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
- Present: (to) lose
- Present Continuous: (to) be losing
- Perfect: (to) have lost
- Perfect Continuous: (to) have been losing
Passive Voice Infinitives
- Present: (to) be lost
- 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
- Losing
- Having lost
Passive Voice
- Being lost
- 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.
