The Infinitive. The Gerund. The Participle

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРА ЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РФ

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ АВТОНОМНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ 

ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ 

«НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКИЙ ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ «МИСиС»

№ 2421

Кафедра иностранных языков и коммуникативных технологий

И.Л. Ашмарина

THE INFINITIVE. THE GERUND.
THE PARTICIPLE

Учебное пособие

Рекомендовано редакционно-издательским
советом университета

Москва  2015

УДК 811.111
 
А98

Р е ц е н з е н т ы :

канд. филол. наук, доц. Ю.В. Гаврилова (МосГУ);

канд. филол. наук, доц. Н.В. Скоромыслова (МГИ им. Е.Р. Дашковой)

Ашмарина И.Л.

А98  
The Infinitive. The Gerund. The Participle : учеб. пособие / 

И.Л. Ашмарина. – М. : Изд. Дом МИСиС, 2015. – 92 с.

ISBN 978-5-87623-938-9

Пособие посвящено неличным формам глагола в современном английском 

языке. Материал отбирался из современных текстов разных стилей и регистров, а также использовались данные всех доступных национальных корпусов английского языка. Упражнения на тренировку форм и структур сопровождаются последующими упражнениями продуктивно-речевого характера. 
Помимо грамматических форм и значений, синтаксических функций и конструкций неличных форм глагола акцент делался и на овладении современными лексическими средствами, в том числе идиомами, устойчивыми сочетаниями (collocations), что необходимо для сдачи международных экзаменов по 
английскому языку. В связи с этим значительная часть заданий представляет 
собой текстовые отрывки. Часть текстов имеют социокультурный и страноведческий компонент. Упражнения рассчитаны на разные режимы работы в аудитории. Часть заданий представлена в формате международного экзамена САЕ.

Пособие по практической грамматике предназначено для студентов линг
вистических отделений вузов.

УДК 811.111

ISBN 978-5-87623-938-9




И.Л. Ашмарина, 2015
НИТУ «МИСиС», 2015

CONTENTS

1. The Infinitive .........................................................................................4

1.1. Tense and voice distinctions of the infinitive ..................................... 4
1.2. The ‘‘to-infinitive’’ and the ‘‘bare’’ infinitive ..................................... 9
1.3. Syntactic functions of the infinitive .................................................. 14
1.4. Infinitive constructions ...................................................................... 20

2. The Gerund ..........................................................................................41

2.1. Tense and voice distinctions of the gerund ....................................... 41
2.2. Syntactic functions of the gerund ..................................................... 46
2.3. Use of the gerund .............................................................................. 49
2.4. Gerundial constructions .................................................................... 57
2.5. The gerund vs. the infinitive ............................................................. 60

3. The participle ......................................................................................67

3.1. Participle I. Tense and voice distinctions .......................................... 67
3.2. Syntactic functions of Participle I ..................................................... 70
3.3. Participle II. Time reference and expressing the category 
of voice ..................................................................................................... 71
3.4. Syntactic functions of participle II .................................................... 72
3.5. Participial constructions .................................................................... 78
3.6. Participle vs. Gerund ......................................................................... 86

4. Revision exercises ................................................................................87

1. THE INFINITIVE

Active
Passive

Simple (Indefinite)
to take
to be taken

Continuous
to be taking
–

Perfect
to have taken
to have been taken

Perfect Continuous
to have been taking
–

1. Supply all possible forms of the infinitive of the following verbs:
give, bring, say, teach, read, translate, produce, buy, tell, publish, build, 
lose, explain, plant, print out, look after.

1.1. TENSE AND VOICE DISTINCTIONS 

OF THE INFINITIVE

The Simple Infinitive denotes 
an action simultaneous with the 
action expressed by the finite 
verb, that is why it can refer to 
the present, past or future.

I am happy to meet you.
I was happy to meet you yesterday.
I will be happy to meet you tomorrow.

The Continuous Infinitive 
denotes an action 
simultaneous with the action 
expressed by the finite verb, 
but it is an action in progress 
at a particular time in the 
present, past or future.

I am happy to be sitting here now.

I was happy to be having lunch with you. 
It was a pleasure.

The Perfect Infinitive 
denotes an action prior to the 
action expressed by the finite 
verb.

He claims to have visited all the major 
cities of the world, but I think he didn’t.
She seemed to have understood what I 
have said – a happy smile appeared on 
her face.
He must have been to Spain many times 
before – he knows a lot about the country.

