gerunds and infinitives

Tara B · Post by **Tara B** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:17 pm

I am stumped!

If you use a verb as a gerund, is it still a verb?

What about an infinitive in an interchangeable position? I have a harder time classifying infinitives as nouns, but in many cases they seem to do the same job.

How many verbs are in these sentences?
a) I like walking.
b) I like to walk.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:41 pm

Don't get too tangled up in the terminology ("classifying infinitives as nouns"!?), all that's important is that the verb 'like' is transitive (and that is the only finite verb in each of your sentences). I don't think you can exactly "use a verb as gerund", a form is either a verb ('I am walking' - active participle) or a gerund ('I like walking') depending on its grammatical role/function in a sentence. BTW, 'I like to walk' sounds a little stramge and "incomplete".

lolwhites · Post by **lolwhites** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:13 am

Do these threads help at all?

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... ght=#13681

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... ight=#9994

ssean · Post by **ssean** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:06 am

If you use a verb as a noun, doesn't it become a gerund, and another term for a gerund is a verbal noun.

fluffyhamster · Post by **fluffyhamster** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 1:26 am

Hmm...my previous post could probably have been more helpful.

I find the sort of explanation at the following link helpful when trying to figure out how many "verbs" there are in a complex verb phrase:
http://folk.uio.no/hhasselg/terms.html#main_clause

From the 'main clause' entry, go on to the linked 'verb phrase' one.

I've mentioned the above Glossary of grammatical terms before:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4794#14794

This is kind of related and of potential interest:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4694#14694