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Understanding and Using

English Grammar First Edition

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Sonia Marizol Reyes Hernández

Code: 5176-13-18079

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.Content.

Chapter 1 … The Passive

1.1 Active Vs. Passive…………………………………………………………………………..

1.2 Tense Forms of the Passive………………………………………………………………

1.3 UsingthePassive……………………………………………………………………………..

1.4 Non-Progressive……………………………………………………………………………..

1.5 Common Non-Progressive Passive Verbs + Prepositions……………………

1.6 Passive with Get…………………………………………………………………………….

Chapter 2 … Noun Clauses

2.1 Noun Clauses………………………………………………………………………………….

2.2 Noun Clauses beginning with Whether or If……………………………………

2.3 Question Word follow by Infinitives………………………………………………

2.4 Noun Clauses Beginning with That…………………………………………………

2.5 Using –Ever WORDS……………………………………………………………………….

Chapter 3 … Adjective Clauses

3.1 Adjective Clause Pronouns Used as the Subject……………………………..

3.2 Using WHOSE……………………………………………………………………………….

3.3 Using WHICH to Modify a Whole Sentence……………………………………

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Chapter 4 … Gerunds and Infinitives Part I

4.1 Gerunds and Infinitives……………………………………………………………..

4.2 Using Possessives with Gerunds………………………………………………….

Chapter 5 … Gerunds and Infinitives Part I

5.1 Infinitive of Purpose: In Order To………………………………………………

5.2 For……………………………………………………………………………………………

5.3 Using Infinitives with Too and Enough………………………………………

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Introduction

I remember one of my English Teacher a long a time ago! As a good

one, even in that time I did not know about lesson plans or what was a warm

up activity, I still remember as one of my best teachers ever, thinking about

his methods I am sure that I enjoyed every class and I bet all my classmates

did it too even the last decade we have not seen technological classrooms or

tools, videos…

Language teaching, perhaps more than many other activities, reflects the

times it takes place in. Language is about communication, after all, and

perhaps that is why philosophies and techniques for learning languages seem

to develop every year. Technology has appeared which we could hardly have

imagined possible, exciting stuff, there are so many wonderful possibilities

open to us now, for future teachers, we have the chance to create new tools

for learners, and the most important is that the teacher has the attitude and

really loves what is doing and enjoy It.

I share some activities that we have presented with my classmate Evelin in

our lesson plans/classroom, we still are learning and I wish someday some of

my students remember me as a good English Teacher as I still remember my

English Teacher when I was 12 years old.

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The passive

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1.1 Active Vs. Passive

In the passive, the object of an active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb: the old woman in (a) becomes the subject of the passive verb (b).

Notice that the subject of an active verb follows by in

a passive sentence. The noun that follows by in a passive sentence. The noun that follows by is called the

“agent”. In (b): Victoria is the agent.

Example:

Active a.

Victoriahelpedthe old woman.

Passive b.

The old woman was helped by Victoria.

Structure

Passive:

Be + PastParticiple

She ishelped by her. He washelped by her.

He willbehelped by her.

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Exercise 1.

Decide if the sentence are active (A) or passive (B).

1. ___ Emmy preparedtheturkey. 2. ___ The juice was prepared by Candy. 3. ___ Mary Anne was preparing the dessert. 4. ___ Charles has prepared the tea. 5. ___ New species of insects are discovered by

scientist every year. 6. ___ Our paper will be collected by the teacher

next week. 7. ___ Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago. 8. ___ James’s car was stopped by the pólice. 9. ___ Mr. Jacobs painted our house. 10. ___ Jenny came to our apartment for dinner last

night.

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1.2 Tense Forms of the Passive

Active Passive Simple present Victoria helps the old woman. The old woman is helped by

Victoria. PresentProgressive

Victoria is helping the old woman. The old woman is being helped by Victoria

PresentPerfect Victoria has helped the old woman. The old woman has been helped by Victoria

Simple past Victoria helped the old woman. The old womanwas helped by Victoria

PastProgressive Victoria was helping the old woman.

