A. Read the following passage and look at the underlined words:

To walk early in the morning is good for health. One can get rid of various diseases by walking regularly. It is better to walk on the riverside or in the garden. The fresh air and the green plants are good for body and mind. Many people walk early in the morning to keep body and mind healthy and fresh.

[Note: These are infinitives. An infinitive is the base form of a verb but it has different functions.]

Look at the following examples and see how differently an infinitive functions:

a) To jump is fun. (noun; subject of the verb is)
b) I like to swim. (noun; direct object of the verb like)
c) She had a suggestion to offer. (adjective modifying suggestion)
d) He called to warn her. (adverb modifying the verb called)
e) We decided to travel there at night. (noun; object after a transitive verb)

Write more examples of infinitives.

[Note: the examples above are of infinitives with 'to']

Examples of infinitives without 'to':

1. They'll meet you tomorrow. (modal + infinitive)
2. Don't make us laugh.
3. She let her son take his own decision.
4. Let me conclude my opinion.

[Note: Infinitives without 'to' are called 'bare infinitives' also.]

B. Read the passage below and identify 'to+ infinitives' and 'bare infinitives':

A crow was thirsty. He was flying around to find water. The day was very hot. Water was not available anywhere. Suddenly the crow found a pitcher. He thought there might be water in the pitcher. But the water was at the bottom of the pitcher. The crow was wondering how to drink the water. As he began to look around, he saw some pebbles lying on the ground nearby. Seeing this, he thought of a way to use the pebbles to reach the water at the bottom of the pitcher. Then the crow picked up the pebbles with his beak and dropped them in the pitcher to make the water rise. Soon the water level was high enough for the crow to reach. Thus he was able to drink enough water to quench his thirst.

C. Write some sentences with infinitives with/without 'to'.

A. Read the following passage and look at the underlined words:

Swimming is a good exercise. It is also a very useful skill for safety. It is an interesting sport. One must practice swimming to enjoy the sport. One should not get down into water immediately after eating. There is a chance of drowning if you get down in water after eating. Floating on the water is an enjoyable game. It is also an important life saving skill. This skill may save us from drowning. It is necessary to learn swimming by taking help of a trainer.

Note. These are gerunds. A gerund is the present participle form of a verb (verb+ ing) which works like a noun.

B. Read the passage below and underline the gerunds:

Travelling is a good practice to acquire knowledge and experience. Visiting many places, we can be familiar with different geographical and cultural features. Those who travel for sight-seeing prefer to visit places which are unusual to them. They may go hiking or sailing. In our country the winter season is best for travelling. Driving long in this season is comfortable and safe.

Look at the following sentences:

• Eating much is harmful.
• Driving too fast is dangerous.
• Walking is a good exercise for everybody.
• Her knitting is beautiful. In these sentences, the gerund is the subject.

A gerund can be used as the object in the sentence.

For example:

• I didn't mind joining the music competition.
• She likes sleeping in the afternoon.
• I enjoy reading and writing.
• He finished playing at 9 o'clock.

Gerund after preposition:

1. I have no objection to walking.
2. She is fond of shopping.

C. Make sentences with the following gerunds:

Dancing (as subject), praying (after a preposition), watching (as object), shocking (as object), meeting (as subject), sleeping (after a preposition), fasting (as subject), surfing (as subject), typing (as object), closing (after a preposition).

A. Read the following passage and look at the underlined words in different positions:

The dancing peacock displayed his feathers. The people who gathered there enjoyed the show. Peacocks are found displaying feathers when it rains. So it is a rare opportunity to see a peacock dancing and displaying feathers. Peacocks are found dancing in the open space in front of the are charmed by their dancing.

Note. These are participles. A participle is a verb that ends in -ing (present participle) or -ed, -d, -t, -en, -n (past participle). Participles may function as adjectives describing or modifying nouns. See more examples:

The talking parrots entertained the crowd. (present participle)

The wrecked sailboat washed up on shore. (past participle)

Note. But participles have another function. When used with helping verbs such as to be and to have, they are action verbs and form several verb tenses.

Example

1. She is thinking of the children.
2. The conference room had been cleaned before they arrived.
3. The job has been done successfully.

Write more sentences like these.

B. 1. Fill in the gaps with the right form of verbs:

a. Eliza recommended ________ (eat) in a low cost restaurant while we're in Hong Kong.

b. I demand _______ (talk) to the manager of the hotel immediately.

c. My grandmother recalled _________ (see) a plane for the very first time when she was six.

d. She claims _______ (be) related to George Washington, but I don't believe her.

e. This broken bicycle needs __________ (fix) before someone can ride it.

f. I can't think of __________ (drive) such a big car when gas prices are so high, not to mention what it does to the environment.

g. She managed __________ (communicate) with them, even though she didn't speak their language.

h. Don't hesitate _________ (ask) for help if you don't understand the directions.

i. The course lasts ten days and involves ___________ (hike) more than fifty miles through rugged mountainous terrain.

j. She refused __________ (speak) to me after our fight.

What kind of verbs are these?

2. Complete with right form of verbs:

a. I began (learn) French when I was a young boy.
b. We thanked him for (come) to the party.
c. He keeps (lie) to everybody.
d. Would you mind (open) the window please?
e. John has at last given up (smoke).
f. Mary doesn't like (be) late for school.
g. (Read) novels is his favourite pastime.
h. Don't start (sing) until you are asked to.
i. Do you remember (write) to him?
j. Jack can't stand (ride) a bus.

What kind of verbs are these? __________________

3. Write the past participles of the following verbs. An example is given for you:

4. Fill in the gaps with the right form of verb:

a) This story is (go) to be published in the magazine.

b) It's ____________ outside (rain).

c) I found the girl in the garden _________ (sleep) alone.

d) The thief was _______ (catch) by the people.

e) Mr. Mamun is in his living room __________ (watch) television.

f) This news will be _________ (publish) in The Daily Star.