Gerund vs. Infinitive

Here is a great parody song related to the topic. You have to sing it with Elvis' song, it's now or never:



It's noun, a gerund



It's noun, a gerund.

"Coming at night,"

A participle,

When it's used right.

"If dangling, teacher's irate."

Such howler, errant,

She'd remonstrate.



The verb "to saw," you

Can make run an errand.

With an "ing" sutured,

Becomes a gerund.

Used at the right time,

It's a linguistic lifeline.

"Sawing cuts clear,"

Noun's what you hear.

Now, class:



It's noun, a gerund.

"Consoling tide"--

It's adjectival,

"Tide"'s modified.

Progressive tenses can wait.

We're now on gerunds,

I'll demonstrate.



There's a verb, "billow"--

What sails do on the ocean,

On the masts above,

A swelling motion.

Add the i-n-g.

It acts nominatively.

Not a verb tense

When we use it this way.



It's noun, a gerund.

"Billowing rights

A ship that's starting

To sink from sight."

Does "starting" act as noun? No way!

It's not a gerund.

What should we say?





Now here is a great document that you can print and give to your students.



Gerund or Infinitive

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