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14 Apr 2023, 06:31
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Can someone share a few rules to identify when to use the gerund form and when to use the infinitive form? I have gone through the GMAT Club grammar book where a bunch of verbs are given for each form, however, I'd mostly likely forget/confuse the lists. Is there a better way to identify when to use which form?
Example: Because he was angry with the team, Aaron failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable to play better
A) failed playing his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
B) failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
Example: Because he was angry with the team, Aaron failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable to play better
A) failed playing his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
B) failed to play his best during the game and everyone knew he was capable of playing better
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14 Apr 2023, 08:53
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Hi sectan.
In many cases, your best move is just to learn the different structures that are commonly used.
At the same time there are some general concepts you can consider as well.
One is that a gerund without a preposition before it can be use as the direct object of a verb.
Examples:
I like swimming.
The writer prefers working in the morning.
If the gerund is not the logical direct object of the verb, then the wording will be incorrect.
Example:
As hard as John tried, he failed finding the treasure.
Notice that, in this case, "finding the treasure" is not something that one would fail, like a test. So, "finding" is not a logical direct object of "failed," and thus the sentence is incorrect. We need the following instead.
As hard as John tried, he failed to find the treasure.
That said, we've come full circle since, if you don't know that "failed to x" is correct, then "failed to find" may not seem any better than "failed finding" to you.
So, you really do need to learn the common structures.
In many cases, your best move is just to learn the different structures that are commonly used.
At the same time there are some general concepts you can consider as well.
One is that a gerund without a preposition before it can be use as the direct object of a verb.
Examples:
I like swimming.
The writer prefers working in the morning.
If the gerund is not the logical direct object of the verb, then the wording will be incorrect.
Example:
As hard as John tried, he failed finding the treasure.
Notice that, in this case, "finding the treasure" is not something that one would fail, like a test. So, "finding" is not a logical direct object of "failed," and thus the sentence is incorrect. We need the following instead.
As hard as John tried, he failed to find the treasure.
That said, we've come full circle since, if you don't know that "failed to x" is correct, then "failed to find" may not seem any better than "failed finding" to you.
So, you really do need to learn the common structures.
18 Apr 2023, 23:13
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sectan
When two verbs (or verb forms) appear together (as is the case here: fail and play), the first verb determines whether the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form of the verb, functioning as noun) or in the infinitive form (to + the basic form of the verb).
There are no grammar rules around this and the only way is to memorize which verbs are followed by gerunds and which are followed by infinitives. We obviously don't recommend this memorization
.The good thing is that most verbs are followed by infinitives.
p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses this aspect of verb forms. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.
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