The Infinitive and -ing Form in English

This page provides a detailed overview of the infinitive and -ing form in English, presenting their various forms and uses in both active and passive voices.

Infinitive Forms

The infinitive is presented in a table format, showing its different forms across tenses and voices.

Active Voice Infinitives

1. Present: (to) lose
2. Present Continuous: (to) be losing
3. Perfect: (to) have lost
4. Perfect Continuous: (to) have been losing

Passive Voice Infinitives

1. Present: (to) be lost
2. Perfect: (to) have been lost

Example: "He expects to stay here" demonstrates the use of the present infinitive.

Highlight: The perfect infinitive (to have + past participle) is used to express actions that happened before the main verb.

Example: "He claims to have won a lot of money" illustrates the use of the perfect infinitive.

-ing Form (Gerund)

The -ing form is presented in both active and passive voices:

Active Voice

1. Losing
2. Having lost

Passive Voice

1. Being lost
2. Having been lost

Vocabulary: The term "gerund" refers to the -ing form of a verb when it functions as a noun.

Usage Notes

• The infinitive and -ing forms are often used with verbs like seem, appear, believe, know, claim, expect, and modal verbs.
• The present continuous infinitive (to be + -ing) emphasizes an action happening now.
• The perfect continuous infinitive (to have been + -ing) is used for past actions, emphasizing their duration before another past event.

Example: "He's got a headache. He claims to have been working on the computer all morning." This sentence demonstrates the use of the perfect continuous infinitive to emphasize the duration of a past action.

This comprehensive guide provides a clear structure for understanding and using infinitives and -ing forms in English, essential for constructing complex sentences and expressing various aspects of actions.