3.26: Gerunds + Infinitives - Identify + Explain

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Identify & Explain:

Part 1: Infinitives

Underline the infinitive. Explain why it’s used.

1. It is important to be on time.

2. I am too old to wear miniskirts.

3. I can’t afford to pay the rent by myself.

4. I would like my children to do something good for the world when they grow up.

5. I am afraid to not succeed in life.

6. My friend just broke up with her boyfriend. Now she is too sad to go out and have fun.

7. My parents have always wanted me to be an independent woman.

8. I have to go to the grocery store to buy some milk.

Check your answers:

1. It is important to be on time. [infinitive in 'It is ...' expression]

2. I am too old to wear miniskirts. [infinitive after an adjective]

3. I can’t afford to pay the rent by myself. [infinitive after the verb 'afford']

4. I would like my children to do something good for the world when they grow up. [infinitive after the object, 'my children']

5. I am afraid to not succeed in life. [infinitive after an adjective]

6. My friend just broke up with her boyfriend. Now she is too sad to go out and have fun. [infinitive after an adjective]

7. My parents have always wanted me to be an independent woman. [infinitive after object pronoun, 'me']

8. I have to go to the grocery store to buy some milk. [infinitive to show purpose] - have to = need to]

Part 2: Gerunds

Underline the gerund. Explain why it’s used.

1. Being on time is important.

2. I am afraid of not succeeding in life.

3. Since I moved here, I have gone swimming every weekend.

4. I have always dreamt about traveling around the world.

5. I plan on finishing my studies in a couple of years.

6. I never start class without saying good morning to my students.

7. Not eating healthy can lead to problems later in life.

8. My friends enjoyed coming to my home last night.

Check your answers:

1. Being on time is important. [gerund as subject]

2. I am afraid of not succeeding in life. [gerund after the preposition 'of']

3. Since I moved here, I have gone swimming every weekend. [gerund in 'go expression']

4. I have always dreamt about traveling around the world. [gerund after the preposition 'about']

5. I plan on finishing my studies in a couple of years. [gerund after the preposition 'on']

6. I never start class without saying good morning to my students. [gerund in adverbial, after 'without']

7. Not eating healthy can lead to problems later in life. [gerund as subject]

8. My friends enjoyed coming to my home last night. [gerund after the verb 'enjoyed']