Level 1 — Foundation · Clauses & the First Paragraph
Task 14: Writing With Gerunds and Infinitives
Write your own sentences using a gerund as a subject, a verb + infinitive pattern, and a preposition + gerund — the exact three shapes Lesson 14 taught you to recognise.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this task, you should be able to:
- Write a sentence using a gerund phrase as the subject
- Write a sentence using a verb + infinitive pattern to state a goal
- Write a sentence using preposition + gerund (by/without/after + V-ing) to state a method
Introduction
Lesson 14 taught you to look at reading, to understand, and by practicing and instantly know what job each one is doing. Producing these shapes yourself is the next step — and it's where the gerund-versus-infinitive choice stops being abstract and starts being a decision you make, sentence by sentence.
The Rule, for Writing
Core Concept
Three shapes to build on purpose: a gerund (verb+ing) standing as your subject when you're naming an activity itself; a verb + infinitive (want to, decide to, need to) when you're completing a verb's meaning or stating a goal; and preposition + gerund (by, without, after + V-ing) when you're naming a method. Never put a bare base verb after a preposition — that slot always takes the -ing form.
Example
Gerund as subject: Checking the manifest twice prevents costly loading errors. Verb + infinitive: The clerk needs to confirm the container count before departure. Preposition + gerund: You can avoid delays by confirming the manifest early.
Your Turn
Your Turn
Write three separate sentences about a task you do regularly (at work, at home, or while studying): one using a gerund phrase as the subject, one using a verb + infinitive pattern, and one using "by" or "without" + a gerund to describe a method.
Vocabulary in Context
manifestnountechnical
an official list of a ship's or aircraft's cargo (মালপত্রের তালিকা)
Often with cargo manifest, submit a manifest, amend the manifest
“The captain must submit the cargo manifest to customs before arrival.”
confirmverbneutral
to state that something is definitely true or correct (নিশ্চিত করা)
Often with confirm receipt, confirm the booking, confirm that
“Please confirm that the container has been released.”
delaynounneutral
a period of time by which something is made later than expected (বিলম্ব)
Often with cause a delay, unavoidable delay, delay in delivery
“A delay in customs clearance pushed delivery back by two days.”
Model Answer
Show a model answer
Gerund as subject: Reviewing my notes every evening helps me remember new vocabulary. Verb + infinitive: I decided to study for thirty minutes every morning before work. Preposition + gerund: I improved my speaking without translating a single sentence into Bangla.
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Does your gerund sentence use the -ing form as the subject, not as part of a continuous verb?
- Does your verb + infinitive sentence use "to + base verb," not "to + -ing"?
- Does the word right after "by" or "without" take the -ing form, never the base verb?
- Did you write all three sentences directly in English, without translating from Bangla first?
Next: Writing 15 — Compressing a Clause Into a Participle Phrase: turning two full sentences into one compact sentence, the exact move Lesson 15 taught you to notice.