Teaching 2902: STRUCTURE MATERIAL

STRUCTURE II

Compiled by dwi haryanti

(January-Pebruary 2011)

STRUCTURE MATERIALS

1. Modality (can/could, may/might, must, shall/should, will/would, have to, ought to, used to)

Expressing Possibility

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing Permission

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing Obligation

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing Deduction

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing request

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative

iii. interrogative

Expressing Common Sense/Disappointment

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing Past habit

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

Expressing a Process of Becoming Familiar

i. Affirmative

ii. Negative,

iii. Interrogative (Yes/No and Question-word Questions),

2. Gerund and Infinitive

As subject/object
After certain/phase verbs
Passive Gerund and Infinitive
After preposition
After possessive case and apostrophe

3. Impersonal ‘It’ and Introductory ‘There’

Expressing weather/time
Preparatory (substitute for infinitive subject construction)
Introductory (followed by subjective and objective pronoun)
Cataphoric /anaphoric

4. Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-complex Sentences

Independent (main) and Dependent (sub) Clauses
Conjunction (coordinating, correlative/pair, subordinating,) in Compound Sentences

Adjective Clauses

Relative pronoun (who/ever, whom, which, that, whose, when/ever, where/ever, why)
Present participial phrase in
Past participial phrase
Reduced clause

Noun Clauses in Complex Sentences:

that
if/whether
question words

Adverbial Clauses in Complex Sentences

i. of Time

ii. of Place

iii. of Contrast

iv. of Cause

v. of Result

vi. of Purpose

vii. of Condition

viii. of Proportion/stereo type/double comparative

ix. of Concession

x. of Manner

xi. of Comparison, etc.

A. English Modal Verbs

by Heather Marie Kosur

Edited & published by Rebecca Scudder (Dec 31, 2010)

(http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/37641.aspx)

1. Notion

Modal verbs are difficult to define in any language because of the wide range of pragmatic uses of modal verbs by native speakers. Some of the more common definitions (in no particular order) of the modal verbs in English are

Assignmet 1

1) can – ability, permission, possibility, request

2) could – ability, permission, possibility, request, suggestion

3) may – permission, probability, request

4) might – possibility, probability, suggestion

5) must – deduction (pengambilan kesimpulan), necessity, obligation, prohibition (larangan)

6) shall – decision, future, offer, question, suggestion

7) should – advice, necessity (kalau perlu), prediction, recommendation

8) will – decision, future, intention, offer, prediction, promise, suggestion

9) would – conditional, habit, invitation, permission, preference (pilihan), request, question, suggestion.

My students, clasify the above, as the following examples (Assignment 1, submit on a paper)

1. Ability : can, could, be able to

2. Permission : can, could, may, would,

3. Possibility : can, could, might,

4. Request : can, could, may,would,

5. Suggestion : could, might, shall, will, would

6. Probability : may, might

2. Position of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs always appear in the first position at the beginning of the verb phrase in English. Unlike other verbs, modal verbs do not show tense or number. The eight possible verb phrase combinations that contain modal verbs in English are:

modal verb + base form = will eat; will not, Will subject verb…….
modal verb + be + present participle = will be eating
modal verb + have + past participle = will have eaten
modal verb + be + past participle = will be eaten
modal verb + have + been + present participle = will have been eating
modal verb + have + been + past participle = will have been eaten
modal + be + being + past participle = will be being eaten
modal verb + have + been + being + past participle = will have been being eaten

3. Examples of Modal Verb Usage

The following sentences are examples of usage of modal verbs in English. For example, the following four sentences all ask for permission but with different degrees and types of modality:

Can I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission)
May I go to the bathroom? (more politely asking for permission)
Could I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission with less certainty)
Might I go to the bathroom? (asking for permission with uncertainty)

The following sentences also demonstrate the subtle (polite) meanings in regards to modal verbs of suggestion:

You could listen to me. (suggestion)
You might listen to me. (uncertain suggestion)
You should listen to me. (strong suggestion)
You must listen to me. (stronger suggestion)
You will listen to me. (strongest suggestion)

The meanings of modal verbs are very pragmatic and must be learned through use.

Modal Verbs Practice Exercise

Identify the modal verb and modality (definition) in the following sentences.

Sentences

You (can, could) ride your bike across the country, but I advise against it.
Since all dogs are mammals, this golden retriever (binatang yang dapat mengembalikan barang2 yg hilang) (might, must) be a mammal.
You (will, might) consider finishing your degree.
I (could, will) finish my essay tonight even if I have to go to sleep.
The puppy (must, can) sit on command.
I (will, would) eat cereal every day as a child.
You (might, may) encounter some difficult patrons on occasion.
The train (must, should) arrive in a few minutes.
The situation (will, would) not be so bad if we all remained calm.
I (would, will) have earned my graduate degree next spring.

Possible Answers

could – possibility
must – deduction
might – suggestion
will – intention
can – ability
would – habit
may – probability
should – prediction
would – conditional
will – future

English Modal Verbs: Can and May

Modal verbs express modality, which is the expression of possibility, necessity, and contingency. This article offers the most frequent definitions of the modals can and may with examples to illustrate use. Also included is a printable reference sheet of the definitions.

Can

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb can:

To be able: to have the power, ability, or capacity.
Expressing a possible contingency: To be allowed to, to be given permission to.
Expressing possibility: To be permitted or enabled by the conditions of the case.
Expressing an inclination (kecenderungan) in a conditional form.

The modal verb can firstly expresses ability. For example:

I can ride a bike. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, I am able to ride a bike.)
You can drive a car. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, you are able to drive a car.)
He can fly a plane. (Having the power, ability, or capacity, he is able to fly a plane.)

The modal verb can secondly expresses permission. For example:

You can see the movie. (You have permission to see the movie.)
He can borrow my car. (He has permission to borrow my car.)
Can they have some tomatoes? (Do they have permission to have some tomatoes?)

The modal verb can thirdly expresses possibility. For example:

You can fly in a balloon with hot air. (Flying in a balloon is possible with hot air.)
They can take the interstate to my house. (Their taking the interstate to my house is possible.)
Chickens can fly. (It is possible for chickens to fly.)

The modal verb can fourthly expresses contingency. For example:

If you can earn the money, then you may buy the dress. (Buying the dress is contingent on earning the money.)
If the committee can provide the food, then I will provide the drinks. (My providing the drinks is contingent on the committee providing the food.)
If you can have the report to me by Monday, that would be great. (It being great is contingent on your having the report to me by Monday.)

The modal verb can fifthly expresses requests. This fifth sense of can is closely related to the first and second senses of can. Requests made with can are often more polite than requests made through the imperative mood or commands. For example:

Can you pass me the salt? (I am requesting that you pass me the salt.)
Can you shut the door? (I am requesting that you shut the door.)
Can you quiet down? (I am requesting that you quiet down.)

Note that there is overlap in the meanings of the modal verb can. For example, the contingency of If you can have the report to me by Monday, that would be great overlaps with the expression of a request: I am not simply stating that it would be great for you to get the report to me by Monday but am also requesting that you have the report to me by Monday.

Please continue reading on page two for the definitions of the modal verb may.

May

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb may:

Expressing objective possibility, opportunity, or absence of prohibitive conditions; have the potentiality to, be at liberty to, be permitted by circumstances to.
Expressing permission or sanction: be allowed (to do something) by authority, law, rule, morality, reason, etc.
Expressing present subjective possibility, i.e. the admissibility (kemampuan diakui) of a supposition (anggapan), in a direct or indirect statement.
Used in a question, with the effect of rendering the tone less abrupt (tak tersangka/tiba2) or pointed.

