LESSON 22 Gerunds, Infinitives and Simple Forms (PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

(PETERSON’S TOEFL SUCCESS)

LESSON 22

Gerunds, Infinitives and Simple Forms

The use of verbal forms—gerunds, infinitives, and (for the purposes of this lesson) simple forms—are tested in both types of Structure problems. Gerunds are verbal nouns: being, going, giving, building. Like present participles, gerunds end in -ing. Gerunds are often followed by objects: giving directions, building a house. Together, a gerund and its object form a gerund phrase. Gerunds are used as any other noun is used. You will see gerunds as subjects, as the objects of certain verbs (see the list on page 140), and as the objects of prepositions. Dancing is good exercise. (gerund as subject) He enjoys going to good restaurants. (gerund as object of a verb) You can solve this problem by using a calculator. (gerund as object of a preposition) Gerunds are also used after verb + preposition combinations. Michael’s father didn’t approve of his changing his major from accounting to acting. (gerund after verb + preposition) This is true even after phrases that contain the word to. Ruth is looking forward to taking a long vacation. Infinitives consist of the word to and the simple form of the verb: to be, to go, to give, and to build. Infinitives are often followed by an object: to give directions, to build a house. Together, an infinitive and its object form an infinitive phrase. Like gerunds, infinitives can be the subjects of verbs and the objects of certain verbs (see the list on page 140). Unlike gerunds, infinitives can NEVER be the objects of prepositions. To help others is rewarding. (infinitive as subject) He attempted to swim across the river. (infinitive as object of a verb) Infinitives are used in several other ways: √ To show purpose (to explain why an action takes place) He took lessons to learn how to dance. (Why did he take lessons? To learn how to dance.) These infinitive phrases often come at the beginning of a sentence and are set off by commas. To learn how to dance, he took lessons. The phrase in order + infinitive also shows purpose. In order to learn how to dance, he took lessons. √ After certain adjectives It’s important to change the oil in your car frequently. √ After nouns The first person to walk on the moon was Neil Armstrong. You will often see this after noun phrases containing the word first, last, only, and other ranking words. You may also see items that focus on passive infinitives. A passive infinitive consists of the words to + be + past participle. Nancy Hong was the only person to be asked to speak at the ceremony. Simple forms are the base forms of verbs; they consist of the infinitive without the word to: be, go, give, and build. Simple forms are used after the causative verbs have, make, and let and after the phrase would rather. Mark had the carpenter repair the door. His father makes him study hard. Penny let her son go on the trip. She’d rather go jogging than use the exercise machines. COMMON VERBS THAT TAKE VERBAL OBJECTS Verbs used with Gerunds Verbs used with Infinitives Verbs used with Simple Forms admit anticipate avoid consider deny delay discuss dislike enjoy finish justify postpone practice resist resume risk quit recommend suggest understand agree aim allow appear arrange ask attempt cause choose claim convince decide deserve enable expect hope instruct know (why) learn (how) need permit persuade prepare promise require seem teach (how) tell tend use vote warm have let make would rather SENTENCE COMPLETION Most often, the gerund or infinitive is missing from the sentence. In some cases, a complete gerund or infinitive phrase or some other portion of the sentence phrase may be needed in order to correctly complete the sentence. Sample Items ____________________ the eggs of most birds must be kept warm. (A) Proper development (B) By properly developing, (C) They develop properly (D) To develop properly, The correct answer is (D). The only one of these four phrases listed here that can show purpose is choice (D), an infinitive. This expression means, In order to develop properly. In 1959, the political philosopher Hannah Arendt became the first woman ________________ a full professor at Princeton University. (A) to appoint (B) was appointed (C) to be appointed (D) an appointment as The correct answer is (C). After a noun phrase such as the first woman, an infinitive is used as an adjective phrase. Because a passive form is needed (Hannah Arendt receives the action; she doesn’t perform the action), choice (A) is not the correct infinitive form. Choice (C), a passive infinitive, is best. The ear is the organ of hearing, but it also plays a role in ___________ balance. (A) maintaining (B) it maintains (C) to maintain (D) maintained The correct answer is (A). A gerund is used correctly after a preposition. Choices (B), (C), and (D) would not be appropriate after a preposition. EXERCISE 22.1 Focus: Identifying errors and correct forms of gerunds, infinitives, and simple forms Directions: Underline the form that best completes each sentence. 