The Perfect Continuous 
Infinitive denotes an action 
that started some time before 
the action of the finite verb 
and lasted for some time.

They seem to have been living together 
all their life long.
He may have been living here for a long 
time, he knows the neighbourhood so 
well.

4

Note: The Passive Infinitive (Simple and Perfect) can be formed only of transitive verbs 
and denotes an action performed by a person or thing other than the subject of the sentence. 
The tense distinctions of passive infinitive forms are similar to those of the active.
The Simple Infinitive Passive It is so glorious to love and to be loved.
The Perfect Infinitive Passive The wallet turned out to have been lost

the night before by a customer of the 
shop nearby.

2. Translate the example sentences in the table above into Russian.

3. Choose the correct answer.
1) When I told my parents I got the job advertised in the newspaper, both 
of them seemed ________.

a) to surprise  
b) to be surprised

2) I am going to fill in an application. I want ________ for the job in this 
company.

a) to consider 
b) to be considered

3) I expect ________ some explanations.

a) to give  
b) to be given

4) The kids seem _________ about the trip.

a) to be excited  
b) to excite

5) It has always been my dream ________ by a well-established company. 

a) to be employed  
b) to employ

6) I expect ________ some difficult questions during the interview.

a) to ask  
b) to be asked

7) My parents seem _________ about the opportunity I have.

a) to be excited  
b) to excite

8) I asked my boyfriend ________ me to the company office on the day of 
the interview.

a) to drive  b) to be driven

9) I hope ________ a chance to make a good career.

a) to give  
b) to be given

4. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the infinitive.
1) I am sure you know John. You must ____________(meet) before. 
2) You have a chance ____________ (make) a new and better life for 
yourself and your family. 
3) I have been offered an interview ____________ (consider) as a nurse 
for the new hospital. 

4) Sue resolved she must not ____________ (allow) herself ____________ 
(attract) to Derek. It was too soon. 
5) This has got ____________ (be) one of the prettiest, most unspoiled 
places I’ve ever seen. We were lucky ____________ (get) any property here. 
6) The house was really old and dilapidated. Lewis looked at it trying to 
figure out what needed ____________ (do). 
7) Walking around the city centre a while ago I spotted a smartly dressed 
woman who seemed ____________ (talk) to her right shoulder. As I came 
closer, I could see that she was whispering endearments and repeatedly 
kissing a sleek, brown rat. 
8) She went to America ____________ (escape) the memories that were 
holding her down.
9) The earliest record of Moscow is supposed ____________ (document) 
in 1147. 

5. Open the brackets and use the correct form of the infinitive and the 
correct word order.
1) I pretended ____________ (hear / not) and kept walking away.
2) Lisa had packed his bags and told him ____________ (never / come 
back) to the house. 
3) They departed from Russia ____________ (never / return). 
4) Mothers told their children ____________ (play / not) with me. So at 
playtime I stood on my own by the wall. 
5) He claimed ____________ (never / say) that and didn’t apologize. 
6) She was finding it hard ____________ (not / stare).
7) I ought ____________ (never / listen) to you. It’s a pity I did. 
8) I looked at him, trying ____________ (not / appear) hungry as I was. 
9) I had enough girlfriends ____________ (never / be) bored, but I only 
had very little money to spend.
10) I should ____________(ask / never) that question. She was offended. 
11) Jessica was disappointed ____________ (not / see) any of her friends 
at the club. 

6. Translate into English using different forms of the infinitive.

A

1) Мне удалось сдать экзамен в феврале. 
2) Он отказался поступать в университет. 
3) Она не может позволить себе есть в дорогих ресторанах.
4) Должно быть, они уже уехали на вокзал. 
5) Она ожидала, что ее встретят в аэропорту.

6) Кажется, он делает сейчас уроки. 
7) Кажется, он все утро красил забор. 
8) Что делает Лиза? – Кажется, готовится к экзамену. 
9) Он надеется, что его повысят в должности (give a promotion). 
10) Я ожидаю, что мне повысят зарплату (give a pay-rise). Он утверждает (claim), что проплыл под парусом (sail) вокруг света. 
11) Это было так мило с его стороны подвезти нас на своей машине!