The modal verb may firstly expresses possibility. For example:

The rocket may explode at take off. (It is a possibility for the rocket to explode at take off.)
I may take you up on that offer. (It is a possibility for me to take you up on that offer.)
The bread may not turn out right. (It is a possibility that the bread will not turn out right.)

The modal verb may secondly expresses probability. Note that the difference between possibility and probability is often expressed through adverbs. For example:

The patient likely may never walk again. (It is probable that the patient will never walk again.)
I may very well join you tonight. (It is probable that I will join you tonight.)
Some guests may just not like coconut. (It is probable that some guests do not like coconut.)

The modal verb may thirdly expresses permission and requests for permission. Note that the permission expressed by may is generally more polite than the permission expressed by can. For example:

You may borrow my computer. (You have permission to borrow my computer.)
May I borrow your computer? (Do I have permission to borrow your computer?)
Drivers may not make U-turns at this intersection. (U-turns are not permissible at this intersection)

Note that there is also overlap in the meanings of the modal verb may. For example, the difference between possibility and probability is extremely subtle and context dependent. Also note that the meanings of may overlap with the meanings of can with may generally considered more polite or formal.

English Modal Verbs: Could and Might

Modal verbs are auxiliaries that express modality, subjective attitudes about possibility, necessity, and contingency. This article offers the most frequent definitions of the modals could and might with examples to illustrate use. A printable reference sheet of the definitions is also provided.

Could

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb could:

Formerly past tense of can.
To be able; to have the power, ability, or capacity.
Expressing a possible contingency: To be allowed to, to be given permission to.
Expressing possibility: To be permitted or enabled by the conditions of the case.
Expressing an inclination in a conditional form.

The modal verb could firstly expresses ability, specifically past ability. For example:

He could eat thirty pickles in a minute. (He used to be able to eat thirty pickles in a minute)
My grandfather could fly a plane. (My grandfather used to be able to fly a plane.)
The teacher could not grade all the papers last night. (The teacher was not able to grade all the papers last night.)

The modal verb could secondly expresses permission. For example:

You could borrow my sweater. (It is permissible for you to borrow my sweater.)
She could have taken the car. (It was permissible for her to take the car.)
You could turn the assignment in tomorrow morning instead of today. (It is permissible for you to wait until tomorrow to turn in the assignment.)

The modal verb could thirdly expresses suggestions. Note that the express of suggestions overlaps with the expression of permission. For example:

You could borrow my sweater. (I am suggesting that you borrow my sweater.)
They could take the back roads. (It is suggested that they take the back roads.)
He could go to the museum. (It is suggested that he go to the museum.)

The modal verb could fourthly expresses possibility and to a lesser extent probability. For example:

The child could not have gotten far. (It is not possible for the child to have gotten far.)
The ship could sink. (It is possible for the ship to sink.)
The entire building could explode. (It is probable that the entire building will explode.)

The modal verb could fifthly expresses requests. Note that requests made with could are often more polite than requests made through the imperative mood or commands. For example:

Could you pass the tequila? (I am requesting that you pass the tequila.)
Could you shut the door? (I am requesting that you shut the door.)
Could you stop your whining? (I am requesting that you stop your whining.)

Note that, like with other modals, there is overlap in the meanings of the modal verb could. For example, the expression of suggestions not only overlaps with the expression of permission but also with the expression of possibility: You could borrow my sweater expresses a suggestion as well as permission and possibility.

Might

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb might:

Formerly past tense of may.
Expressing objective possibility, opportunity, or absence of prohibitive conditions; have the potentiality to, be at liberty to, be permitted by circumstances to.
Expressing permission or sanction: was allowed (to do something) by authority, law, rule, morality, reason, etc.
Expressing objective possibility, opportunity, or absence of prohibitive conditions; have the potentiality to, be at liberty to, be permitted by circumstances to.
Expressing subjective possibility with reference to the past.
Used in a question, with the effect of rendering the tone less abrupt or pointed.

The modal verb might firstly expresses possibility. For example:

Those plates might fall off the cabinet. (It is possible for those plates to fall off the cabinet.)
You might get hurt. (It is possible for you to get hurt.)
The soufflé might be burnt. (It is possible for the soufflé to be burnt.)

The modal verb might secondly expresses suggestions. For example:

You might bring chocolate cupcakes instead of vanilla. (It is suggested that you bring chocolate cupcakes instead of vanilla.)
You might wash your hands more often. (It is suggested that you wash your hands more often.)
You might add raisins to the cookies. (It is suggested that you add raisins to the cookies.)

The modal verb might thirdly expresses commands. Note that the expression of commands overlaps with the expression of suggestions. For example:

You might wash your hands more often. (It is commanded that you wash your hands more often.)
You might be quiet while I am on the phone. (It is commanded that you be quiet while I am on the phone.)
You might be more polite to customers. (It is commanded that you be more polite to customers.)

Note that many of the meanings of the modal verb might overlap with the meanings of the modal verbs could and may.

Must

Modal auxiliary verbs express modality, which is the expression of possibility, probability, and necessity. This article offers the most frequent definitions of the modals must and should with examples to illustrate use. Also included is a printable reference sheet of the definitions.

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb must:

Expressing permission or possibility.
Expressing an insistent demand or a firm resolve on the part of the speaker or imputed to another person: was (were) determined to, insisted that I (he, etc.) would.
Expressing necessity: am (is, are) obliged or required to; have (has) to; it is necessary that (I, you, he, it, etc.) should.
Expressing a fixed or certain futurity: am (is, are) fated or certain to, shall certainly or inevitably.
Expressing an insistent demand (permintaan yang mendesak/terus menerus) or a firm resolve (ketetapan hati/memecahkan masalah yang tegas) on the part of the speaker or imputed (menyalahkan/mempertalikan) to another person.
In the main clause of a conditional sentence, or with a condition implied but not stated, expressing hypothetical necessity or obligation.
In the negative, expressing prohibition.

The modal verb must firstly expresses obligation. For example:

One must buy at least two drinks. (One is obligated to buy at least two drinks.)
You must donate money to attend. (It is obligatory that you donate money to attend.)
All students must pass this class before taking more. (It is obligatory that all students pass this class before taking more.)

The modal verb must secondly expresses necessity. The expression of necessity overlaps with the expression of obligation. Note also that the catenative verb have to is a synonym for the must of necessity. For examples:

You must have a license to kill. (It is necessary for you to have a license to kill.)
I must finish writing my paper tonight. (I have to finish writing my paper tonight.)
He must buy more cinnamon (kayu manis). (It is necessary that he buy more cinnamon.)

The modal verb must thirdly expresses commands including prohibitions, demands, suggestions, and permissions. The expression of commands overlaps with the expression of obligation. For example:

You must wash your hands. (It is commanded that you wash your hands.)
You must try some pumpkin pie. (It is suggested that you try some pumpkin pie.)
Students must never enter the third floor. (It is prohibited for students to enter the third floor.)

The modal verb must fourthly expresses deductions of certainty. For example:

That must be Oliver at the door. (It is certain that Oliver is at the door.)
The pie must need more sugar. (It is deduced that the pie needs more sugar.)
A loose fan belt must be the problem. (It is deduced that a loose fan belt is the problem).

