Grammar: ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: Mastery (C1) - Lesson 4: Complex Gerund & Infinitive Structures (e.g., with prepositions, after adjectives)

⚙️ C1 Lesson 4: Complex Gerund & Infinitive Structures

At this mastery level, we move beyond basic verb patterns. While you know that some verbs are followed by a gerund¹ and others by an infinitive², today we will master how these forms are used in more complex structures³, particularly after adjectives and prepositions. This will add significant flexibility and sophistication to your writing.

Pattern 1: Adjective + to-infinitive

We often use an infinitive after an adjective to give a reason for the feeling or quality described.

Structure: Subject + be + Adjective + (for someone) + to-infinitive

• "I was happy to see you at the party." (The infinitive explains why I was happy.)
• "This grammar point is difficult to understand." (The infinitive explains the difficulty.)
• "It is important for the government to listen to its people." (Using 'for + object' specifies who should do the action.)

Pattern 2: Preposition + Gerund (Common Collocations)

You know that a verb following a preposition must be a gerund. At the C1 level, it's important to master common collocations⁴ (adjective + preposition + gerund).

interested in + -ing: "She is interested in applying for the scholarship."

successful in + -ing: "They were successful in getting the new contract."

accused of + -ing: "The man was accused of stealing the ancient artifact."

apologize for + -ing: "He apologized for making a mistake."

Pattern 3: Noun + to-infinitive

An infinitive is often used to modify⁵ a noun, explaining its purpose, goal, or function.

"His decision to move to Battambang was a good one."

"Her ability to speak four languages is impressive."

"It was a brilliant plan to save the company."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Form

Complete the sentences with the correct gerund or infinitive form.

1. It is necessary for all employees _______ (attend) the safety training.
   Answer: to attend
2. She insisted on _______ (pay) for the meal, even though I offered.
   Answer: paying (The verb follows the preposition 'on'.)
3. His failure _______ (follow) the instructions resulted in the project's delay.
   Answer: to follow (The infinitive modifies the noun 'failure'.)
4. I was disappointed _______ (not be) selected for the team.
   Answer: not to be (The negative infinitive follows the adjective 'disappointed'.)
5. He is famous for _______ (write) some of Cambodia's most beloved songs.
   Answer: writing (The verb follows the preposition 'for'.)

📝 Homework: Create Complex Sentences

Write one original sentence for each of the following prompts, using the target structure.

1. Use the pattern 'adjective + to-infinitive' to describe a personal quality.
   (Example: I am always eager to learn new things.)
   _________________________________________
2. Use the pattern 'preposition + gerund' to describe something you did recently.
   (Example: I apologized to my friend for forgetting her birthday.)
   _________________________________________
3. Use the pattern 'noun + to-infinitive' to describe a past decision.
   (Example: My decision to study abroad was the best choice I ever made.)
   _________________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Gerund: (Noun) - កិរិយានាម (kĕ'rĭ'yaa'néam) - A verb form which functions as a noun, ending in "-ing". ↩
2. Infinitive: (Noun) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទដើម (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp daem) - The basic form of a verb, usually with 'to'. ↩
3. Structure: (Noun) - រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ (rô'châ'na'sâm'poan) - The way in which the parts of a system or object are arranged. ↩
4. Collocation: (Noun) - ឃ្លា​ដែល​ប្រើ​ជាមួយ​គ្នា (khlea dael prae chiə'muəy'knea) - A group of two or more words that are almost always used together (e.g., 'interested in'). ↩
5. Modify: (Verb) - កែប្រែ (kae'prae) - In grammar, to add information to another word to change its meaning. ↩