B

1) Мы были рады вернуться домой. 
2) Нам не удалось обсудить проект на заседании.
3) Ему было стыдно задавать такие вопросы. 
4) Я не могу позволить себе купить этот плейер. 
5) Она притворилась, что спит. 
6) Кажется, кто-то вошел в здание минуту назад.
7) Она ожидала, что ее отвезут (drive) в гостиницу.
8) Кажется, он сейчас готовится к экзамену в библиотеке.
9) Кажется, мы сделали это упражнение на прошлом уроке. 
10) Должно быть, письмо уже доставлено. 
11) Он утверждал (claim), что живет в Москве уже двадцать лет. 
12) Он обещал больше не упоминать это имя.

7. Choose a suitable form of the infinitive.
1) There is so much ____________ (see) and do in Prague. 
2) “I have nothing ____________ (gain) by defending you.” – “Nothing 
____________ (lose), either.”
3) He picked up the phone. There was one more call ____________ (make). 
4) He went on down the road despairingly, because there was no place else 
____________ (go).
5) There is nothing ____________ (add). 
6) I’m bored stiff. I’ve got nothing ____________ (do).
7) “There is nothing ____________ (do). Sorry.” – “Right. We can’t help it.” 
8) We went out at four and had something ____________ (eat) first.
9) I can’t help that! People start having conversations! They’ve got nothing 
____________ (talk) about!
10) She worries and frets all the time. It’s because she’s nobody ____________ 
(talk) to. 
11) Customs officer: “Have you got anything ____________ (declare)?” 
12) When there’s a job ____________ (do), I’m really determined. 

13) “He turned pale as ashes.” – “I’m surprised you had time ____________ 
(observe) his reaction – you seem ____________ (act) pretty quick.”
14) That’s a job ____________ (do) today.
15) She has money ____________ (spare).

8. Translate into English using an infinitive. Do not use modal verbs.
1) Нельзя терять ни минуты. 
2) Бояться нечего. 
3) Не о чем волноваться. 
4) У меня много работы сегодня. 
5) Не верьте тем, кто говорит, что им скучно и нечем заняться.
6) Я очень занята на работе. Нужно набрать (type) и отправить много 
сообщений. 
7) Если у тебя есть что-то, о чем тебе нужно меня спросить, делай 
это сейчас.
8) Москва – большой город, и здесь есть чем заняться. Есть много 
музеев и галерей, которые можно посетить, исторических памятников, которые можно сфотографировать, и величественных зданий, которыми можно восхищаться (admire). 
9) Вот список людей, которых нужно пригласить на конференцию. 
Но ничего не поделаешь. У меня есть время, чтобы все это сделать до 
вечера пятницы.

9. Match the two halves of the sentences below.

1) Due to global warming lots of species 
of animals 

a) is expensive to hire.

2) The old murals 
b) were hard to remove.

3) Don’t let anyone persuade you to look 
after their baggage at a railway station 
or an airport. It could be a bomb

c) are impossible to protect.

4) Proper gallery or exhibition space
d) ready to explode.

5) Not long ago I used to think all poets 
were mad, bad and

e) is impossible to control.

6) Migration
f) dangerous to know.

10. Make up sentences of your own to match the endings given below 
using the adjectives easy, simple, hard, difficult, nice, impossible, good, 
ready, cheap, expensive, fun as in the models above.
1) ____________ to solve.
6) ____________ to find.

2) ____________ to sell. 
7) ____________ to produce.

3) ____________ to visit. 
8) ____________ to watch.

4) ____________ to speak about. 
9) ____________ to talk to.

5) ____________ to deal with. 
10) ____________ to look after.

11. Translate into English using infinitives. Do not begin your 
sentences with it.
1) О политике трудно спорить. 
2) С моим начальником нелегко иметь дело. 
3) Это требование трудно понять. 
4) На эту выставку было бы интересно сходить. 
5) Книгу трудно понять (get into) сначала, но потом от нее невозможно оторваться (put it down). 
6) С Вашим личным помощником (PA) приятно разговаривать. 
7) С моей подругой классно. 
8) В Москве невозможно найти дешевую квартиру. 
9) За этим комнатным растением легко ухаживать.