As with all modal verbs, there is considerable overlap in the meanings of must.
Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/58440.aspx#ixzz1CR97BSQQ

Shall

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb shall:

Indicating what is appointed or settled to take place.
In commands or instructions.
Expressing the speaker's determination to bring about (or, with negative, to prevent) some action, event, or state of things in the future, or (occasionally) to refrain from hindering what is otherwise certain to take place, or is intended by another person.
Used in questions to which the expected answer is a command, direction, or counsel, or a resolve on the speaker's own part.
Used (after a hypothetical clause or an imperative sentence) in statements of a result to be expected from some action or occurrence.
In clause expressing the object of a promise, or of an expectation accompanied by hope or fear.

The modal verb shall also firstly expresses futurity including decisions, predictions, intentions, and promises. For example:

We shall have finished the project tomorrow morning. (We promise to have finished the project tomorrow morning.)
It shall snow tomorrow. (It is predicted to snow tomorrow.)
I shall buy a new hat. (I decided to buy a new hat.)

The modal verb shall secondly expresses suggestions and offers. For example:

Shall we go for ice cream? (I suggest we go for ice cream.)
Shall I open a window? (I am offering to open a window.)
Shall I finish dinner for you? (I am offering to finish dinner for you.)

The modal verb shall thirdly expresses commands including obligation, prohibitions, and threats. For example:

You shall not say such things. (You are obligated not to say such things.)
Students shall not drink. (Students are prohibited from drinking.)
All employees shall wash their hands. (It is commanded that all employees wash their hands.)

Note that, although the meanings of shall overlap considerably with the meanings of will, shall is much more common in British English than in American English, particularly in the first person.

Should

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb should:

Formerly past tense of shall.
In general statements of what is right or becoming: = ‘ought’.
In clauses expressing the purposed result of some action, or the object of a desire, intention, command, or request.
In statements of a former likelihood, unlikelihood, expectation, hope, fear, etc.
In statements of duty, obligation, or propriety (originally, as applicable to hypothetical conditions not regarded as real). Also, in statements of expectation, likelihood, prediction, etc.
Ought according to appearances to be, presumably is. Also, ought according to expectation to be, presumably will be.
In a hypothetical clause expressing a rejected supposition.
In a hypothetical clause relating to the future, should takes the place of shall (indicative or subjunctive), or of the equivalent use of the present tense, when the supposition, though entertained as possible, is viewed as less likely or less welcome than some alternative.

The modal verb should firstly expresses advisability including suggestions and recommendations. For example:

You should buy a new car. (It is suggested that you buy a new car.)
They should take the interstate. (It is advised that they take the interstate.)
Americans should not eat so much. (It is recommended that Americans not eat so much.)

The modal verb should secondly expresses necessity and, to a lesser extent, obligation. For example:

People with egg allergies should avoid omelets. (It is necessary that people with egg allergies avoid omelets.
I should wash my hands first. (I need to wash my hands first.)
He should stay home if he is sick. (He is obligated to stay home if he is sick.)

The modal verb should thirdly expresses predictions and deductions. For example:

Espen should be in Chicago by now. (It is predicted that Espen is in Chicago now.)
That should be Harry pulling into the driveway. (It is deducted that Harry is pulling into the driveway.)
We should need only two more packages of chocolate chips. (It is predicted that we need only two more packages of chocolate chips.)

Note that there is also considerable overlap in the meanings of the modal verb should. For example, the expression of necessity in I should wash my hands first overlaps with the expression of advisability; It is both advisable and necessary that I wash my hands first.
Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/58440.aspx?p=2#ixzz1CR87iYon

Will

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express modality, the expression of possibility, necessity, and contingency. This article offers the most frequent definitions of the modals will and shall with examples to illustrate use. Also provided is a printable reference sheet of the definitions.

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb will:

Desire to, wish to, have a mind to (do something); often also implying intention.
Expressing voluntary action, or conscious intention directed to the doing of what is expressed by the principal verb.
Expressing natural disposition to do something, and hence habitual action.
Expressing potentiality, capacity, or sufficiency.
As auxiliary of the future tense with implication of intention or volition.
As auxiliary of future expressing a contingent event, or a result to be expected, in a supposed case or under particular conditions (with the condition expressed by a conditional, temporal, or impersonal clause, or otherwise implied).

The modal verb will firstly expresses futurity including decisions, predictions, intentions, and promises. For example:

The train will arrive at noon tomorrow. (The train arrives in the future at noon tomorrow.)
She will buy a new outfit for the party. (She has decided to buy a new outfit for the party.)
It looks like it will rain tonight. (The prediction is that it rains tonight.)
The doctor will call you in the morning. (The doctor intends to call you in the morning.)
I will mow the lawn tomorrow. (I promise to mow the lawn tomorrow.)

The modal verb will secondly expresses commands. For example:

You will clean up your room this evening. (I command you to clean up your room this evening.)
You will be nice to your little brother. (I command you to be nice to your little brother.)
You will stop chewing on your sleeves. (I command you to stop chewing on your sleeves.)

The modal verb will thirdly expresses suggestions. For example:

You will want to visit the museum. (It is suggested that you visit the museum.)
He will want to put the turkey in first. (It is suggested that he put the turkey in first.)
You will want to change before dinner. (It is suggested that you change before dinner.)

The modal verb will fourthly expresses offers. For example:

He will help. (He offers to help.)
My cousin will babysit. (My cousin offers to babysit.)
I will pick up the pie for you. (I offer to pick up the pie for you.)

The modal verb will fifthly expresses requests. For example:

Will you open the window? (It is requested that you open the window.)
Will you get the phone? (It is requested that you answer the phone.)
Will you please be seated. (It is requested that you be seated.)

Note that there is overlap in the meanings of the modal verb will. For example, the use of the modal will in You will clean up your room this evening expresses a command but also implies futurity.

Would

Modal verbs express modality, which is defined as the expression of subjective attitudes such as possibility, probability, necessity, contingency, obligation, and permissibility. This article offers the most frequent meanings of the modal would and a printable sheet of the definitions.

The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definitions of the modal verb would:

Formerly past tense of will.
The feeling or expression of a conditional or undecided desire or intention.
Desire to, wish to, have a mind to (do something); often also implying intention.
Expressing voluntary action, or conscious intention directed to the doing of what is expressed by the principal verb.
Expressing natural disposition to do something, and hence habitual action.
Expressing potentiality, capacity, or sufficiency.
As auxiliary of the future tense with implication of intention or volition.
As auxiliary of future expressing a contingent event, or a result to be expected, in a supposed case or under particular conditions (with the condition expressed by a conditional, temporal, or impersonal clause, or otherwise implied).

The modal verb would firstly expresses conditionality and contingency. For example:

If I were president, I would spend more on education. (My being president is the condition necessary for my spending more on education.)
I would have warned you had I been asked. (My having been asked was the condition necessary for my warning you.)
If I were a rich girl, then I would have all the money in the world. (My having all the money in the world is the contingency for my being a rich girl.)

The modal verb would secondly expresses futurity including decisions, predictions, intentions, and promises within past tense constructions. For example:

He said he would help tomorrow. (He said, "I will help tomorrow.")
She told me she would be in late today. (She told me, "I will be in late today.")
I said I would be there. (I said, "I will be there.")

The modal verb would thirdly expresses desires and preferences. Note that the expression of desires and preferences overlaps with the expression of futurity. For example:

I would like some sweet tea. (I desire some sweet tea.)
Would you prefer cake or pie? (Do you prefer cake or pie?)
She would like to travel to France. (She desires to travel to France.)

