Infinitive Verbs - Part 2

An infinitive verb is the plain form of a verb that is not conjugated and often has the word "to" before it. It is good to know the plain or base form of a verb, since that is the form that is typically the main listing for the word in a dictionary. You may hear the infinitive "to sit" conjugated as "sat" or "sitting," but the form of the word you will need if you care to look it up is the infinitive "sit." In standard usage, the infinitive will always be preceded by another verb.

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The Japanese tradition is to sit on the stool in front of the faucets

Caption 22, An Apartment - In Japan

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In the example above, the infinitive is "to sit." Infinitives preceded by "to" are called "full infinitives."

You can sit right here. -Thank you.

Caption 5, Jessica and Liz - In a Restaurant

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In this example, the infinitive is the verb "sit." An infinitive without the "to" is called a "bare infinitive."

It's really exciting to know that I'm setting a good example for young people.

Caption 26, peta2 Interviews - Vegan Surfer Tia Blanco

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You did well to tell me. We must know everything.

Caption 35, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four - BBC TV Movie

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In the first example above, you see the full infinitive "to know," and in the second example the bare infinitive "know."

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Further Learning
Read this in-depth article on infinitive verbs, then search for examples on Yabla English to see them used in a real-world context. 

A gerund is a noun that has been formed by adding the suffix -ing to a verb. The gerund will often function as a verb within the clause, but in the context of the complete sentence forms a subject. Progressive active participle verbs also end in -ing, but retain verb form. Let's learn to tell the difference between a gerund (noun) and a progressive active participle (verb).

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But believing ends in seeing

Caption 44, Katie Melua - A Happy Place

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You will be seeing them again.

Caption 37, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four - BBC TV Movie

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In the first example, "seeing" and "believing" are gerund nouns. Try placing the definite article "the" before the words and see if the sentence still makes sense: "But the believing ends in the seeing." The fact that it works grammatically shows that both "seeing" and "believing" are gerunds. But in the second example, "You will be the seeing them again" would be grammatically incorrect, because in this case "seeing" is a verb. 

I'd like your opinion about fast driving on the highway.

Caption 21, James Dean - Interview & Famous Drive Safely Spot

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I'm in a truck, we're driving through the bush.

Caption 23, Kiting For Conservation - Kenya

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In the first example, "the fast driving" works, so it is a gerund noun. In the second example, "we're the driving..." does not work grammatically, so it's a verb.

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Further Learning
Try taking examples of some English verbs and adding -ing to the end of them to make the gerund nouns, then search for examples on Yabla English to see them used in a real-world context. 

Even grammar can be "moody," but grammatical moods express the attitude of what a person is writing or saying. The three grammatical moods commonly used in English are the indicative, imperative, and subjunctive moods.

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The indicative (or realis) mood is used to make a statement of fact:
 

You cannot outlast us and we will defeat you.

Caption 19, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day - Obama's Speech

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You will learn the true nature of the society we live in.

Caption 41, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four - BBC TV Movie

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The imperative mood is for commands or requests:
 

Step away from your vehicle and put your hands on your head.

Captions 10-11, Movie Trailers - Men In Black

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All emergency service cars, please come to Vesey and West [Streets]!

Caption 4, World Trade Center - Story on the 2006 Film

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The subjunctive mood is used to express a a wish, desire, or something that has not yet happened. 
 

I'd like to have something interesting to do and I'd like to have nothing to do.

Caption 54, Leonard Nimoy - Talking about Mr. Spock

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I would like to explain how we talk about the time in English.

Caption 3, Lydia Explains - The Clock

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Further Learning
Read more about grammatical moods and find examples on Yabla English to see them used in a real-world context.