You have already discovered infinitives and how they are used as verbs. But infinitives can be used in other ways as well.
- They can be used as nouns: To run would be cowardly. (subject of the sentence)
- They can be used as adverbs: We came here to thank you. (why we came)
- They can be used as adjectives: He is the man to trust. (modifies man)
Gerunds look like present participles: a verb plus an -ing ending (running, looking, buying, etc.). But gerunds are different from present participles. Present participles are used to form an action in progress or incomplete: I was running, she is speaking, they are helping. And as a participle they can be used as adjectives. But a gerund is used as a noun. Look at these examples:
| Present Participle | Gerund |
| She was baking cookies. | Baking takes a lot of time. |
| I am living alone. | I don’t like living alone. |
| We have been relaxing at home. | Relaxing will help relieve the tension. |
| He was spelling the new words. | Spelling is my best subject. |