The modal verb would fourthly expresses suggestions. Note that the expression of suggestions overlaps with the expression of conditionality and contingency. For example:

I would take the interstate if I were you. (I suggest that you take the interstate.)
She would want to cook the sweet potatoes first. (It is suggested that she cook the sweet potatoes first.)
You would want to take the train to the museum. (It is suggested that you take the train to the museum.)

The modal verb would fifthly expresses offers. For example:

I would help you. (I am offering to help you.)
He would take your weekend shift. (He offers to take your weekend shift.)
I would bring the drinks. (I offer to bring the drinks.)

The modal verb would sixthly express requests and commands. For example:

Would you please pick up dessert? (I am requesting that you pick up dessert.)
Would you keep your voices down? (I command that you keep your voices down.)
Would you please pass the salt? (I request that you pass the salt.)

The modal verb would seventhly expresses habituality, specifically past habituality. Note that the habitual would can be replaced by the quasi-modal verb used to. For example:

I would walk to school every day. (I used to walk to school every day.)
He would always whine about everything. (He used to always whine about everything.)
We would go to the park as kids. (We used to go to the park as kids.)

As the former past tense form of the modal verb will, most of the meanings of the modal would overlap considerably with the meanings of the modal will. As with other modal verbs, there is also often an overlap in the individual meanings of the modal verb would.

Multiple Modals: Modals Verbs, Modality, and Multiple Modals

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express modality—the expression of possibility, necessity, permissibility, and contingency—in English. Multiple modals (double modals, triple modals) are periphrastic verb constructions characterized by the use of two or more modal verbs within one verb phrase.

English Quasi-modal Verbs

Article by Heather Marie Kosur (28,989 pts

)

Edited & published by Rebecca Scudder (66,271 pts

) on Aug 19, 2010

Quasi-modals are a subcategory of modal verbs. The following article lists and explains the four quasi-modal verbs in English and discusses some of the possible definitions and meanings of these verbs. A printable reference sheet on English quasi-modals is also available for download in the article.

Quasi-modal Verbs

Similar to modals verbs, quasi-modal verbs are common auxiliary verbs in the English language that express modality, which is the expression of subjective attitudes and opinions including possibility, necessity, and contingency. Also referred to as semi-modal verbs, the four quasi-modal verbs in English are:

ought to
used to
would rather
had better/best

Position of Quasi-modal Verbs

Like modal verbs, quasi-modal verbs always appear in the initial position at the beginning of a verb phrase functioning as a predicate. The seven possible English verb phrase combinations that contain quasi-modal verbs are:

quasi-modal verb + base form = ought to study
quasi-modal verb + be + present participle = ought to be reading
quasi-modal verb + have + past participle = ought to have eaten
quasi-modal verb + be + past participle = ought to be cleaned
quasi-modal verb + have + been + present participle = ought to have been thinking
quasi-modal verb + have + been + past participle = ought to have been washed
quasi-modal verb + have + been + being + past participle = ought to have been being finished

Prescriptive grammars proscribe combinations of two or more modals and/or quasi-modals. However, double and triple modals are features of some Englishes including Southern American English such as used to could as in I used to could jog a mile.

Some Definitions of Quasi-modal Verbs

Just as with modals verbs, quasi-modals are more difficult to define that prototypical verbs because of the range of pragmatic uses of quasi-modals by native speakers. Some of the more common definitions (in no particular order) of the English quasi-modal verbs are:

ought to – should, duty, obligation, advisability, desirability, likelihood, probability
used to – formerly, once but no longer, previously habitually
would rather – preference, prefer to
had better/best – should, duty, obligation, advisability

For example:

You ought to stain your fence this year. (advisability)
My sister used to read a book a night. (previously habitually)
I would rather eat a bug than study math. (preference)
She had better teach her children some manners. (duty)

Quasi-modal Verbs versus Modal Verbs

Just as pronouns are a subcategory of nouns, quasi-modal verbs are a subcategory of modal verbs. Quasi-modals resemble modals in that quasi-modal verbs also do not reflect grammatical number. For example:

You need to study for the test. (correct)
He needs to study for the test. (correct)
You should study for the test. (correct)
He should study for the test. (correct)
*He shoulds study for the test. (incorrect)
You ought to study for the test. (correct)
He ought to study for the test. (correct)
*He oughts to study for the test. (incorrect)

Quasi-modals also lack tensed (past, present) and nontensed (infinitive, present participle, past participle) forms. For example:

Base – Infinitive – Present Tense – Past Tense – Present Participle – Past Participle
eat – to eat – eat, eats – ate – eating – eaten
could – *to could – could, *coulds – *coulded – *coulding – *coulden
ought to – *to ought to – ought to, *oughts to – *oughted to – *oughting to – *oughten to

Quasi-modal verbs differ from modal verbs in form. While full modals are single words, quasi-modals consist of either a verb plus a preposition functioning as a particle or a verb plus an adverb. For example:

ought to, used to = verb + preposition [particle]
would rather, had better = verb + adverb

Similar to phrasal verbs, quasi-modals are periphrastic modal auxiliary verbs. Periphrasis, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is "a phrase of two or more words that together perform a single grammatical function that would otherwise be expressed by the inflection of a single word." Quasi-modals, unlike modals, consist of two elements. However, quasi-modal verbs otherwise function identically to full modal verbs.

Note, however, that the quasi-modal verb ought to sometimes lacks a prepositional particle in negative and interrogative constructions. For example:

He ought to buy a new car.
He ought not buy a new car.
Ought he buy a new car?

An asterisk * indicates an incorrect form.
Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/55519.aspx#ixzz1CR9iUEFq

English Catenative Verbs

Article by Heather Marie Kosur (28,989 pts

)

Edited & published by Rebecca Scudder (66,271 pts

) on Aug 25, 2010

Catenative verbs form strings of verbs by linking a catenative verb to an infinitive, present participle, or base form of another verb. The following article explains the conjugations and uses of catenatives as well as the difference between catenative verbs and modal or quasi-modal verbs.

Catenative Verbs

Catenative verbs are verbs followed directly by another verb in the infinitive, present participle, or base form. The adjective catenative from the verb catenate means "to connect, to link, to string together" and refers to the connecting of one verb to another. For example, the following English verbs are catenative verbs:

The angels begin to sing.
This book helped shed light on the problem.
We had hoped to start the project early next week.
She likes reading books.
The children will need to bathe.

Catenative Verbs versus Modal and Quasi-modal Verbs

Catenative verbs resemble modal and quasi-modal verbs in both form (what the verb looks like) and function (what the verb does). Like modals and quasi-modals, catenatives precede another verb. For example:

He might bake some bread. (modal)
She would rather see a different movie. (quasi-modal)
You ought to comb your hair. (quasi-modal)
Her husband wants to adopt another puppy. (catenative)

However, unlike modals and quasi-modals, catenative verbs function as the head of the verb phrase. The verb that follows a catenative functions as either a verb phrase complement or a direct object. Modal and quasi-modal verbs, however, function as modals within verb phrases. For example:

Verb Phrase Head | Verb Phrase Complement
decide | to dye her hair
have | to finish his essay

Verb Phrase Head | Direct Object
like | reading books
prefer | to eat fruits and vegetables

Modal | Verb Phrase Head
should | exercise
used to | repair freezers

Catenative verbs further differ from quasi-modal verbs in that the preposition to functions as a particle in quasi-modals but as an infinitive marker following catenative verbs. For example:

Modal | Particle | Verb Phrase Head
ought | to | jog
used | to | teach

Catenative | Infinitive Marker | Verb
hesitate | to | jump
intend | to | sing

Some catenative verbs also resemble modal and quasi-modal verbs in meaning. For example, both the catenative have (to) and the modal must express obligation as in I have to finish my homework first and I must finish my homework first.