The old woman was being helped by Victoria.

Pastperfect Victoria had helped the old woman.

The old woman has being helped by Victoria.

Simple future Victoria will help the old woman. The old woman will be helped by Victoria

Be going to Victoria is going to be help the old woman.

The old woman is going to be helped by Victoria.

Futureperfect Victoria will have helped the old woman. The old woman will have been helped by Victoria.

Was the old woman helped by Victoria? Has the old woman helped by Victoria

In the question form of passive verbs, an

auxiliary verb precedes the subject.

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Exercise 2.

Part 1. Change the active to the passive.

1. Edgar Allan Poe wrote that story. That story was wiritten by Edgar Allan Poe.

2. Waitresses and waiters serve customers. 3. The profesor is going to explain the lesson. 4. Two horses was pulling the farmer´s wagon. 5. Toshi will invite Yoko to the party. 6. Dennis is preparing that report. 7. Kathy had returned the book to the library. 8. Jackeline has designed several public building. 9. I didn´t wrote that note. DidJimwriteit?

Part 2.

Change the passive to active.

10. The speech was given by Alok ->Alok gave the speech. 11. Our assignments are going to be corrected by the teaching assistant. 12. Was the electric light bulb invented by Thomas Edison? 13. The speed limito n Highway 5 isn’t obeyed by most drivers. 14. Have you been informed of the rent increase by the building

manager?

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1.3 Using the Passive

Usually the passive is used without a by-phrase. The passive is most frequently used when it is not known or not important to know exactly who performs an action. In a.: Rice is grown in India by people, by farmers, by someone. It is not known or

important to know exactly who grows rice in India.

a. Rice is grown in India. b. Our hourse was built in 1980. c. This olive oil was imported

from Crete.

Exercise 3.

Make complete sentences with the given words. Use the simple past. Some are

active, and some are passive.

1. We /allow,not/ to go to the park alone when we were Young.

- We weren´t allowed to go to the park alone when were were Young.

2. A package/ deliver/ to our apartment yesterda. 3. Maria/ teach/her son t oread when he was three. 4. When I was in elementary school, we/require/ to wear uniforms. 5. As we watched, the airplane/ disappear/ into the clouds.

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Exercise 4.

Read the paragraph. Underline the passive verbs. Discuss why the writer chose to

use passive rather tan active. Answer the question in complete sentences.

Early Writing Materials

The chief writing material of ancient times was papyrus. It was used in Egypt,

Greece, and other. Mediterranean lands. Parchment, another writing material

that was widely used in ancient times, was made from the skins of animals, such

as sheep and goats. After the hair had been removed, the skins were stretched

and rubbed smooth to make a writing surface. Paper, the main writing material

today, was inventend by the Chinese. Ink has been used for writing and drawing

throughout history. No oneknowswhenthefirstinkwasdeveloped.

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4. Non-Progressive

a. Thedoorisold. b. Thedoorisgreen. c. Thedoorislocked.

In (a) and (b): old and green are adjectives. They describe the door. In (c): locked is a past participle. It is used as an adjective, it describes the door.

d. I locked the door five minutes ago.

e. The door was locked by me five minutes ago.

f. Now the door is locked. When the passive form is used to describe an existing situation or state, as in (c), (f), and (i), it is calledthe “non-progressive passive.¨ Inthe non-progressive: No action is taking

place, the action happened earlier.

There is no by-phrase.

The past participle functions as and adjective.

g. Ann broke the window yesterday.

h. The window was broken by Ann.

i. Now the Windows is broken.

j. I am interested in Chinese art.

k. He is satisfied with his

job. l. Ann is married to Alex.

Prepositions other than by can follow non-progressive passive verbs.

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Exercise 5.

Complete the sentences with the non-progressive passive of the verbs in

parentheses. Use the simple presento r the simple past.

