Supplemental Notes to First Segments (grammar, etc.)

Please familiarize yourself with the definitions and examples presented below. This material is supplemental to the notes given in class on 24-25 February.

(1) An infinitive = to + verb (e.g., to run, to walk, to teach, to learn, to study, etc.).

(2) A split infinitive refers to an error in which something is placed between “to” and the verb (e.g., “to swiftly conclude,” “to not object,” etc.

(3) A present participle = verb + ing (running, walking, teaching, learning, studying, etc.). This is used in the progressive verb form (I am teaching, he is walking).

NB: The progressive verb form always involves some form of the verb “to be” – e.g., I am writing, you are reading, he is sitting, I was writing, you were reading, etc.

(4) A gerund = a present participle used as a noun. This is considered weak, and should not be used as the subject of a sentence.

(5) The past participle of a verb is used in all of the perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect, conditional perfect) and always involves some form of the verb “to have” – e.g., I have written, he has written, I had written, you will have written, he would have written, etc.

(6) The active voice is usually preferable. In this form, the subject acts upon the direct object – e.g., John drove the car. [The car is the direct object.]

(7) The passive voice is usually considered weaker. In this form, the progressive verb is used, and the implied object actually becomes the subject of the sentence – e.g., The car was driven by John. [The car is the subject.]

NB: The passive voice should be used when the “doer” of the action (i.e., implied subject) is either unknown or unnecessary – e.g., The ballots have been counted. It is also used if the action itself is more important that the person(s) doing it – e.g., The suspect was taken into custody.