1.2. THE ‘‘TO-INFINITIVE’’ 

AND THE ‘‘BARE’’ INFINITIVE

12. Choose between the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive. 

A

1) Can we ____________ (use) the bicycle? 
2) Please, don’t let them ____________ (bomb) us any more! Let them 
____________ (bomb) anyone else, dear God, but not us! I have three 
children! I have ____________ (save) them!
3) It seems I have done nothing all day but ____________ (answer) the 
phone for you. 
4) There’s nothing to do but ____________ (wait). 
5) She would rather ____________ (live) in danger than ____________ 
(die) of loneliness and boredom. 
6) He was made ____________ (look) foolish. 
7) ‘‘When does she get back?’’ – ‘‘At 3.’’ – ‘‘Shall I have her ____________ 
(call) you?’’ – ‘‘No. I’ll call her myself.’’ 
8) Did you feel the earth ____________ (shake)? 
9) Me, I’ve never liked being on my own. I’d always rather 
____________ (be) part of a couple. 

10) Ryan saw his mother’s shoulders ____________(move) once, and then 
she put her head down for a second. 

B

1) The whole thing was a disaster. He did nothing but ____________ 
(cry) – just stood there and cried. 
2) It was too late. ‘‘You had better ____________ (get) inside,’’ he 
warned her. 
3) Would you rather ____________ (be) alive or dead? Naturally, you’d 
prefer ____________ (be) alive. 
4) From now on, he knew he could not just ____________ (stand by) and 
____________ (let) disaster ____________ (strike). 
5) It was a wonderful feeling, to disappear like that. It made him 
____________ (feel) different and special. 
6) I didn’t notice you ____________ (come in). 
7) Contact the police when you hear or see anything that looks wrong 
or unusual. You may help us ____________ (catch) a criminal, or, 
even better, help us ____________ (prevent) a terrible crime. Help us 
____________ (stop) trouble before it happens. 
8) Why ____________ (talk) about it? It’s a waste of time. 
9) She reached down for her handbag on the floor. I love that tree! I want 
it for Christmas. I’ll get Neil ____________ (carry) it.

13. Work with your partner. Take it in turns to ask and answer the 
questions below using the bare infinitive after make.
e.g. 
What makes you feel bored? – Bad weather or a dull lesson make 

 
me feel bored. Sometimes I have nothing to do, and it makes me

 
feel bored.

1) What makes you feel bored? 
2) What can make you feel really tired?
3) Is there a book or film that made you cry?
4) Can any of your relatives make you change your mind? Who is that?
5) What makes you feel relaxed?

14. Finish off the sentences in a suitable way.
1) Let’s go to the cinema tonight! – I don’t want ____________. 
2) Sorry, I offended you. I didn’t mean ____________. 
3) Someone must tidy up the mess. – I’ll ask Mary __________. 
4) Shall we dance? – I’d love ____________. 
5) Would you like to meet my parents? – I’d be happy ____________. 

6) My father insisted that I should do a lot of sports, but I didn’t want 
____________.
7) I don’t play the piano now, but I used ____________. 
8) Did you buy any bread? – I meant ____________, but the shop was 
closed.
9) I was hoping to go with you, but I’ve decided ____________ (not). 

15. Make up sentences beginning with I’d rather according to the 
example. It’s a good idea to do the exercise orally as long as your 
partner or teacher reads out the prompts.
e.g. 
stay at home / go to the cinema tonight → I’d rather stay at home 

 
than go to the cinema tonight.

1) stay in / go out tonight
2) drink some water / have a cup of coffee
3) solve a/the problem immediately / put it off
4) have lunch at the canteen downstairs / have a sandwich from the 
vending machine
5) watch a movie / go to the gym tonight
6) read the novel / the screen version of the book
7) see my friends at the weekend / do homework
8) go for a walk / doze off for a while
Now work with your partner. Make true statements about yourself 
using the prompts above and say them to your partner. Your partner 
should agree or disagree. Are you and your partner similar or different? 
e.g.
I’d rather go out tonight than stay at home. – Me too / I wouldn’t.

16. Translate into English using the full or bare infinitive.
1) Если у тебя температура, лучше остаться дома. 
2) Я бы лучше выучила еще один язык, чем ходила на занятия по 
физкультуре. 
3) Мы не могли не изменить условия контракта. 
4) Я бы, пожалуй, занялся чем-то очень необычным, скажем, дайвингом. 
5) Я бы, пожалуй, занялся любым водным спортом. 
6) Если у тебя болит горло, лучше не есть мороженого.

17. Use the correct form of the infinitive with or without to.
1) We hope ____________ (meet) by our partners when we arrive. 
2) She pretended____________ (read) a book, but in fact she was 
listening to what they were talking about.