1. Andrea is wearing a blouse. It (make) is made of cotton. 2. The door to this room (shut)_____________________. 3. The lights in this room (turn)_________on. 4. Thisroom (crowd, not) _________. 5. We can leave now because class (finish)___________. 6. It is hot in this room because the window (close) ________________.

1.5 Common Non-Progressive Passive Verbs + Prepositions

Many non-progressive verbs are followed by prepositions other than BY.

a. I am interested in Greek cultura. b. He is worried about losing his job.

Be concerned Be excited -AboutBediscrimatedAgainst Be worried

Be known

Be prepared

Be qualified -For Be remembered Be well known

Be divorced

Be exahusted --From

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Be gone

Be protected

Be dressed

Be interested ---In

Be located

Be disppointed ---In/with

Be involved

Be composed

Be made --Of

Be tired

Be frightened

Be scared ---Of/ by

Be terrified

Be accustomed

Be addicted

Be committed

Be connected ---To

Be dedicated

Be devoted

Be engaged

Be exposed

Be limited ---To

Be married

Be opposed

Be annoyed

Be bored --With/by

Be covered

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Exercise 6.

Complete the sentences with the correct prepositions.

1. She is excited ______ creating toys children enjoy. 2. She is known________ creating high-quality toys. 3. She is interested_____ how children play with one another. 4. She is pleased____ the responde to her toys. 5. Her toys are made ___ Wood.

1.5 Passive with Get

GET may be followed by certain adjectives. GET gives the idea of change --- the idea of becoming, beginning to be, growing to be.

Get+ Adjective

In (a): Im getting hungry = I was not hungry before, but now I am beginning to be hungry.

a. Im getting hungry. Let’s eat son. b. I stopped working because I got sleepy.

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Common adjectives that follow

Angry Anxious Bald Better Big Busy Cold Comfortable Dark Dizzy Easy Empty Famous Fat Full Good Hard Healthy Heavy Hot

Hungry Late Light Mad Nervous Noisy Old Quiet Ready Rich Ripe Serious Sick Sleepy Tall Thristy Warm Well Wet Worse

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Correcttheerrors.

interested 1. I am interestingin his ideas.

2. Two people got hurted in the accident and were took to the hospital

by an ambulance. 3. The movie was so bored that we fell asleep after an hour. 4. The students helped by the clear explanation that the teacher gave. 5. The winner of the race hasn´t been announcing yet. 6. When and where has the automovil invented. 7. My brother and I have always been interesting in learning more about

our family tree. 8. I am not agree with you, and I don´t think you’ll ever convince me. 9. It was late, and I am getting very worry about my mother. 10. Many strange things weer happened last night. 11. In class yesterday, I was confused. I didn´t understand the lesson. 12. When we were children, we were very afraid of caterpillars.

Whenever we saw one of these monsters, we were run to our house before the caterpillars could attack us. I still get scare when I saw a Caterpillar close to me.

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NounClauses

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2.1 Noun Clauses

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

Example:

a. Richard lives in England. Independantclause

Independant Clause: or main clause, is a complete sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of a sentence.

Example.

b. Wheredoes Richard live?

Dependantclause.

Dependant Clause: or subordínateclause, is not a complete sentence.

Example.

c. Where Richard lives DependantClause.

d. I know where Richard lives.

Example (d) is a complete sentence with a main subject, and verb (know) followed by a dependent clause.

Where Richard live is called a noun clause.

e. I knowwhat he said.

S + V O

A noun clause has the same uses in a sentence as a noun: it is used as an object or a subject.

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Exercise 1.

Underline the noun clause in each sentence. Some sentences do not have one.

1. I couldn’t hear what the teacher said. 2. What did the teacher say? (no nounclause). 3. No one knows where Tom went. 4. Where Tom went is a secret. 5. Whatdoes Nancy want?

Exercise 2.

Add punctuation and capitalization. Underline the noun clauses.