Conjugations of Catenative Verbs

Catenative verbs, unlike modal and quasi-modal verbs, have at least four but up to six conjugations depending on the regularity or irregularity of the verb. For example:

Base – Infinitive – Present Tense – Past Tense – Present Participle – Past Participle
agree – to agree – agree, agrees – agreed – agreeing – agreed
decide – to decide – decide, decides – decided – deciding – decided
have – to have – have, has – had – having – had
plan – to plan – plan, plans – planned – planning – planned
want – to want – want, wants – wanted – wanting – wanted

Catenatives, also unlike modals and quasi-modals, express both verb tenses and all four verb aspects. For example:

Simple present: She strives to succeed.
Simple past: They neglected to water the plants.
Present progressive: The child is pretending to paint.
Past progressive: The bridesmaids were refusing to dance.
Present perfect: I have forgotten to bring the cake.
Past perfect: He had intended to send a card.
Present perfect-progressive: We have been enjoying reading this book.
Past perfect-progressive: He had been proposing traveling to Malaysia.

Some catenative verbs also appear in passive constructions. For example:

She was permitted to stay out past midnight.
The children are forbidden to eat sweets.
My supervisor had been asked to come up with a report.
Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/56360.aspx#ixzz1CRACHG4p

Remember:

The exercises will be uploaded any time

A. GERUND AND INFINITIVE

1. Gerunds

www.englishpage.com/gerunds

A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." The gerund form can be used as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

Reading helps you learn English. (subject of sentence)

Her favorite hobby is reading. (complement of sentence)

I enjoy reading. (object of sentence)

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

He enjoys not working.

The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives

Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." An infinitive can be functioned as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

To learn is important. (subject of sentence)

The most important thing is to learn. (complement of sentence)

He wants to learn. (object of sentence)

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

I decided not to go.

The most important thing is not to give up.

Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement

Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

Learning is important. (normal subject)

To learn is important. (abstract subject - less common)

The most important thing is learning. (normal complement)

The most important thing is to learn. (abstract complement - less common)

Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the object

As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

He enjoys swimming. ("Enjoy" requires a gerund)

He wants to swim. ("Want" requires an infinitive)

Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects.

Examples:

She suggested going to a movie.

Mary keeps talking about her problems.

The following verbs need verb –ing (gerund)

— Admit complete deny appropriate consider

— Discuss avoid delay enjoy finish

— Practice risk keep quit stop

— Mention recall suggest miss recommend

— Tolerate postpone regret understand

Verbs Followed by Gerunds and their use in Sentences

No	Verb	Example
1	admit	He admitted cheating on the test.
2	advise [1]	The doctor generally advised drinking low-fat milk.
3	allow [1]	Ireland doesn't allow smoking in bars.
4	anticipate	I anticipated arriving lat
5	appreciate	I appreciated her helping me
6	avoid	He avoided talking to her
7	begin [3]	begin [14] I began learning Chinese.
8	can't bear [3]	He can't bear having so much responsibility.
9	can't help	He can't help talking so loudly.
10	can't see	I can't see paying so much money for a car.
11	can't stand [3	He can't stand her smoking in the office.
12	cease [3]	The government ceased providing free healthcare.
13	complete	He completed renovating the house.
14	consider	She considered moving to New York.
15	continue [3]	He continued talking.
16	deny	He denied committing the crime.
17	despise	She despises waking up early.
18	discuss	We discussed working at the company.
19	dislike	She dislikes working after 5 PM.
20	don't mind	I don't mind helping you.
21	dread [2]	She dreads getting up at 5 AM.
2	encourage [1]	He encourages eating healthy foods.
23	enjoy	We enjoy hiking.
24	finish [2]	He finished doing his homework.
25	forget [2]	I forgot giving you my book.
26	hate [3]	I hate cleaning the bathroom.
27	imagine	He imagines working there one day.
28	involve	The job involves traveling to Japan once a month.
29	keep	She kept interrupting me.
30	like [3]	She likes listening to music.
31	love [3]	I love swimming.
32	mention	He mentioned going to that college.
33	mind	Do you mind waiting here for a few minutes.
34	miss	She misses living near the beach.
35	need [2]	The aquarium needs cleaning.
36	neglect [3]	Sometimes she neglects doing her homework.
37	permit [1]	California does not permit smoking in restaurants.
38	postpone	He postponed returning to Paris.
39	practice	She practiced singing the song.
40	prefer [3]	He prefers sitting at the back of the movie theater.
41	propose [3]	I proposed having lunch at the beach.
42	quit [2]	She quit worrying about the problem.
43	recall	Tom recalled using his credit card at the store.
44	recollect	She recollected living in Kenya.
45	recommend	Tony recommended taking the train.
46	regret [2]	She regretted saying that.
47	remember [2]	I remember telling her the address yesterday.
48	report	He reported her stealing the money.
49	require [1]	The certificate requires completing two courses.
50	resent	Nick resented Debbie's being there.
51	resist	He resisted asking for help.
52	risk	He risked being caught.
53	start [3]	He started studying harder.
54	stop [2]	She stopped working at 5 o'clock.
55	suggest	They suggested staying at the hotel.
56	tolerate	I tolerated her talking.
57	try [2]	Sam tried opening the lock with a paperclip.
58	understand	I understand his quitting.
59	urge [1]	They urge recycling bottles and paper

1 = verb followed by a gerund OR a noun + an infinitive

2= verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with a difference in meaning

3 = verb followed by a gerund OR an infinitive with little similar in meaning

Some verbs are followed by infinitives.

Examples:

She wants to go to a movie.

Mary needs to talk about her problems.

The following verbs need infinitive verb

— Agree decide hesitate need refuse

— Appear demand hope offer seem

— Arrange deserve intend plan tend

— Ask expect learn prepare threaten

— Claim fail manage pretend wait

— Consent forget mean promise want

Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different Meaning)

