Gerund Review part Two

USING GERUND AS SUBJECTS;

USING IT + INFINITIVE

(a) Riding with a drunk driver is dangerous.	A gerund is frequently used as the subject of a sentence, as in (a)
(b)   To ride with a drunk driver is dangerous. (c) It is dangerous to ride with a drunk driver.	Sometimes an infinitive is used as the subject of a sentence, as in (b). However, an infinitive is more commonly used with it, as in (c). The word it refers to and has the same meaning as the infinitive phrase at the end of the sentence.*

* Sometimes a gerund is used with it when the speaker is talking a bout a particular situation and wants to give the idea of ‘while’: Tom was drunk. It was dangerous riding with him. = we were in danger while we were riding with him.

INFINITIVE OF PURPOSE: IN ORDER TO

(a)                He came here in order to study English. (b)               He came here to study English.	In order to is used to express purpose. It answers question “why?” in order is often omitted, as in (b)
(c)       INCORRECT: He came here for studying English. (d)      INCORRECT: He came here for to study English. (e)       INCORRECT: He came here for study English.	To express purpose, use (in order) to not for, with a verb.*
(f)        I went to the store for buy some food. (g)      I went to the store for buy some food.	For is sometimes used to express purpose, but it is a preposition and is followed by a noun object, as in (f)

*Exception: The phrase be used for expresses the typical or general purpose of a thing. In this case, the preposition for is followed by a gerund: A saw is used for cutting wood. Also possible: A saw is used to cut wood.

        However, to talk about a particular thing and a particular situation, be used + an infinitive is used: A chain saw was used to cut down the old oak tree. (INCORRECT: A chain saw was used for cutting down the old oak tree.)

PASSIVE AND PAST FORMS OF INFINITIVES AND GERUND

PASSIVE INFINITIVE: to be + past participle (a) I didn’t expect to be invited to his party.	In (a): to be invited is passive. The understood “by phrase” is “by him”: I didn’t expected to be invited by him.
PASSIVE GERUND: being + past participle (b) I appreciated being invited to your home.	In (b): being invited is passive. The understood “by phrase” is “by you”: I appreciated to be invited by you.
PAST INFINITIVE: to have + past participle (c) The rain seems to have stopped.	The event expressed by a past infinitive or past gerund happened before the time of the main verb. In (c): The rain seems now to have stopped a few minutes ago.*
PAST GERUND: having + past participle (d) I appreciate having had the opportunity to meet the king.	In (d): I met the king yesterday. I appreciate now having had the opportunity to meet the king yesterday.*
PAST-PASSIVE INFINITIVE: to have been + past participle (e) Jane is fortunate to have been given a scholarship.	In (e) Jane was given a scholarship last month by her government. She is fortunate. Jane is fortunate now to have been given a scholarship last month by her government.
PAST-PASSIVE GERUND: having been + past participle (f) I appreciate having been told the news.	In (f): I was told the news yesterday by someone. I appreciate that. I appreciate now having been told the news yesterday by someone.

*If the main verb is past, the action of the past infinitive or gerund happened before a time in the past:

    The rain seems to have stopped. = The rain seemed at six  p.m. to have stopped before six p.m.

    I appreciate having had the opportunity to meet the king. = I met the king in 1985. I appreciated in 1985 having the opportunity to meet the king in 1985.

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