Chapter 8 · English Grammar

Non-Finites: Infinitives, Gerunds & Participles

Intermediate ⏱ 35–45 minutes 🎓 Grade 7

What you will be able to do

  • Define non-finite verbs and name the three kinds
  • Use the infinitive (to + verb) as noun, adjective and adverb
  • Use the gerund (-ing) as a noun
  • Tell a gerund apart from a present participle
  • Avoid dangling and misplaced participles
Builds on / Related chapters
Grade 6 · Verbs (foundation) Grade 6 · Adverbs

1 Quick Introduction

English

A finite verb changes with the subject and tense (he plays, they played). A non-finite verb does not — it stays in one form and behaves like a noun, adjective or adverb. The three non-finites are the infinitive (to play), the gerund (playing), and the participle (playing / played).

हिन्दी

परिमित क्रिया (finite verb) कर्ता और काल के अनुसार बदलती है (he plays, they played)। अपरिमित क्रिया (non-finite verb) नहीं बदलती — यह एक ही रूप में रहकर संज्ञा, विशेषण या क्रिया-विशेषण की तरह काम करती है। तीन non-finites हैं: infinitive (to play), gerund (playing), और participle (playing / played)।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

You describe your plans:

You: I love reading, so I went to buy a new novel. Walking home, I met a friend who was excited about it.

Why this form? 'reading' is a gerund (noun – the thing I love), 'to buy' is an infinitive (showing purpose), and 'Walking home' is a participle phrase (describing how I met the friend). One sentence shows all three non-finites at work.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
Non-finiteFormActs as
Infinitiveto + verbnoun / adjective / adverb
Gerundverb + -ingnoun
Participle-ing (present) / -ed,-en (past)adjective
Gerund = -ing as a NOUN · Participle = -ing/-ed as an ADJECTIVE
Swimming is fun (gerund). The swimming pool is open (participle).

4 Infinitives & Gerunds

The infinitive is to + base verb. It can work as:

  • a noun: To err is human. (subject)
  • an adjective: She has work to do. (describes 'work')
  • an adverb of purpose: He went to buy milk. (why he went)

(The 'bare infinitive' — without 'to' — follows modals and some verbs: You must go. Let him play.)

The gerund is the -ing form used as a noun:

  • Swimming is good exercise. (subject)
  • I enjoy painting. (object)
  • She is fond of singing. (after a preposition)
Visual — Infinitives & Gerunds
INFINITIVE: to + verbHe went to buy milk.GERUND: verb + -ing (noun)I enjoy painting.
1
Worked Example
Infinitive or gerund? Reading improves the mind.
Solution

Gerund — 'Reading' is the -ing form used as the subject (a noun).

2
Worked Example
What does the infinitive do here: He stopped to rest.?
Solution

It is an adverb of purpose — it tells why he stopped (in order to rest).

Key Points

  • Infinitive (to + verb) acts as noun, adjective or adverb of purpose
  • Bare infinitive (no 'to') follows modals and 'let/make'
  • Gerund (-ing) acts as a noun (subject, object, after a preposition)

5 Participles & Dangling Participles

A participle is a verb form used as an adjective.

  • Present participle (-ing): the running water, a crying baby.
  • Past participle (-ed/-en): a broken vase, a written note.

A participle phrase can open a sentence and describe the subject: Having finished her work, she left.

Gerund vs participle: both end in -ing, but a gerund is a noun and a participle is an adjective:

  • The swimming pool (participle – describes pool)
  • I like swimming (gerund – the activity, a noun)

Dangling participle — a common error where the participle does not clearly describe the subject:

  • ❌ Walking down the road, the tree fell. (the tree wasn't walking!)
  • ✓ Walking down the road, I saw the tree fall.
1
Worked Example
Gerund or participle? The barking dog scared me.
Solution

Participle — 'barking' describes the noun 'dog' (it acts as an adjective).

2
Worked Example
Fix the dangling participle: Running fast, the bus was missed.
Solution

Running fast, I missed the bus. — the subject 'I' must be the one running.

Key Points

  • Participle = verb form used as an adjective (-ing / -ed)
  • Gerund (-ing) = noun; participle (-ing) = adjective
  • A dangling participle must clearly describe the subject