No	Verb	Gerund	Infinitive
1	begin	She began singing. She began to sing. When "begin" is used in non-continuous tenses, you can either use a gerund or an infinitive.	She is beginning to sing. When "begin" is used in continuous tenses, an infinitive is used.
2	dread	She dreaded taking the test. Usually "dread" is followed by a gerund.	He dreaded to think of the consequences of his actions. "Dread" is sometimes used with infinitives such as "think" or "consider." In the sentence above, "dreaded to think" means "did not want to think."
3	forget	She forgot reading the book when she was a kid. When "forget" is used with a gerund, it means "to forget that you have done something." The sentence above means that she read the book when she was a kid, and that she has forgotten that fact.	She forgot to pay the rent this month. When forget is used with an infinitive, it means "to forget that you need to do something." The sentence above means that she forgot that she needed to pay the rent.
4	keep	She kept talking. "Keep" is normally used with a gerund to mean that you continue doing an action.	The attackers kept hostages to prevent the police from entering. "Keep" can also be used with an object followed by an infinitive, but then the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in order to... ." In the sentence above, the attackers kept hostages in order to prevent the police from entering.
5	need	The house needs cleaning. When "need" is used with a gerund, it takes on a passive meaning. The sentence above means "the house needs to be cleaned."	He needs to call his boss. He needs him to call his boss. "Need" is usually used with an infinitive or an object + an infinitive.
6	regret	I regretted being late to the interview. "Regret" is normally used with a gerund.	We regret to inform you that your position at the company is being eliminated. "Regret" is sometimes used with infinitives such as "to inform." In the sentence above, "We regret to inform you" means "We wish we did not have to tell you (bad news)."
7	remember	I remember mentioning the meeting yesterday. When "remember" is used with a gerund, it means "to remember that you have done something." The sentence above means that I mentioned the meeting, and that I remember the fact that I did that.	He remembered to turn off the lights before he left. When "remember" is used with an infinitive, it means "to remember that you need to do something." The sentence above means that he remembered that he needed to turn the lights off.
8	start	Marge started talking really fast. Marge started to talk really fast. When "start" is used in non-continuous tenses, you can either use a gerund or an infinitive.	Marge is starting to talk really fast. When "start" is used in continuous tenses, an infinitive is used. I started to learn Russian, but it was so much work that I finally quit the class. In other situations, an infinitive means that you did not complete or continue an action.
9	stop	He stopped smoking for health reasons. "Stop" is normally used with a gerund.	He stopped to rest for a few minutes. When "stop" is used with an infinitive, the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in order to." In the sentence above, he stopped in order to rest for a few minutes.
10	try	She can't find a job. She tried looking in the paper, but there was nothing. She tried asking friends and family, but nobody knew of anything. She also tried going shop to shop, but nobody was hiring. "Try + gerund" means to try or to experiment with different methods to see if something works. She tried eating the snake soup, but she didn't like it. "Try + gerund" is often used when you experiment with something, but you do not really like it or want to do it again.	She tried to climb the tree, but she couldn't even get off the ground. When you "try to do" something, you want to do it, but you do not succeed in actually doing it. In the sentence above, an infinitive is used because she cannot successfully climb the tree. Try not to wake the baby when you get up tomorrow at 5 AM. An infinitive is also used if you are asking someone to try something they may or may not be able to accomplish.

Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Similar Meaning)

No	Verb	Gerund	Infinitive
1	can't bear	He can't bear being alone.	He can't bear to be alone.
2	can't stand	Nancy can't stand working the late shift.	Nancy can't stand to work the late shift.
3	cease	The government ceased providing free health care.	The government ceased to provide free health care.
4	continue	She continued talking.	She continued to talk.
5	hate	He hates cleaning dishes.	He hates to clean dishes.
6	like	Samantha likes reading.	Samantha likes to read.
7	love	We love scuba diving.	We love to scuba dive.
8	neglect	He neglected doing his daily chores.	He neglected to do his daily chores.
9	prefer	He prefers eating at 7 PM.	He prefers to eat at 7 PM.
10	propose	Drew proposed paying for the trip.	Drew proposed to pay for the trip.

REMEMBER

Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the examples below.

Examples:

1) The British reporter likes living in New York. He lives in New York and he likes what he experiences there.

2) The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States. He likes the option or possibility of living in New York when he works in the United States.

3) I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I like the experience of speaking French, and the way it makes me feel when I speak the language.

4) I like to speak French when I'm in France. I prefer the option of speaking French when I am in France.

Verbs Followed by Either Gerunds OR Nouns + Infinitives

No	Verb	Gerund	Infinitive
1	advise	I advised seeing a doctor.	I advised them to see a doctor.
2	allow	Ireland doesn't allow smoking in bars.	Ireland doesn't allow people to smoke in bars.
3	encourage	He encourages eating healthy foods.	He encourages his patients to eat healthy foods.
4	permit	California doesn't permit fishing without a fishing license.	California doesn't permit people to fish without a fishing license.
5	require	The certificate requires completing two courses.	The certificate requires students to complete two courses.
6	urge	They urge recycling bottles and paper.	They urge citizens to recycle bottles and paper.

Gerund

What if you want to say an action is fun or difficult? That is when you need a gerund. If you want to use an action word in a place that requires a noun, you can usually use a verb with an -ing ending. For example, In these sentences, fishing, hiking, and dancing look like verbs, but they are not verbs. They are nouns. When a noun looks like a verb with -ing, it is called a gerund.

As subjects :

A gerund is a “verb + ing” used as a noun.

Examples:

As subjects As objects

Jogging is a healthy activity. gerund

Swimming is a popular sport. gerund

Bertha enjoys hiking gerund

The police arrested him for speeding. gerund

Gerund phrases

As subjects:

As subjects A gerund phrase includes the gerund + its objects, modifiers, or complements.

Examples:

1) Designing clothes is not a man´s job.

2) Being a flight attendant sounds exciting.

3) Writing a gossip column could be fun.

4) Directing a TV shows would be interesting.

As Object:

Examples

He wouldn´t like being a fashion designer.

He´d enjoy being a flight attendant.

She´d be good at writing a gossip column.

They´d love directing a TV show.

Assignment 2

Change the verb in parentheses into a gerund: :

Change the verb in parentheses into a gerund: 1. (eat) We finished _____________the meal three hours ago. 2. (swear) My grandmother won't tolerate ______________. 3. (sweep) Juan will clean the windows , after ______________the floor. 4. (fight) ________________ will get you in trouble. 5. (dance) He loves ________________. 6. (lie) _______________is a terrible habit. 7. (waste) She insists on _____________ her time. 8. (gamble) _____________ is risky. eating swearing sweeping Fighting dancing Lying wasting Gambling object object object subject object subject object subject

A Look at the gerund phrases in column A.Write your opinion of each job by choosing information from columns B and C. Then add two more gerund phrases and write similar sentences. :

A Look at the gerund phrases in column A.Write your opinion of each job by choosing information from columns B and C. Then add two more gerund phrases and write similar sentences. A Working as an architect Taking care of children Winning the lottery Conducting an orchestra Working on a movie set Making a living as an artist Writing for a newspaper Retiring at age 40 ____________________ ____________________ B is seems sounds must be could be would be C awful scary fantastic fascinating pretty difficult kind of boring really rewarding very challenging

Gerunds and infinitives: Farmer Jones and his wife

Submitted by TE Editor on 1 July, 2009 - 12:58

This activity looks at the problem of whether verbs are followed by the gerund or infinitive. At Upper Intermediate level (B2 on the CEF level and FCE Cambridge exams) students are confronted with this problem and it is often useful to practise more thoroughly to help the difference in meaning of the verbs become part of the learners’ active knowledge. After the straightforward rules for verbs like manage (infinitive) and enjoy (gerund) it can be quite difficult for students to grasp the difference in meaning between a verb like try which can be followed by both, but with different meanings.

