Exercise 1: State the functions of the Infinitive in the sentences.
1. To say is to act.
• Function: Subject
2. To err is human, to forgive is divine.
• Function: Subject
3. To travel hopefully is the better thing.
• Function: Subject
4. The problem was to get there in time.
• Function: Complement of the subject
5. Our duty is to help this man.
• Function: Complement of the subject
6. He began to read this story yesterday.
• Function: Direct object
7. He can’t utter a word.
• Function: Direct object
8. He wanted to read this book.
• Function: Direct object
9. He prefers to read books in the original.
• Function: Direct object
10. She was the first to come.
• Function: Complement of the subject
11. We shall have no possibility to go there.
• Function: Complement of the noun
12. The road to connect these two towns is being built.
• Function: Adjective (modifying “road”)
13. Here is the letter to be sent at once.
• Function: Adjective (modifying “letter”)
14. There was only one house to live in.
• Function: Adjective (modifying “house”)
15. There is no chance to get tickets for this concert.
• Function: Complement of the noun
16. He stopped there (in order) to rest a little.
• Function: Purpose
17. He has come to see you.
• Function: Purpose
18. You must work hard to master English.
• Function: Purpose
19. He is well enough to continue this way.
• Function: Purpose
Exercise 2: Begin these sentences with ‘it’ and put the infinitive to the end.
1. It was impossible to explain what I meant.
2. It was important to complete our research on time for the project.
3. It was difficult to sell my car.
4. It was a great feeling to get finished on time.
Exercise 3: Choose the infinitive with “to” or without it.
1. We can speak Spanish. (Мы умеем говорить по-испански.)
2. He often makes me feel guilty. (Он часто заставляет меня
чувствовать виноватой.)
3. You have to be friendly and polite. (Ты должен быть
дружелюбным и вежливым.)
4. She must stay. (Она обязана остаться.)
5. The lawyer will call you later. (Юрист позвонит вам позже.)
6. I’d like to send him a present. (Я бы хотела послать ему
подарок.)
7. You’d better move faster. (Тебе лучше двигаться быстрее.)
8. We heard somebody enter the apartment. (Мы слышали, как кто-
то вошел в квартиру.)
9. Mother wants to paint the walls in the kitchen. (Мама хочет
покрасить стены на кухне.)
10. We decided to sell the car. (Мы решили продать машину.)
11. He always fails to keep his word. (Он всегда не сдерживает
слово.)
12. I am trying to lift this heavy stone. (Я пытаюсь поднять этот
тяжелый камень.)
13. Let me give you some advice. (Позволь мне дать тебе совет.)
14. It may cost too much. (Это может стоить слишком много.)
15. She saw him cross the street. (Она видела, как он переходит
улицу.)
I. Define the forms of the gerund.
1. Skiing is my favourite sport.
• Form: Present Gerund
2. I remember his telling me about his coat.
• Form: Present Gerund (with a possessive pronoun)
3. I remember having seen this match.
• Form: Perfect Gerund
4. Before taking up swimming she had been very fond of playing
basketball.
• Form: Present Gerund
5. The football player was punished for having pushed the centre
forward.
• Form: Perfect Gerund
6. The young high jumper was very proud of being praised.
• Form: Present Gerund
7. I did not know you had stopped rooting for our team.
• Form: Present Gerund
8. I remember having been told about this match.
• Form: Perfect Gerund
II. State the forms and functions of the gerund.
1. Seeing is believing.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Subject
2. In copying this text he made a few mistakes.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Object of the preposition
3. After finishing the experiment they discussed the results.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Adverbial modifier of time
4. After having read the letter, she put it into her bag.
• Form: Perfect Gerund
• Function: Adverbial modifier of time
5. We enrich our knowledge by reading books.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Object of the preposition
6. Asking him about it was useless.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Subject
7. It is good fishing in troubled water.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Subject complement
8. There is nothing doing.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Subject
9. Her greatest pleasure is reading such books.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Subject complement
10. He began reading this book yesterday.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Direct object
11. We insisted on the meeting being put off.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Object of the preposition
12. I don’t like his manner of reading.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Object of the preposition
13. I had the pleasure of knowing him personally.
• Form: Present Gerund
• Function: Object of the preposition
III. Complete the proverbs and sayings by adding gerunds.
1. Learn to swim by swimming.
2. Think twice before saying.
3. Doing is better than saying.
4. Seeing is believing.
5. Appetite comes with eating.
6. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
7. A watched pot is long in boiling.
8. Clean hands want no washing.
9. It is no use crying over the split milk.
10. He who likes borrowing dislikes paying.
IV. Practise the following table.
1. Listening to the radio, doing grammar exercises, speaking English
helps you to learn English better.
• Listening to the radio helps you to learn English better.
• Doing grammar exercises helps you to learn English better.
• Speaking English helps you to learn English better.
2. Traveling first class, by coach, by express, by plane is more
expensive.
• Traveling first class is more expensive.
• Traveling by coach is more expensive.
• Traveling by express is more expensive.
• Traveling by plane is more expensive.
V. Use the Gerund instead of the Infinitive.
1. Philip has finished packing.
2. We all enjoy traveling.
3. This door needs painting.
4. My vacuum cleaner wants fixing.
5. Will you please go on playing the piano?
6. I don’t mind you doing this work.
7. Nick is sure of his coming here in time.
8. Thanks for bringing the book.
9. He is too fond of talking.
10. We look forward to seeing you soon.
11. We are all pleased with her singing.
12. I can’t help laughing at his jokes.
13. It’s no good looking for it now.
14. It’s worth seeing this play.
15. There’s no use worrying about these things.
VI. Practise gerunds in functions of adverbial modifier of time.
1. Before getting on the train, first buy the ticket.
2. Before making a decision, consider all options.
3. After saying goodbye, she left the room.
4. After realizing his mistake, he apologized.
5. When studying for exams, make sure to take breaks.
6. When driving in the rain, always use headlights.
7. While waiting for the bus, I read a book.
8. While talking with her friends, she felt happier.
9. By finishing the report early, you can relax later.
10. By working hard, he achieved his goals.