6 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Non-finitenot limited by subject/tenseअपरिमित
Infinitivethe 'to + verb' formमूल क्रिया रूप
Gerund-ing used as a nounक्रियावाचक संज्ञा
Participleverb form as adjectiveकृदंत
Danglingnot clearly attachedअसंबद्ध
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.In 'I enjoy painting', the word 'painting' is a:
Explanation: It is the object of 'enjoy' — a noun, so it is a gerund.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectI look forward to meet you.
✓ CorrectI look forward to meeting you.
After the preposition 'to' here, use a gerund.
✗ IncorrectShe is good in to dance.
✓ CorrectShe is good at dancing.
After a preposition, use the gerund (dancing).
✗ IncorrectWalking home, the rain started. (dangling)
✓ CorrectWalking home, I felt the rain start.
The participle must describe the subject (I).
✗ IncorrectHe wants going home.
✓ CorrectHe wants to go home.
'want' takes the infinitive.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Identify the word in brackets as infinitive, gerund or participle.
  1. (Swimming) is good for health.
  2. She has a book (to read).
  3. The (broken) glass was on the floor.
  4. He went out (to play).
  5. A (crying) child sat there.
Answer Key
  1. gerund
  2. infinitive
  3. participle (past)
  4. infinitive
  5. participle (present)
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Complete with the infinitive or gerund.
  1. I am fond of ______ (read).
  2. She wants ______ (become) a pilot.
  3. He is interested in ______ (learn) French.
  4. They decided ______ (leave) early.
  5. ______ (waste) time is foolish.
Answer Key
  1. reading
  2. to become
  3. learning
  4. to leave
  5. Wasting
Error Detection
  1. I look forward to meet you.
  2. She is good in painting.
  3. Running fast, the bus was missed by him.
  4. He enjoys to swim.
Answer Key
  1. I look forward to meeting you. (error: to meet)
  2. She is good at painting. (error: in)
  3. Running fast, he missed the bus. (error: dangling)
  4. He enjoys swimming. (error: to swim)
Sentence Correction
  1. Being tired, the work was left undone.
  2. I am used to walk daily.
  3. To watching films is my hobby.
Answer Key
  1. Being tired, she left the work undone.
  2. I am used to walking daily.
  3. Watching films is my hobby.
Rearrange the Words
  1. is / swimming / exercise / good
  2. to / he / milk / went / buy
  3. her / having / work / finished / she / left
Answer Key
  1. Swimming is good exercise.
  2. He went to buy milk.
  3. Having finished her work, she left.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. to reada. past participle
2. reading (I enjoy ~)b. infinitive
3. the broken vasec. present participle
4. the running waterd. gerund
Answer Key
to read → infinitivereading (I enjoy ~) → gerundthe broken vase → past participlethe running water → present participle

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.'Smoking is harmful.' — 'Smoking' is a:
Explanation: It is the subject (a noun) → gerund.
Q2.'The frightened cat ran.' — 'frightened' is a:
Explanation: It describes 'cat' → past participle (adjective).
Q3.Choose: 'She is fond of ___.'
Explanation: After a preposition, use the gerund.
Q4.'He went to school to study.' — 'to study' shows:
Explanation: Infinitive of purpose — why he went.
Q5.Which sentence has a dangling participle?
Explanation: The deer wasn't walking — the participle is dangling.

10 Reading Practice

Hoping to win the prize, Aman practised every day. He loved painting, and his goal was to enter the school exhibition. Encouraged by his teacher, he worked hard. On the final day, holding his finished painting, he felt proud. Winning was wonderful, but the joy of creating mattered more.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Find an infinitive used to show purpose.
  2. Find a gerund used as a subject.
  3. Identify a participle phrase describing Aman.
Answer Key
  1. to win (Hoping to win the prize) — it shows why he practised.
  2. Winning (Winning was wonderful) — the -ing form acting as a noun/subject.
  3. "Encouraged by his teacher" or "holding his finished painting" — participle phrases describing him.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • Reading is my favourite hobby.
  • She went to meet her friend.
  • The crying baby needed milk.
  • Having finished dinner, we watched a film.
  • I am interested in learning music.
Write five sentences using a gerund as a subject, an infinitive of purpose, a present participle, a past participle, and a participle phrase opener.
Example: Painting relaxes me. I went to buy brushes. The drying canvas smelled fresh. A finished picture hung on the wall. Smiling proudly, I showed it to Mum.

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Identify the function: 'There is no use crying over spilt milk.'
Explanation: 'crying' is a gerund (a noun after 'use of').
Q2.Fix the sentence: 'Having eaten lunch, the dishes were washed.'
Explanation: The doer of 'having eaten' must be the subject ('we').
Q3.Choose the correct form: 'I remember ___ him last year.'
Explanation: 'remember + gerund' = recall a past event ('meeting him').

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
           NON-FINITES
                |
   +------------+------------+
   |            |            |
 INFINITIVE   GERUND     PARTICIPLE
 to + verb    -ing as    -ing/-ed as
 noun/adj/    a NOUN     ADJECTIVE
 adverb(why)  subj/obj/  present/past
 bare inf.    after prep dangling=error

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • Non-finite verbs don't change with subject/tense
  • Infinitive (to + verb): noun, adjective, or adverb of purpose
  • Gerund (-ing): a noun (subject, object, after a preposition)
  • Participle (-ing/-ed): an adjective
  • A dangling participle must clearly describe the subject