1. Where did Sara go did she go home Where did Sara go? Didshego home?

2. I dont know where Sara went. 3. What does Alex need do you know 4. What Alex needs is a new job. 5. We talked about what Alex needs.

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2.2 Noun Clauses beginning with Whether or If.

In many cases, if and whether can be used interchangeably without affecting the meaning. Below are some subtle differences in formal use. Use if to indicate one

condition that requires an action. If X is true, then do Y.

SUBJ + PREDICATE

CONDITION

Let me know

if you get cell phone reception. (onecondition)

He asked me if I had an idea. (onecondition)

ALTERNATIVE

Use whether to indicate two conditions, alternates, that require an action: yes or no, X or Y. If X or Y is true, then do Z. (Note that both if or whether are commonly used in an embedded question.)

SUBJ + PREDICATE ALTERNATIVE CONDITIONS

Let me know whether or not you can get cell phone reception. (twoconditions)

whether you can get cell phone reception or not . (polar + / –)

He asked me whether I had an idea or a plan. (X or Y)

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Exercise 3.

Complete the sentences by changing the questions to noun clauses.

Let me knowif..

1. Is the financial report ready? 2. Will it be ready tomorrow? 3. Does the copy machine need paper? 4. Is someone waiting for the meeting? 5. Are you going to be there?

Pleasecheckwhether..

6. Did they got my message? 7. Is the copy machine working? 8. Is there any paper left? 9. Isthisinformationcorrect? 10. Did the fax come in?

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2.3 Question Word follow by Infinitives

Question words ( when, where, how, who, whom, whhose, what, which, and whether) may be followed by an infinitive.

Each pair of sentences in the examples has the same meaning.

Notice that the meaning expressed by the infinitive is either should or can/could.

a. I don´t know what I should do. b. I don´t know what to do. c. Pam can´t decide whether she should go or stay home. d. Pam can´t decide whether to go or to stay home. e. Please tell me how I can get to the bus station. f. Please tell me how to get to the bus station. g. Jim told us where we could find it. h. Jim told us where to find it.

Exercise 4. Make sentences with the same meaning by using infinitives.

1. Sally told me when I should come. - Sally told me when to come. -

2. The plumber told me how I coulld fix the leak in the sink.

- 3. Please tell me where I should meet you.

-

4. Robert had a long excuse for being late for their date, but Sandy didn´t know whether she shuold believe him or not.

--

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2.4 Noun Clauses Beginning with That

There are two kinds of clauses in English that are introduced with "that". One kind is a noun clause (called a "complement"), which may appear (like a noun) as subject or direct object. These are tensed (finite) sentences with a "that" in front of them:

1. That you were shocked is perhaps not surprising.

2. I told him that you were shocked.

The subject use is somewhat rare because English speakers prefer to put the verb early in the sentence, and "heavy" subjects like this are often extraposed to the end and replaced with a dummy "it":

1. It is perhaps not surprising that you were shocked.

The "that" may be deleted, and usually is, except when the clause is the subject and is not extraposed. In that position, "that" marks the clause as subordinate and prevents the listener from interpreting it as the main clause:

1. *You were shocked is not surprising. 2. I told him you were shocked. 3. It's not surprising you were shocked.

That one is the "substantival" variety, because it acts like a

substantive (noun). The other one is the restrictive relative clause, which is, as you noted, an adjectival usage, not a substantival one. These clauses modify and contain a reference to some noun phrase, which is then represented in the clause by a "relative pronoun" like "which" or "who", depending on its animacy:

1. The man who(m) you fired just walked in the door with a gun.

2. The gun which he is carrying is very big.

In a restrictive relative clause, these pronouns may be replaced by "that":

1. The man that you fired just walked in the door with a gun.

2. The gun that he is carrying is very big.

Or they may be deleted altogether, except when they are the subject:

1. The man you fired just walked in the door with a gun.

2. The gun he is carrying is very big.

3. The man who/that fired him is in

deep trouble.

