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Infinitive & Gerund Structures

Introduction

English grammar இல், infinitives (to + verb) மற்றும் gerunds (verb + ing) சில வாக்கியங்களில் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன; அவற்றை Passive Voice ஆகவும் மாற்ற முடியும். இந்த pattern, infinitive மற்றும் gerund கொண்ட வாக்கியங்களை meaning மற்றும் grammatical accuracy காப்பாற்றி சரியாக மாற்ற உதவுகிறது.

இந்த structure ஐ கற்றுக்கொள்வது formal writing, instructions, மற்றும் exams இல் வரும் advanced transformation questions புரிந்துகொள்ள மிகவும் முக்கியமானது.

Pattern: Infinitive & Gerund Structures

Pattern

ஒரு sentence இல் infinitive அல்லது gerund இருந்தால், passive form இல் infinitive க்கு “to be + past participle” மற்றும் gerund க்கு “being + past participle” பயன்படுத்தப்படும்.

  • Infinitive (to + verb): Active → Passive இல் to be + V₃.
  • Gerund (verb + ing): Active → Passive இல் being + V₃.

Transitive verbs (object எடுக்கும் verbs) மட்டுமே passive ஆக மாற்ற முடியும்.

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Active: I want to finish the work.
Convert into passive voice.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the structure.

    Verb phrase to finish → infinitive form.

  2. Step 2: Identify subject and object.

    Subject = I, Object = the work.

  3. Step 3: Convert infinitive structure to passive.

    to be + past participle பயன்படுத்தவும் → to be finished.

  4. Step 4: Form the passive sentence.

    → I want the work to be finished.

  5. Final Answer:

    I want the work to be finished.

  6. Quick Check:

    ‘to finish’ சரியாக ‘to be finished’ ஆக மாறியுள்ளது. ✅

Quick Variations

  • 1. Gerund structure: Active: I like people praising me. → Passive: I like being praised.
  • 2. Infinitive with modal: He needs to complete the task. → The task needs to be completed.
  • 3. Infinitive with causative: They expect him to deliver results. → He is expected to deliver results.

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Infinitive க்கு - to + verb ஐ to be + past participle ஆக மாற்றுங்கள்.
  • Step 2: Gerund க்கு - verb + ing ஐ being + past participle ஆக மாற்றுங்கள்.
  • Step 3: Tense மற்றும் subject-object relationship மாற்றாமல் வைத்திருங்கள்.

Summary

Summary

Infinitive & Gerund Structures pattern இல்:

  • Infinitives → to be + past participle ஆக மாறும்.
  • Gerunds → being + past participle ஆக மாறும்.
  • Subject-Object relationship active form போலவே இருக்கும்.
  • Transitive verbs மட்டுமே passive ஆக மாற்றப்படலாம்.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Convert into passive voice:<br>They decided to start the meeting early.
easy
A. They decided to be starting the meeting early.
B. They decided the meeting to start early.
C. They decided the meeting to be started early.
D. They decided that the meeting is started early.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the infinitive phrase.

    ‘to start’ is an infinitive.

  2. Step 2: Apply the infinitive passive rule.

    Infinitive passive = to be + past participle.

  3. Step 3: Replace accordingly.

    ‘to start’ → ‘to be started’.

  4. Step 4: Frame the complete passive sentence.

    → They decided the meeting to be started early.

  5. Final Answer:

    They decided the meeting to be started early. → Option C.

  6. Quick Check:

    Infinitive ‘to start’ correctly changed to ‘to be started’. ✅
Hint: Infinitive → replace ‘to + verb’ with ‘to be + past participle’.
Common Mistakes: Using ‘being’ instead of ‘to be’.
2. Change into passive voice:<br>I like people praising me.
easy
A. I like to be praised.
B. I like being praised.
C. I like praised by people.
D. I like being praise.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the structure.

    ‘praising’ is a gerund (verb + ing).

  2. Step 2: Apply gerund passive rule.

    Gerund passive = being + past participle.

  3. Step 3: Replace correctly.

    ‘praising me’ → ‘being praised’.

    4. Step 4: Form final sentence.

    → I like being praised.

  4. Final Answer:

    I like being praised. → Option B.

  5. Quick Check:

    Gerund passive uses ‘being + V₃’. ✅
Hint: Gerund active → ‘verb + ing’ → ‘being + past participle’.
Common Mistakes: Replacing gerund with infinitive (‘to be praised’) incorrectly.
3. Convert into passive voice:<br>She expects him to win the prize.
easy
A. He was expected to win the prize.
B. He is expected to be winning the prize.
C. He is expected to win the prize.
D. He expects to be won the prize.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify clause.

    ‘expects him to win’ contains an infinitive clause ‘to win’.

  2. Step 2: Make object the subject in passive.

    ‘him’ → he becomes the subject.

    3. Step 3: Apply passive pattern for verbs with infinitive clauses.

    ‘expects him to…’ → ‘he is expected to…’.

  3. Step 4: Form final sentence.

    → He is expected to win the prize.

  4. Final Answer:

    He is expected to win the prize. → Option C.

  5. Quick Check:

    Passive keeps the infinitive after ‘is expected’: ‘to win’. ✅
Hint: For ‘expect + object + to’, convert to ‘object + is/are expected + to…’.
Common Mistakes: Changing the infinitive (‘to win’) to a passive form unnecessarily.
4. Change into passive voice:<br>They want to build a hospital.
medium
A. They want a hospital to be built.
B. They want a hospital being built.
C. They want to be building a hospital.
D. They want a hospital built by them.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify infinitive phrase.

    ‘to build’ is an infinitive.

  2. Step 2: Apply infinitive passive rule.

    Infinitive passive = to be + past participle → ‘to be built’.

    3. Step 3: Place object as subject of infinitive passive.

    → They want a hospital to be built.

  3. Final Answer:

    They want a hospital to be built. → Option A.

  4. Quick Check:

    Infinitive converted correctly to ‘to be built’. ✅
Hint: Infinitive passive always uses ‘to be + V₃’.
Common Mistakes: Using ‘being built’ (gerund) instead of ‘to be built’ (infinitive).
5. Convert into passive voice:<br>I hate people shouting at me.
medium
A. I hate to be shouted at.
B. I hate being shouted at.
C. I hate shouted at by people.
D. I hate being shouted at by people.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify structure.

    ‘shouting at me’ is a gerund phrase (verb + ing).

  2. Step 2: Apply gerund passive rule.

    Gerund passive = being + past participle.

    3. Step 3: Retain agent if required for clarity.

    → ‘being shouted at by people’ (includes agent ‘by people’ for clarity).

  3. Step 4: Form final sentence.

    → I hate being shouted at by people.

  4. Final Answer:

    I hate being shouted at by people. → Option D.

  5. Quick Check:

    ‘being shouted at’ correctly shows gerund passive; ‘by people’ makes the agent explicit. ✅
Hint: Gerund passive → ‘being + past participle’; include ‘by…’ if agent is needed.
Common Mistakes: Using infinitive form (‘to be shouted at’) instead of gerund passive when sentence uses gerund.

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