GRAMMAR RESOURCE · CHAPTER 16

Non-Finite Verbs

Distinguish infinitives, gerunds and participles, and learn how they function in phrases and common verb patterns.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.

1. What is a non-finite verb?

A non-finite verb form does not independently show tense or agree with a subject. The main forms are infinitives (to write/write), gerunds (writing used as a noun-like form) and participles (writing/written used in verb phrases or as modifiers).

To read widely is useful. / Reading improves vocabulary. / The broken window needs repair.

2. Infinitives

The to-infinitive often follows verbs such as want, decide, hope and plan, and can express purpose. The bare infinitive follows modals and certain verbs such as let and make.

She decided to study. / He went out to buy bread. / You must leave now.

3. Gerunds

A gerund is an -ing form used in a noun-like role, as subject, object or complement. Common patterns include enjoy doing, avoid doing, finish doing and be interested in doing.

Swimming is healthy. / They enjoy reading. / She is interested in learning French.

4. Participles

Present participles (-ing) can describe an ongoing action or cause; past participles often describe a result or affected state. Participial phrases should clearly refer to the intended subject.

The crying baby needs milk. / The broken chair was repaired. / Walking home, I saw a rainbow.

5. Patterns and meaning changes

Some verbs can take either a gerund or infinitive with little change (begin to rain/begin raining); others change meaning (stop smoking = quit; stop to smoke = pause another activity in order to smoke). After a preposition, use a gerund.

She stopped talking. / She stopped to answer the phone. / He is good at solving puzzles.

Guided practice

Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.

  1. I enjoy ___ books. (read/reading)
  2. They decided ___ early. (leave/to leave)
  3. You must ___ now. (go/to go)
  4. ___ every day improves health. (Walk/Walking)
  5. She went to the shop ___ milk. (buy/to buy)
  6. He is interested in ___ Spanish. (learn/learning)
  7. The ___ glass was swept away. (break/broken)
  8. The child ___ in the corner is my nephew. (sit/sitting)
  9. Please avoid ___ the same mistake. (make/making)
  10. She made me ___ the truth. (tell/to tell)
  11. He stopped ___ because it was unhealthy. (smoke/smoking)
  12. He stopped ___ a drink. (get/to get)
  13. ___ by the news, she sat down. (Shock/Shocked)
  14. I hope ___ you soon. (see/to see)
  15. She left without ___ goodbye. (say/saying)
Show answer key and explanations
  1. reading — Enjoy is followed by a gerund.
  2. to leave — Decide is followed by a to-infinitive.
  3. go — Modals take the bare infinitive.
  4. Walking — A gerund can function as the subject.
  5. to buy — A to-infinitive can express purpose.
  6. learning — Use a gerund after the preposition in.
  7. broken — A past participle can describe a resulting state.
  8. sitting — A present participle phrase describes the child.
  9. making — Avoid is followed by a gerund.
  10. tell — Make + object takes a bare infinitive in active voice.
  11. smoking — Stop doing means cease the activity.
  12. to get — Stop to do means pause another activity in order to do this.
  13. Shocked — A past participle can express the person's affected state.
  14. to see — Hope is followed by a to-infinitive.
  15. saying — Use a gerund after the preposition without.

Revision checklist

If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and try writing two original examples.

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Editorial note: Some grammar conventions vary by dialect or examination syllabus. Follow the terminology and conventions specified by your course or exam board where relevant.