4. *The man fired him is in deep trouble.

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Exercise 5. Make noun clauses using IT and any appropriate Word from the list. Make an equivalent

sentence by using THAT-clause as the subject.

Apparent

Clear

A fact

Obvious

A pity

A shame

Strange

Surprising

Too bad

True

Unfair

Unfortunate

A well –known fact

Exercise 6. Reading comprehension. Read the article.

Canned vs. Fresh: which is Better?

Do you avoid eating canned fruits and

vegetables because you think they may

be less nutritious than fresh fruits and

vegetables? Do you think the might be

less healthy? For many people, the idea

of eating canned fruits or vegetables is

really not very appealing, and they

would rather buy fresh produce. Let´s

take a look at the two.

Many people are surprised to hear that

canned food can have as many nutrients

a fresh. This is true because the fruits

and vegetables are put into the cans

shortly after being picked. Because the

food is canned so quickly, the nutritional

content is locked in. Food in a can will

stay stablefor two years.

fresh produce, on the other hand, may

need to be transported. This can take up

to two weeks. Fresh produce will

continue to lose important nutrients

until it is eaten. The sooner you eat

freshproduce, the more nutritious it will

be. There are also advantages to some

fruits whenthey are first cooked and

then canned. Tomatoes, for instance,

have a substance called lycopene. This is

a cabcer-fighting ingredient that found

in cooked tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes do

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not have a significant amount of

lycopene. It is better toe at tomato

sauce from a can rather than fresh

tomato sauce if you want to have

lycopene in your diet.

Of course, there are disadvantages to

canned foods. They tend to have a

higher salt and sugar content. People

who need to watch their salt or sugar

intake should try to find cans low in salt

or sugar.

Finally, there is the issue of taste. For

many, there is no comparison between

the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables

versus canned. No matter what the

benefits of canning, some people refuse

to eat anything that isn´t fresh. How

about you? Which do you prefer?

Exercise 6. Part II

Read the statements. Circle T for true and F for false.

1. According to the article, it is surprising to many people that canned produce can be as nuttitious as fresh produce. T F

2. It’s a fact that food in a can will last for two years. T F 3. It’s a well-known fact that canned produce taste the same is

undeniable. T F 4. It´s obvious that the writer believes canned food is better than

fresh. T F

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2.5 Using –Ever WORDS

The following EVER words give the idea of “any”. Each pair of sentence in the examples has the same meaning.

Whoever

A. Whoever wants to come is welcome. Anyone who wants to come is welcome.

B. He makes friends easily with whoever he meets. He makes friends easily with anyone who he meets

Whatever C. He always says whatever comes into

his mind. He always says anything that comes into his mind.

Whenever

D. You may leave whenever you wish. You may leave at any time that you wish.

Wherever

E. She can go whereve she wants to go. She can go anyplace that sje wants to go.

However

F. The students may dress however they please. The students may dress in any way that they please.

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Exercise 7.

Complete the sentences with - EVER words.

1. Mustafa is free to go anyplace he wishes. He can go whereverhe wants.

2. Mustafa is free to go anytime he wishes. He can go____ he wants. 3. I don´t know what you should do about that problema. Do

___________ seems best to you. 4. I want you to be honest. I hope you feel free to say _______ is on

your mind. 5. I have a car. I can take you __________ you want to go.

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Adjective Clauses

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3.1 Adjective Clause Pronouns Used as the Subject.

A. I thanked the woman.

She helped me. She who a. I thanked the

woman. Who helped me.

b. I thanked the woman that helped me.

-The book is mine.

--It is on the table.

c. The book which is on the table is mine.

d. The book that is on the table is mine. In (a) I thanked the woman = a main clause.

Who helped me = an adjective clause. And adjective clause modifies a noun. In (a): the adjective clause modifies woman. In (a): WHO is the subject of the adjective clause. In (b): THAT is the subject of the adjective clause. NOTE: (a) and (b) have the same meaning, (c) and (d) have the same meaning.