Activity components

Worksheet - Farmer Jones story

Worksheet: Farmer Jones and his wife

Complete the text using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Farmer Jones met Jane when he was just a young man. He couldn’t help (1 fall) in love with her immediately and asked her to marry him. She said yes although she knew it would mean (2 get) up early to milk the cows for the rest of her life. “Love means never (3 have) to get up early to milk the cows”, said Farmer Jones, and explained that he would continue (4 get) up early to milk the cows so Jane could sleep late every day. Everything went well until they tried (5 increase) their profits by buying some chickens. The first night, a fox ate one of the chickens. Farmer Jones decided (6 build) a fence to protect the chickens. But the ground was too hard so he couldn’t. He tried (7 use) an axe to break the ground but it was much too hard. So he went to the local shop and tried (8 buy) a gun. But he didn’t have any identification so he couldn’t buy one. He tried (9 borrow) one from his neighbours but they were all worried about the fox too. “I regret not (10 buy) one when I had those rabbit problems”, he told Jane. So Jane went to the shop and bought a gun. That night she tried (11 stop) the fox. At first she tried (12 scare) the fox by shooting into the air but it didn’t work. So she tried (13 hit) the fox but she missed. She called her husband and he ran after the fox to try(14 catch) it but he wasn’t fast enough. They tried (15 shout) at the fox and they tried(16 throw) things at it and they tried (17 leave) other food for the fox but nothing worked. Soon they had only 1 chicken left. They tried (18 ask) their neighbours for help and one of their neighbours told them to try (19 put) tiger dung on the ground. So they

went to the local zoo to try (20 buy) some tiger dung. They put the dung on the ground and they never saw the fox again.

Gerund

A Gerund is a verbal noun - it is a verb acting as a noun. Gerunds are made by adding -ing to the base verb e.g. watch / watching.

Gerunds can either be the subject or object of a verb:

Gerund as a subject: "Skiing is great."

Gerund as an object: "I love skiing."

Gerunds are often used after state verbs e.g.

"I enjoy walking in the park."

"She hates smoking."

When you use a verb after a preposition in a sentence, use a gerund.

"He ended his speech by thanking everyone."

"Don't cross the road without looking."

We also use gerunds after two-word prepositions.

"I'm tired of working on the weekend."

"She dreams of winning a gold medal."

Infinitive

Infinitives are the base form of the verb e.g. look, see, watch. Infinitives can either be used alone or with to.

Use an infinitive verb (without to) with modal verbs

"We could go shopping tomorrow."

"You had better call Jane before it gets too late."

We can use to + infinitive as the object of verbs like want and wish.

"I really want to watch it again."

"Do you wish to speak to her about it."

We use to + infinitive after an adjective / adverb + enough.

"Simon isn't old enough to drive."

"You are too short to ride on the roller-coaster."

Link: Gerunds vs Infinitives

Do the following exercise 1

1 - The man was nervous of ___ when it was dark.

to jog

jog

jogging

2 - My coffee is too cold ___.

drink

to drink

drinking

3 - You can't ___ that dog into the shop.

to bring

bringing

bring

4 - She doesn't feel like ___ out today.

to go

going

5 - His mother made him ___ his raincoat.

to wear

wearing

wear

6 - The baby refused ___ her vegetables.

eating

eat

to eat

7 - They usually start by ___ something to eat.

to have

having

have

8 - I'd rather ___ a car than use the buses.

renting

to rent

rent

9 - Charlotte thought about ___ to Jane about it.

Correct!

to speak

speak

speaking

10 - The sofa isn't big enough for me ___ on.

sleeping

sleep

to sleep

Many students have expressed difficulties regarding whether to use the gerund form of a verb or the infinitive form. Deciding which to use is not always easy, but the more you read and listen to English, the easier it will become. Sometimes either the gerund or the infinitive form can be used, either with the same or different meanings, and sometimes there is only one form which is correct.

Let's make sure we are clear on what the difference between a gerund and the infinitive form of a verb is.

Gerund – a verb in its present participle form (-ing) which acts as a noun in a sentence.

example – "Stop smoking."

Infinitive – a verb in its base form precede by the word "to".

example – "Stop to smoke."

In the example sentences above, both forms can be used, but the meanings are not the same. "Stop smoking." means terminate the action of smoking. "Stop to smoke." means stop an activity in progress for the purpose of starting the action of smoking.

Do exercises 2

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

Thomas Williams is a teacher at EC San Diego

Link: Sports Idioms

1. I want to attempt ___ to Hawaii next year.

sail

sailing

to sail

2. Our teacher suggested ___ to a movie after class.

going

to go

3. They always argue about ___ home for vacation.

to stay

stay

staying

4. My sister can't help ___ so much food during the holidays.

buy

buying

to buy

5. Don’t forget ___ the windows before you leave.

to close

closing

6. She said she would promise ___ dinner for us.

to cook

cook

cooking

7. None of the students can resist ___ Facebook.

using

use

to use

8. My father would never tolerate ___ late.

arriving

to arrive

arrive

9. Can you recall ___ your first word in English.

speaking

speak

to speak

10. As soon as he gets through ___ we can eat.

study

to study

studying

Gerunds and Infinitives

Group A, Lesson + Exercise 1 In this lesson, we'll practice 10 different verbs:

These verbs can take GERUNDS after them: These verbs can take INFINITIVES after them:

enjoy:

finish:

quit:

put off:

postpone: Sam enjoys playing tennis.

Marion finished doing her homework.

Jeff quit smoking.

Peter always puts off cleaning his room.

We postponed having the picnic. hope:

expect:

plan:

intend:

mean: I hope to learn gerunds.

I expect to improve my English.

Sara plans to attend college.

Mack is intending to go.

He meant to say "root beer," not "beer."

Gerunds & Infinitives

MAKING PIZZA / TO MAKE PIZZA READ the sentence, CHOOSE the answer, and get your score instantly!

1) I enjoy ____ .

making pizza to make pizza

2) Yesterday Frank meant ____, but he didn't have time.

making pizza to make pizza

3) My father put off ____ until later.

making pizza to make pizza

4) The kids hope ____ for dinner.

making pizza to make pizza

5) Do you really intend ___ for breakfast?!

making pizza to make pizza

6) Please hurry up and finish ____ ! I'm hungry!

making pizza to make pizza

7) Sylvia expects ___ tomorrow.

making pizza to make pizza

8) Max postponed ____ for the party.

making pizza to make pizza

9) Please quit ____ and talk to me!

making pizza to make pizza

Gerunds and Infinitives Tutorial

To use gerunds or to use infinitives, that is the question! Learning how to use gerunds and infinitives is one of the most challenging aspects of learning English. For this reason, Englishpage.com has created the Internet's most in-depth tutorial on the subject. Click here to begin our 3 Part Tutorial. Or if you prefer, you can click on an exercise below and test what you already know.

1. Gerunds and Infinitives Part 1 (Basic Gerunds and Infinitives)

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

Reading helps you learn English. subject of sentence
Her favorite hobby is reading. complement of sentence
I enjoy reading. object of sentence

Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

He enjoys not working.
The best thing for your health is not smoking.

2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.

Examples:

To learn is important. subject of sentence
The most important thing is to learn. complement of sentence
He wants to learn. object of sentence

Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not."

Examples:

I decided not to go.
The most important thing is not to give up.

3. Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence.

Examples:

Learning is important. normal subject
To learn is important. abstract subject - less common
The most important thing is learning. normal complement
The most important thing is to learn. abstract complement - less common

4. As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.

Examples:

He enjoys swimming. "Enjoy" requires a gerund.
He wants to swim. "Want" requires an infinitive.

5. Some verbs are followed by gerunds as objects. Examples:

She suggested going to a movie.
Mary keeps talking about her problems.

6. Some verbs are followed by infinitives

Examples:

She wants to go to a movie.
Mary needs to talk about her problems.

Gerunds and Infinitives 1

1. Dan enjoys reading science fiction.
2. Cheryl suggested seeing a movie after work.
3. I miss working in the travel industry. Maybe I can get my old job back.
4. Where did you learn to speak Spanish? Was it in Spain or in Latin America?
5. Do you mind helping me translate this letter?
6. He asked to talk to the store manager.
7. You've never mentioned living in Japan before. How long did you live there?
8. If he keeps coming to work late, he's going to get fired!
9. Debbie plans to study abroad next year.
10. I agreed to help Jack wash his car.

