Introduction
The infinitive, gerund and the participle are the forms of verb, and have special
use in English grammar. Although the infinitive and gerund are not, strictly speaking,
verbs, they convey the idea of action. The participle is also commonly known as the
third form of the verb.
5.2 The Infinitive
The infinitive is that form of verb which is not influenced by the person and the
number of the subject. For example,
1. He always finds fault with me.
2. They always find fault with me.
3. He always tries to find fault with me
4. They always try to find fault with me.
In sentences 1 & 2, the verb find has he and they as its subjects, respectively, and
is limited by the person and number of the subjects. Therefore, in these sentences,
the verb 'find' is the finite verb. However, in sentences 3 & 4, 'to find' merely names the
action denoted by the verb find, and is, therefore, not limited by the person and number
of the subjects. Here, it is called the infinite verb or the infinitive.
Thus, the verb in this mood does not have any number or person.
Form: to + verb (to walk, to go)
35. The word 'to' is often used with the infinitive.
1. I want to go for a walk.
2. I like to walk on wet grass, early morning.
36. Infinitive is also used without 'to', sometimes. After verbs like bid, let,
make, dare, see, hear, etc., 'to' is not used.
1. I made him run.
2. I will not let you go.
37. Infinitive is also used without 'to', after verbs like shall, will,do, did,
should, would, must, can, could, may, might, etc.
1. You shall do it
2. You may go.
5.2.1 Uses of the infinitive
(a) The infinitive, with or without 'to', can be used as a noun as follows:
• Subject of the verb.
1. To find fault with others is very easy.
2. To err is human; to forgive, devine.
2. Object of a transitive verb.
1. I do not want to go.
2. He likes to dance.
3. Complement of the verb.
1. His passion is to drive fast.
2. He appears to be a bright boy.
4. Object of a preposition.
1. The exam is about to begin.
2. The train is about to leave.
5. Complement of the object.
1. I saw him go.
2. I cannot see him cry.
Note: The infinitive, thus used as a noun, is called the Simple Infinitive.
(b) The infinitive, with or without 'to', can also be used as follows:
• To qualify a Noun.
1. This shop is to let.
2. This is the time to study.
• To qualify a Verb to express purpose.
1. She cried to see the horrifying sight.
2. We eat to live.
• To qualify an Adjective.
1. The students are eager to learn.
2. She is too week to walk.
• To qualify a sentence as a whole.
He was really disturbed, so to speak.
• To introduce a parenthesis.
I am – to tell you the fact – tired of such activities.
Note: The infinitive thus used is called the Gerundial or Qualifying
Infinitive.
(c) The infinitive may be active or passive, as follows:
6.0 Active Infinitive.
I want to write a letter.
7.0 Passive Infinitive.
I want a letter to be written.
(d) The infinitive may be used with an introductory 'it':
2 Generally, 'it' is used as the subject of a sentence and is followed by an infinitive.
1. It can be dangerous to drive fast.
2. It is not safe for you to travel at this time.
5.2.2 Self Assessment Questions
Combine the following pairs of sentences by using Infinitives:
1. He doesn't have any money. He cannot buy food to eat.
2. He went to Delhi. He wanted to see the Qutab Minar.
3. The thief entered the house. He intended to kidnap the child.
4. She visits the poor. She wants to help them.
5. He is working very hard. He wants to get a scholarship.
5.3 The Gerund
‘Verb + ing’, when functions like a noun is called Gerund. Thus, a gerund is that
form of the verb which ends in -ing, and has the force of a Noun and a Verb. For
example,
1. I like reading novels.
2. Walking is his hobby.
3. Swimming is good for health.
4. I dream of becoming a doctor.
In these sentences, the words reading, walking, swimming and becoming are
Gerunds, as they are formed from the verb read + ing, walk + ing, swim + ing and
become + ing, respectively, and function as the noun. That is why, they are also known
as verbal nouns.
5.3.1 Uses of the Gerund
(a) The Gerund being a verb-noun may be used as follows:
• Subject of a verb.
1. Swimming is good for health.
2. Smoking is injurious to health.
Object of a transitive verb.
1. I like playing chess
2. He enjoys reading poetry.
Object of a preposition.
1. Children are fond of playing.
2. I have an aversion to fishing.
Complement of the verb.
1. Seeing is believing.
2. What I most like is sleeping.
(b) Both the Gerund and the Infinitive have the force of a noun and a verb, so
they are used in a similar manner. In sentences, either of the two may be used without
any special difference in meaning, as follows:
1. Teach me to swim. Teach me swimming.
2. To walk is good for health. Walking is good for health.
(c) The Gerunds are always preceded by the possessive case of nouns and
pronouns, as follows:
1. Please don't mind my leaving early.
2. All depends on Deepak's passing the examination.
(d) Some Gerunds are used as compound nouns, as follows:
walking-stick, frying-pan, writing-table, etc.
5.4 The Participle
A Participle is a word which is partly a Verb and partly an Adjective. For
example,
1. We saw a girl carrying a basket of roses.
2. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
3. He is an experienced teacher.
4. The injured boy was taken to the hospital.
5. Having eaten his food, the boy went out.
In sentences 1 & 2, the words carrying and rolling are verbs and are being used in
these sentences as adjectives to qualify the nouns girl and stone, respectively. These are
the examples of Present Participle, which represents an action that is going on.
Form of Present participle: verb + Ing, having the force of an adjective.
In sentences 3 & 4, the words experienced and injured are verbs and are being
used in these sentences as adjectives to qualify the nouns teacher and boy, respectively.
These are the examples of Past Participle, which represents a completed action.
Form of Past participle: verb + -ed / -d / -t / -en / -n, having the force of an
adjective.
In sentence 5, the word having is the Perfect Participle and the word eaten is the
Past Participle. The Perfect participle represents an action that was completed at some
past time.
5.4.1 Uses of the Participle
(a) The Present Participle is used to form the Continuous Tenses of the verb, as
follows:
1. I am working.
2. He is going.
(b) The Past Participle is used to form the Perfect tenses (Active Voice) with
tenses of the verb have:
1. I have worked.
2. He has gone.
(c) The Passive Voice is formed from the Past Participle with tenses of the verb
be:
1. The snake was killed by Mohan.
2. The child was scolded by the mother.
Post a Comment