WHO Used for people WHICH Used for things THAT Used for both and things

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Exercise 1. Choose all the possible completions for each sentence. Do not add any commas or capital

letter.

1. Imet the doctor____________ helped my father after the accident. a. Who b. that c. which d. she

2. Where is the magazine________ has the story about online theft?

a. Who b. that c. Which d. it

3. Did I tell you about the car salesman_________ tried to sell me a

defective truck? a. Who b. that c. which d. he

4. The house______ is across the street from us is going to be rented

soon. a. Who b. that c. which d. it

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3.2 Using WHOSE

I know the man.

His bicycle was stolen.

(a) I know the man WHOSE BICYCLE was stolen. The student writes well. I read her composition.

(b) The student WHOSE COMPOSITION I read writes well. WHOSE is used to show possession. It carries the same

meaning as other possessive pronouns used as adjectives: His, her, and their. Like his, her, its, and their, WHOSE is connected to a noun: His bicycle -- whose bicycle. Her composition --whose composition.Both WHOSE and the noun it is connected to are placed at the beginning of the adjective clause. WHOSE cannot be omitted.

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Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with WHO or WHOSE.

1. I Know a doctor ___________ last name is Doctor.

2. I Know a doctor ____________ lives on a sailboat.

3. The woman_____________ Wallet was stolen called the police.

4. The woman________ found my wallet called immediately.

5. The woman_______________ teaches art history is excellent.

6. The professor__________ course I am taking is excellent.

7. I apologized to the man________ coffee I spilled.

8. I made friends with a man __________ is in my class.

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3.3 Using WHICH to Modify a Whole Sentence.

(a) Tom was late. That surprised me.

(b) Tom was late, which surprised me.

(c) The elevator is out of order. This is too bad.

(d) The elevator is out of order, which is too bad. The pronoun THAT and THIS can refer to the idea of a whole sentence which comes before. In (a): The word THAT refers to the whole sentence Tom was late.

Exercise 3.

Similarly, an adjective clause with WHICH may modify the idea of a whole sentence- In (b) the word WHICH refers to the whole sentence Tom was late. Usin WHICH modify a whole sentence is informal and occurs most frequently in spoken English. This structure is generally not appropriate in formal writing. Whenever it is written, however, it is preced by a comma to reflect a pause in speech.

Combine the two sentences. Use the second sentence as an adjective clause.

1. Sonya lost her job. That wasn´t surprising.

-- Sonya lost her job, which wasn´t surprising.

2. She usually came to work late. That upset her boss.

3. So her boss fired her. That made her angry.

4. She hadn´t saved any money. That was unfortunate.

5. So she had to borrow some money from me. I din´t like that.

6. She has found a new job. That is lucky.

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Gerunds and Infinitives Part I

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4.1 Gerunds and Infinitives

Both gerunds and infinitives can be nouns, which means they can do just about anything that a noun can do. Although they name things, like other nouns, they normally name activities rather than people or objects. Here are five noun-uses of gerunds and infinitives (and one additional non-noun use, the adjective complement, that we throw in here, free of charge).

Gerunds and infintives can both function as the subject of a sentence:

a. Playing basketball takes up too much of her time.

b. To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.

It is not impossible for an infinitive to appear at the beginning of a sentence as the

subject (as in Ib), but it is more common for an infinitive to appear as a Subject Complement:

a. Her favorite fantasy is to play basketball for UConn.

The gerund can also play this role:

b. Her favorite fantasy is playing basketball for UConn.

Both of these verbal forms can further identify a noun when they play the role

of Noun Complement and Appositive:

a. Her desire to play basketball for UConn became an obsession.

b. I could never understand her desire to play basketball for UConn.

c. Her one burning desire in life, playing basketball for UConn, seemed a goal within reach.