1 Sports parachutes are relatively easy (controlling/to control). 2 Sleeve bearings let pistons (to move/move) back and forth. 3 One of the most important steps in (producing/to produce) a motion picture is film editing. 4 An opera singer is required (having/to have) a powerful and beautiful voice. 5 The Wampanoag Indians taught the Pilgrims how (growing/to grow) corn. 6 Frogs and certain kinds of birds use their tongues (to catch/catch) insects. 7 Modems permit computers (communicating/to communicate) with one another over telephone lines. 8 Smells can be more effective than any other sensory stimuli in vividly (bringing/bring) back memories. 9 Isadora Martinez invented a knee transplant that allows people with severe arthritis (to bend/bend) their knees easily. 10 A sudden sound can make a golfer (to miss/miss) a shot. 11 Heavy spring snows may cause the branches of trees (snap/to snap). 12 Modern race cars store fuel in rubber bladders that are almost impossible (rupturing/to rupture). EXERCISE 22.2 Focus: Completing structure problems involving infinitive and gerund phrases (Note: One or two of the items in this exercise do NOT focus on infinitives or gerunds. These items are marked in the answer key with asterisks.) Directions: For Sentence Completion items, mark the answer choice that correctly completes the sentence. For Error Identification items, decide which of the four underlined words or phrases—(A), (B), (C), or (D)—correctly completes the sentence. 1 The (A) most widely used (B) material for package (C) consumer goods is (D) cardboard. 2 _______________ for a career in dance generally begins at an early age. (A) People train (B) That people train (C) If training (D) Training 3 A baby’s first teeth ___________ are generally the lower incisors. (A) appearance (B) appear (C) to appear (D) in appearing 4 One of the latest (A) methods of quarrying (B) stone is to cutting (C) the stone with a (D) jet torch. 5 In 1944, biologist Charles Michener devised (A) a system for to classify (B) the approximately (C) 20,000 species of (D) bees. 6 A climbing helmet ____________ protection for a rock-climber’s head from falling rocks and other hazards. (A) to provide (B) provides (C) providing (D) that provides 7 Power tools require careful handling ________ injuries. (A) by avoiding (B) they avoid (C) to avoid (D) that avoid 8 Geothermal energy (A) is energy obtaining (B) by using (C) heat from the earth’s (D) interior. 9 An electromagnet is created ___________ electrical current through a coil of wire. (A) by passing (B) passes by (C) to be passed (D) passed 10 ________________________ at home requires only three types of chemicals, several pieces of simple equipment, and running water. (A) For the development of film (B) To develop film (C) When film is developed (D) In developing film 11 Brown lung is a respiratory (A) disease caused (B) by inhaling (C) dust from cotton or some another (D) fiber. 12 The purpose of cost accounting is _________________________ involved in producing and selling a good or service. (A) as a determination of its costs (B) the costs determined (C) that determines the costs (D) to determine the costs 13 __________________ was one of the most difficult tasks pioneers faced on their journeys west. (A) Crossing rivers (B) While crossing rivers (C) Rivers being crossed (D) By crossing rivers 14 It is the facets (A) cut (B) into a diamond that (C) make it to sparkle D. 15 Bathe (A) in mineral water has long been (B) believed to have (C) beneficial effects (D). 16 Energy can be defined as the ability _______________. (A) do working (B) to do work (C) doing work (D) work to be done 17 The process of _______________ by hand has changed little since the fifteenth century. (A) to bind books (B) binding books (C) books are bound (D) bound books 18 Robert A. Moog developed (A) an electronic device that could be (B) used for play (C) synthesized (D) music. 19 __________________________ often obtain funds from the sale of stocks. (A) For corporations to operate (B) The operation of corporations (C) Corporations operate by (D) To operate, corporations 20 A crescent wrench has adjustable jaws for __________ a nut, bolt, or pipe. (A) to grip (B) they grip (C) gripping (D) gripped

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