Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the adjective complement, that we throw in here, free of charge).
Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:
- Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.
- To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.
It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as the subject (as in Ib), but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a Subject Complement:
- Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.
The gerund can also play this role:
- Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.
Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role of Noun Complement and Appositive:
- Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.
- I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.
- Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a goal within reach.
The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very partial list of abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these adjectives with an infinitive phrase (their desire to play in the championship game, a motivation to pass all their courses, her permission to stay up late, a gentle reminder to do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.
advice
appeal
command
decision
desire
fact
instruction
motivationopportunity
order
permission
plan
possibility
preparation
proposal
recommendationrefusal
reminder
request
requirement
suggestion
tendency
wish
- She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.
- She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.
- But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.
Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.
ahead
amazed
anxious
apt
ashamed
bound
careful
certain
content
delighteddetermined
disappointed
eager
eligible
fortunate
glad
happy
hesitant
liable
likelylucky
pleased
proud
ready
reluctant
sad
shocked
sorry
surprised
upset
- She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.
- She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.
- The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.
- What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?
And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:
Some of the verbs in the following table may be followed by a gerund if they are describing an "actual, vivid or fulfilled action" (Frodesen). We love running. They began farming the land. These are described, also, below.
Emotion care
desire
hatehate
like
loathelove
regret
yearnChoice or Intent agree
choose
decide
decide
expecthope
intend
need
plan
preferprepare
propose
refuse
want
wishInitiation, Completion, Incompletion begin
cease
commence
failget
hesitate
manage
neglectstart
try
undertakeMental Process forget
know howlearn remember Request and Promise demand
offerpromise
swearthreaten
vowIntransitives appear
happenseem tend Miscellaneous afford
arrangeclaim
continuepretend
wait
The verbs in the next table will often be followed by an infinitive, but they will also be accompanied by a second object. We asked the intruders to leave quietly. They taught the children to swim. The teacher convinced his students to try harder.
The verbs in blue, with an asterisk, can also follow the same pattern as the verbs in the table above (i.e., the second object is optional). We all wanted to go. They promised to be home early.
Communication advise
ask*
beg*
challenge
command
convinceforbid
invite
order
permit
persuade
promise*remind
require
tell
warn
urgeInstruction encourage
helpinstruct
teachtrain Causing allow
cause
chooseforce
get
hireneed*
would like*Miscellaneous dare*
expect*trust
prepare*want*
Gerunds accompany a form of the verb to go in many idiomatic expressions: Let's go shopping. We went jogging yesterday. She goes bowling every Friday night.
The following verbs will be followed by a gerund. Did I mention reading that novel last summer? I recommend leaving while we can. I have quit smoking These verbs tend to describe actual events.
Initiation, Completion and Incompletion anticipate
avoid
begin
cease
completedelay
finish
get through
give up
postponequit
risk
start
stop
tryCommunication admit
advise
deny
discussencourage
mention
recommendreport
suggest
urgeContinuing Action continue
can't helppractice
involvekeep
keep onEmotion appreciate
dislike
enjoy
hate
likelove
mind
don't mind
miss
preferregret
can't stand
resent
resist
tolerateMental Process anticipate
consider
forgetimagine
recall
remembersee
can't see
understand
attempt
begin
continue
hatelike
love
neglect
preferregret
can't stand
stand
start
forget remember stop
Verbs Involving Senses
feel
hear
listen tolook at
notice
observeoverhear
see
watch
- We watched him clear the table.
- They heard the thief crash through the door.
- She made me do it.
- We helped her finish the homework.
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