The infinitive is often a complement used to help define an abstract noun. Here is a very partial list of abstract nouns, enough to suggest their nature. Try following these adjectives with an infinitive phrase (their desire to play in the championship game, a motivation to pass all their courses, herpermission to stay up late, a gentle reminder to do your work) to see how the phrase modifies and focuses the noun.

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advice appeal command decision desire fact instruction motivation

opportunity order permission plan possibility preparation proposal recommendation

refusal reminder request requirement suggestion tendency wish

Infinitive phrases often follow certain adjectives.

When this happens, the infinitive is said to play the role of Adjective Complement. (This is not a noun function, but we will include it here nonetheless.)

a. She was hesitant to tell the coach of her plan.

b. She was reluctant to tell her parents, also.

c. But she would not have been content to play high school ball forever.

Here is a list of adjectives that you will often find in such constructions.

ahead amazed anxious apt ashamed bound careful certain content delighted

determined disappointed eager eligible fortunate glad happy hesitant liable likely

lucky pleased proud ready reluctant sad shocked sorry surprised upset

Although we do not find many infinitives in this next category, it is not

uncommon to find gerunds taking on the role of Object of a Preposition:

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a. She wrote a newspaper article about dealing with college recruiters.

b. She thanked her coach for helping her to deal with the pressure.

Two prepositions, except and but, will sometimes take an infinitive.

a. The committee had no choice except to elect Frogbellow chairperson.

b. What is left for us but to pack up our belongings and leave?

And, finally, both gerunds and infinitives can act as a Direct Object:

Here, however, all kinds of decisions have to be made, and some of these decisions will seem quite arbitrary. The next section is about making the choice between gerund and infinitive forms as direct object.

Verbs that take other verb forms as objects are

called catenatives (from a word that means to link, as in a chain). Catenatives can be found at the head of a series of linked constructions, as in "We agreed to try to decide to stop eating between meals." Catenatives are also characterized by their tendency to describe mental processes and resolutions. (Kolln)

Although it is seldom a serious problem for native English speakers, deciding whether to use a gerund or an infinitive after a verb can be perplexing among students for whom English is a second language. Why do we decide to run, but we would never decide running? On the other hand, we might avoid running, but we would not avoid to run. And finally, we might like running and would also like to run. It is clear that some verbs take gerunds, some verbs take infinitives, and some verbs take either. The following tables of verbs should help you understand the various options that regulate our choice of infinitive or gerund.

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4.2 Using Possessives with Gerunds

Do we say "I can't stand him singing in the shower," or do we say "I can't stand his singing in the shower"? Well, you have to decide what you find objectionable: is it him, the fact that he is singing in the shower, or is it the singing that is being done by him that you can't stand? Chances are, it's the latter, it's the singing that belongs to him that bugs you. So we would say, "I can't stand his singing in the shower."

On the other hand, do we say "I noticed your standing in the alley last night"? Probably not, because it's not the action that we noticed; it's the person. So we'd say and write, instead, "I noticed you standing in the alley last night." Usually, however, when a noun or pronoun precedes a gerund, that noun or pronoun takes a possessive form. This is especially true of formal, academic writing.

There are exceptions to this. (What would the study of language be without exceptions?)

When the noun preceding the gerund is modified by other words, use the common form of that noun, not the possessive.

Example:

a. Federico was pleased by Carlos's making the Dean's List for the first time. but

b. Federico was pleased by Carlos, his oldest son, making the Dean's List for the first time.

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When the noun preceding the gerund is plural, collective, or abstract, use the common form of that noun, not the possessive.

Example:

c. Professor Villa was amazed by her students working as hard as they did.

d. The class working collaboratively was somebody else's idea.

e. It was a case of old age getting the better of them.

There are certain situations in which the possessive and the gerund create an awkward combination. This seems to be particularly true when indefinite pronouns are involved.

