34. he was forced that here, here was a flawless picture of ease
35. magic, however, in getting about the fate of the team and the people
36. patterns before you go . All right? Is that clear? ...
37. home, who happened pretty sisters, or good housewives for mothers
38. And I hate you this, Mr. Dale, but it's only a game.
39. and helped to Spain and later on a ship to England
40. who were helping the expedition. In the meantime the Leiden
41 did not hesitate some of the former Senate majority
42. is where Hackman hopes his comeback, but he doesn't think only of
43. closer to him -- was intended him as he set out to attack the
44. I imagined you ever since I first saw you. I was just tired of ..
45. Oh, I keep there are only about 50 people in this town
46. He kept me I'd be back. Of course, he was right.
47. You kind of like on your own.
48. the pumpkin; which led that he knew more about the matter than he
49. come back until you learn your mouth shut and listen.
50. I'd kind of like you up on your feet. Cletus: You can count on it
51. I'd like now.
52. How I'd love the jackpot! Dear Katrina, Papa's only child
53. and had also managed one European-style building out of squared logs
54. God meant behind an establishment with all the men and
55. I also missed that people's private affairs stay pretty much
56. Some buses will need in the downtown area to accommodate
57. He did not need cosmographers, merchants, or ambassadors
58. teacher will probably offer you there together. Or you can go by yourself
59. and was obliged up behind him; how they galloped over bush and
60. ordered free, and sent him 2,000 ducats to enable him
61. his critics have painted . As most 10-year-olds can tell you, Columbus
62. Students are not permitted for U of I (or IEI) classes the next semester
63. persuaded him, and all his requests were met.
64. "Dole was prepared with indignation."
65. own experiences, presumes patterns that illuminate both the past and the
66. and bowing, and pretending on good terms with every songster of the grove
67. I profess how women's hearts are wooed and won.
68. provided in her will "restored in the possession of the Indies."
69. Quit the ball around and shoot it. Move it. That's
70. good Dutch settlers refused such nonsense, for they knew the
71. Remember your imunization card with you when you come
72. But remember the area.
73. and was reported by the ghost of the unfortunate pedagogue
74. are required by state law evidence of immunity to certain vaccine
75. he resolved his brother Bartolomé there with 80 men; but
76. this fall and is scheduled in October or November of 1998
77. While Dole sought voters of the latter, he was put on the
78. His reputation seemed by the mid-nineteenth century
79. in this movie everyone seems to start over in life
80. figure it's time for me to start ball.
81. Throw me out of the game or I'm going to start like a mad fool.
82. Mistrust started and the friendship weakened. The Pilgrims
83. The Pilgrims started their Indian neighbors that their Indian religion
84. what it would feel like to start and just keep .
85. The kids are starting it. I mean, it's really fun!
86. be right with you if you start .
87. "Let's stop about cutting Medicare," he said. "If I were a
88. On October 6 Pinzón suggested course again to the southwest;
89. scoundrel dog whom he taught in the most ludicrous manner,
90.your mouth shut until I tell it.
91.Jones, had threatened the Pilgrims unless they quickly found a place
92. Norm, I'm trying hard that you know what you're doing.
93. So don't try a plan. You can't reason with a headless
94. my powers of perception tend shady at best, but I believe their rallying cry
95. the evening turned out a victory of sorts for the questioners
96. Perot urged for him on Nov. 5. He singled out Americans in
97. the congregation voted to America. Through the Brewster family's
98. unexplored wasteland waiting . There is evidence that suggests Afro
99. advisers did not want saying a lot of wild, crazy things
100. of you who feel you don't want on the team, feel free to leave right now. Did you
101. I don't want the high point of his life. I've seen them, the real
102. I want to practices and sit on the bench with me
103. they wished a second expedition as soon as possible; they


ANSWERS

subject/
subject complement
direct object
1. to beat
2. To blame
3. Christianizing
4. Not to do
5. not to be drawn into
6. to go
7. going
8. to have
9. to help
10. to make
11. mischief- making
12. Equipment managing
13. to pass
14. To pass
15. to place
16. Populating / developing
17. To be raised
18. to run
19. gold seeking
20. soaping / switching
21. to start / keep
22. To have taken
23. taking / playing
24. to update / make
25. travelling
26. To turn and fly









1. to be
2. to establish
3. passengers to travel
4. to be
5. your staying
6. to have
7. him to become
8. to be
9. to find
10. them to settle
11. to be practiced
12. to whistle
13. them to walk
14 whistling
15. to stir
16. honoring
17. to epitomize
18. getting
19. to join
20. to send
21. to ask
22. to look
23. forces to explore / discover
24. to leave
25. to send
26. him to benefit
27. to go / receive
28. to dodge
29. you to use
30. to foresee
31.you to take
32. to survive
33. to do
34. to admit
35. us to really care
36. to score
37. to have
38. to tell
39. him to get
40. to finance
41 to challenge
42. to make
43. to unnerve
44. kissing
45. forgetting
46. telling
47. being
48. some to suspect
49. to keep
50. to see
51. you to leave
52. to hit
53. to build
54. him to leave
55. knowing
56. to be rerouted
57. to consult
58. to take
59. to get
60. him to be set
61. him to be
62. to register
63. the King and Queen to recall
64. to respond
65. to find
66. to be
67. not to know
68. for him to be
69. throwing
70. to believe
71. to bring
72. not to scratch
73. to be haunted
74. to provide
75. to leave
76. to be completed
77. to remind
78. to have been secured
79. to be trying
80. playing
81. screaming
82. to grow
83. telling
84. walking / going
85. to get
86. winning
87. talking
88. altering
89. to whine
90.you to open
91. to leave
92. to believe
93. to figure out
94. to be
95. to be
96. four groups to vote
97. to emigrate
98. to be developed
99. Dole to "get away with
100. to be
101. this to be
102. you to come
103. to send




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Ann Salzmann
Intensive English Institute
University of Illinois