Unit 4: Infinitives, Gerunds and Quantifiers

1. Simple Infinitives and Gerunds

Infinitives and gerunds are verbals—words formed from verbs that function as other parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, or adverbs). Understanding the distinction is crucial for advanced communication accuracy.

1.1 The Simple Infinitive

Form: to + base form of verb (e.g., to study, to break)

Key Functions:

• Subject of a sentence: To err is human. (Formal/Poetic)
• Object of a verb: She agreed to help.
• Adjective (modifying a noun): I have a promise to keep.
• Adverb (indicating purpose): He left early to catch the train.

1.2 The Simple Gerund

Form: base form of verb + -ing (e.g., studying, breaking)
Function: Always acts as a Noun.

Key Functions:

• Subject of a sentence: Smoking is prohibited here.
• Object of a verb: I enjoy swimming.
• Object of a preposition: He is fond of reading.
• Subject Complement: My favorite hobby is gardening.

2. Complex Infinitives and Gerunds

Advanced communication requires expressing timing and voice within verbals. These are known as complex forms.

2.1 Complex Infinitives

2.2 Complex Gerunds

3. Interaction with Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs, and Adjectives

The most challenging aspect of this unit is memorizing which words trigger an infinitive versus a gerund.

3.1 Verbs + Infinitives vs. Gerunds

Group A: Verbs followed ONLY by Infinitives

• List: Agree, decide, hope, learn, plan, promise, refuse, want, would like.
• Example: We decided to leave. (NOT: decided leaving)

Group B: Verbs followed ONLY by Gerunds

• List: Admit, avoid, consider, deny, enjoy, finish, keep (continue), mind, miss, practice, suggest.
• Example: He finished eating. (NOT: finished to eat)

Group C: Verbs followed by Object + Infinitive

• List: Advise, allow, convince, encourage, force, invite, remind, tell.
• Example: She encouraged him to apply for the job.

3.2 Verbs with Change in Meaning

Some verbs take both but the meaning changes drastically. This is a critical distinction in advanced English.

• Stop
  • Stop to do: Pause one action to do another (purpose). -> He stopped to smoke. (He ceased walking in order to smoke).
  • Stop doing: Quit an action entirely. -> He stopped smoking. (He is no longer a smoker).
• Remember
  • Remember to do: Don't forget a task (future). -> Remember to lock the door.
  • Remember doing: Recall a memory (past). -> I remember locking the door.
• Try
  • Try to do: Attempt with effort (might fail). -> I tried to lift the box.
  • Try doing: Experiment with a method. -> Try adding salt to the soup.

3.3 Adjectives and Nouns with Infinitives

• Adjectives: Generally followed by infinitives.
  • Pattern: It is + adj + infinitive.
  • Example: It is hard to say goodbye. / She is anxious to start.
• Nouns: Abstract nouns often take infinitives.
  • Example: Her ability to sing is amazing. / The decision to quit was tough.

4. Quantifiers: Countable and Uncountable

Quantifiers indicate the amount or quantity of a noun. The choice of quantifier depends strictly on whether the noun is Countable (can take a plural, e.g., apples, ideas) or Uncountable (mass nouns, e.g., water, information, rice).

4.1 The Spectrum of Quantity

4.2 Important Rules

1. Some vs. Any:

   • Some: Positive sentences. (I have some water.)
   • Any: Negative sentences and questions. (Do you have any water?)
   • Exception: Use "some" in questions when offering or requesting. (Would you like some coffee?)

2. Much vs. Many:

   • "Much" is rarely used in positive sentences in modern English. We prefer "a lot of."
   • Awkward: I have much money.
   • Natural: I have a lot of money. / I don't have much money.

5. Multipliers

Multipliers are words or phrases used to express how many times a quantity is increased.

5.1 Common Multipliers

• Twice (x2)
• Double (x2)
• Triple / Three times (x3)
• Quadruple / Four times (x4)

5.2 Syntactic Placement

Multipliers have very specific placement rules in a sentence. They generally come before determiners (articles, possessives, or other quantifiers).

Formula 1: Multiplier + Determiner + Noun

• Correct: I earn twice my previous salary.
• Incorrect: I earn my previous salary twice.
• Correct: She has three times the experience I have.

Formula 2: Multiplier + as + Adjective/Quantifier + as

• Correct: This house is twice as big as yours.
• Correct: He has three times as many books as the library.

5.3 Fractions and Percentages

Fractions and percentages act similarly to multipliers regarding agreement.

• Rule: The verb agrees with the noun closest to it (after the "of").
• Example (Countable): 50% of the students are absent.
• Example (Uncountable): 50% of the water is polluted.