Example:

f. I was shocked by somebody's making that remark. This would be greatly improved by saying, instead . . .

g. I was shocked that somebody would make that remark.

This is also true when the "owner" of the gerund comes wrapped in a noun phrase:

Example:

o I was thankful for the guy next door shoveling snow from my driveway.

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EXERCISE

1.- Complete these sentences with infinitive/gerund

1-I remember _____________ (park) the car right in front of the hospital 2-Please stop ______________ (make) that noise; I can´t concentrate! 3-She tried _____________ (open) with a hook because she had lost the key. 4-Remember ____________ (leave) the door open; I don´t have a key. 5-The teacher stopped ___________ (explain) __________ (correct) the exercises. 6-Don´t forget _______________ (buy) me the stamps for the letters. 7-He stopped ______________ (buy) some cigarettes. 8-I´ll show how ______________ (do) it. 9-She told me where ____________ (put) the books. 10-This question is easy ____________ (answer).

Exercise 2.

Rewrite these sentences using the infinitive

1-I promise that I will buy you one tomorrow _______________________________________________

2-She pretended that she was reading _______________________________________________

3-He claims that he is the only legitimate heir ________________________________________________

4-It seems that he is following us ________________________________________________

5-She hopes that she will pass the driving test ________________________________________________

6-Don´t forget that you must post this letter ________________________________________________

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Gerunds and Infinitives Part II

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5.1 Infinitive of Purpose: In Order To

Purpose can be expressed with the prepositional phrase in orderolllowed by an infinitive clause or a that-clause (almost always with a modal may or might). The prepositional phrase in order is often omitted

in informal speech.

SUBJ + PRED ADJUNCT

NP + V PP INFIN / THAT CLS

The doctor operated

in order to save his patient's life. that he might save his patient's life.

A patient stays in order to get medical care. that s/he might get medical care.

A nurse visits in order to check on a patient. that s/he might check on a patient.

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5.2 For

FOR can be used to express purpose, but it is a preposition and is followed by a noun object, as in (a).

a. I went to the store FOR some bread.

b. I went to the store to buy some bread.

Exercise 1.

Complete the sentences with TO Or FOR.

Isabella spent a month in Miami. She went there….. 1. ________ See her cousins. 2. ________ a vacation. 3. ________business. 4. ________meet with company executives.

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5.3 Using Infinitives with Too and Enough

1. TOO

It is an adverb and is there followed by adjectives or adverbs: denotes a quality in excess:

Coffee is too hot, I can't drink it.

It is usually continued through a 'to - infinitive':

Coffee is too hot to drink. Actions in the infinitive can refer to a different subject from the first in the sentence:

Coffee is too hot FOR THE OLD MAN to drink.

Quite another different usage is that you may find when followed by nouns, in that case MUCH and MANY are required.

They drink too much wine. They invite too many people

to their parties.

2. ENOUGH a. as an adjective appears before nouns and expresses sufficiency :

They have enough books in the house , they don't have to buy any.

b. as an adverb appears after adjectives or adverbs and also expresses a degree in sufficiency.

He is strong enough, he will cross the dessert.

The same as with 'too', a 'to-infinitive usually follows'

He is strong enough to cross the dessert.

And for is used to refer the

action to another subject:

Our flat is not big enough to hold 20 people.

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Exercise 2.

Put the words in the correct order to make sentences about a new job.

1. near/for me/it's/to walk to work/enough ____________________________________________________________

2. too/it's/noisy/for me/to concentrate ____________________________________________________________

3. varied/to be interesting/the work/enough/is ____________________________________________________________

4. for me/the salary/enough/to support my family/is/high ____________________________________________________________

5. to hold/my desk/small/is/too/all my things ____________________________________________________________

6. late/I/sleep/enough/can/to feel awake in the morning ____________________________________________________________

7. for me/my boss/quickly/to understand him/speaks/too ____________________________________________________________

8. aren't/low/the bookshelves/to reach/for me/enough ____________________________________________________________

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