Gerunds and Infinitives 2

1. I hope to graduate from college next June.
2. The models practiced walking with a book balanced on their heads.
3. Mandy has promised to take care of our dog while we are on vacation.
4. Mr. Edwards chose to accept the management position in Chicago rather than the position in Miami.
5. I don't know what she wants to do tonight. Why don't you ask her?
6. Frank offered to help us paint the house.
7. Sandra decided to study economics in London.
8. Witnesses reported seeing the bank robber as he was climbing out of the second-story window.
9. Stephanie dislikes working in front of a computer all day.
10. Mrs. Naidoo appears to be the most qualified person for the job.

Gerunds and Infinitives Part 2 (Intermediate Gerunds and Infinitives )

7. Gerunds can often be modified with possessive forms such as his, her, its, your, their, our, John's, Mary's, the machine's, and so on. This makes it clearer who or what is performing the action.

Examples:

I enjoyed their singing. They were singing.
She understood his saying no to the offer. He said no.
Sam resented Debbie's coming late to the dinner. Debbie came late to the dinner.
We discussed the machine's being broken. The machine is broken.

8. Some verbs are followed by a noun plus an infinitive. In some situations, the noun is required. In other situations, the noun is optional. List of Verbs Followed by a Noun + an Infinitive

Examples:

The police ordered the man to stop. noun is required
She asked to leave. noun is optional
She asked him to leave. noun is optional

9. Some verbs are usually followed by a gerund, BUT they can also be followed by a noun plus infinitive. Using a noun plus infinitive will usually change who is performing the action. List of Verbs followed by a Gerund OR a Noun + Infinitive

Examples:

I advised taking the train. in general
I advised him to take the train. He will take the train.

10. There are many "go + gerund" expressions used for adventure sports and individual recreational activities. List of Go + Gerund Combinations

Examples:

I go swimming every weekend.
Would you ever go skydiving?

11. Gerunds are used after prepositions. Most commonly, these are "verb + preposition" combinations. For reference, see the Verb + Preposition Dictionary and the Phrasal Verb Dictionary. You don't have to memorize these resources, you just need to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!

Examples:

They admitted to committing the crime.
Leslie made up for forgetting my birthday.
He is thinking about studying abroad.

12. Remember that there are many "adjective + preposition" combinations and "noun + preposition" combinations in English as well. These are also followed by gerunds. List of Adjective + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds and List of Noun + Preposition Combinations Followed by Gerunds. Once again, you don't have to memorize these resources, you just need to remember that gerunds are used after prepositions!

Examples:

Sandy is scared of flying. adjective + preposition
Nick is anxious about taking the examination. adjective + preposition
His interest in becoming a professional snowboarder was well known. noun + preposition
Thomas' story about seeing a grizzly bear was really exciting. noun + preposition

Gerunds and Infinitives 11

Gerunds and Infinitives Part 3 (Advanced Gerunds and Infinitives)

Verbs Followed by Gerunds OR Infinitives (Different Meaning)

begin

She began singing.

She began to sing.

When "begin" is used in non-continuous tenses, you can either use a gerund or an infinitive.

She is beginning to sing.

When "begin" is used in continuous tenses, an infinitive is used.

dread

She dreaded taking the test.

Usually "dread" is followed by a gerund.

He dreaded to think of the consequences of his actions.

"Dread" is sometimes used with infinitives such as "think" or "consider." In the sentence above, "dreaded to think" means "did not want to think."

forget

She forgot reading the book when she was a kid.

When "forget" is used with a gerund, it means "to forget that you have done something." The sentence above means that she read the book when she was a kid, and that she has forgotten that fact.

She forgot to pay the rent this month.

When forget is used with an infinitive, it means "to forget that you need to do something." The sentence above means that she forgot that she needed to pay the rent.

keep

She kept talking.

"Keep" is normally used with a gerund to mean that you continue doing an action.

The attackers kept hostages to prevent the police from entering.

"Keep" can also be used with an object followed by an infinitive, but then the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in order to... ." In the sentence above, the attackers kept hostages in order to prevent the police from entering.

need

The house needs cleaning.

When "need" is used with a gerund, it takes on a passive meaning. The sentence above means "the house needs to be cleaned."

He needs to call his boss.

He needs him to call his boss.

"Need" is usually used with an infinitive or an object + an infinitive.

regret

I regretted being late to the interview.

"Regret" is normally used with a gerund.

We regret to inform you that your position at the company is being eliminated.

"Regret" is sometimes used with infinitives such as "to inform." In the sentence above, "We regret to inform you" means "We wish we did not have to tell you (bad news)."

remember

I remember mentioning the meeting yesterday.

When "remember" is used with a gerund, it means "to remember that you have done something." The sentence above means that I mentioned the meeting, and that I remember the fact that I did that.

He remembered to turn off the lights before he left.

When "remember" is used with an infinitive, it means "to remember that you need to do something." The sentence above means that he remembered that he needed to turn the lights off.

start

Marge started talking really fast.

Marge started to talk really fast.

When "start" is used in non-continuous tenses, you can either use a gerund or an infinitive.

Marge is starting to talk really fast.

When "start" is used in continuous tenses, an infinitive is used.

I started to learn Russian, but it was so much work that I finally quit the class.

In other situations, an infinitive means that you did not complete or continue an action.

stop

He stopped smoking for health reasons.

"Stop" is normally used with a gerund.

He stopped to rest for a few minutes.

When "stop" is used with an infinitive, the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in order to." In the sentence above, he stopped in order to rest for a few minutes.

try

She can't find a job. She tried looking in the paper, but there was nothing. She tried asking friends and family, but nobody knew of anything. She also tried going shop to shop, but nobody was hiring.

"Try + gerund" means to try or to experiment with different methods to see if something works.

She tried eating the snake soup, but she didn't like it.

"Try + gerund" is often used when you experiment with something, but you do not really like it or want to do it again.

She tried to climb the tree, but she couldn't even get off the ground.

When you "try to do" something, you want to do it, but you do not succeed in actually doing it. In the sentence above, an infinitive is used because she cannot successfully climb the tree.

Try not to wake the baby when you get up tomorrow at 5 AM.

An infinitive is also used if you are asking someone to try something they may or may not be able to accomplish.

EXAMPLES

Gerunds and Infinitives

1. Sheryl forgot to bring her purse, so I lent her ten dollars.

2. I completely forgot coming here when I was a kid. But now I remember! My parents brought me here when I was three.

3. Lydia really regrets dropping out of high school. She has really had to struggle to make a living because of that decision.

4. I regret to inform you that Mr. Smith has passed away.

5. Did you remember to pack your swimsuit? Our vacation in Hawaii won't be much fun if you can't go swimming.

6. Do you remember being stuck in that elevator when we were in New York? I thought we would never get out of there!

7. If you can't find the key, try opening the lock with something else, like a knife or a screwdriver.

8. She tried to tell him the terrible truth, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

9. I dread to think of what might happen next.

10. I dread going to work tomorrow. I think I'm going to call in sick.

Teaching 2902

Friday, March 18, 2011

STRUCTURE MATERIAL

Gerunds and Infinitives 1

Gerunds and Infinitives 2

Gerunds and Infinitives 11

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