to stop + Gerund/Infinitiv. In English we often use –ing forms as nouns, for example, driving, skating, cleaning. ● I have my mom wash my laundry for me. Secondary means that it happens prior to or right after the main action. Italiano. If you use a past gerund, attach it to avendo or essendo. In Italian the gerund is not used in this way. True or False? How to Improve Your Italian with 5 Useful Tips. Gerunds and infinitives are both important in English grammar. At the same time we will conduct an analysis of the Gerund in Italian vs Infinitive in order to tell you when to use the Infinitive instead of the Gerund. The main verb determines which form is used. While English has a gerund, it does not correspond in its uses to the Italian gerundio. In English, we use the verbs to have, to make and to let to convey this external agency. See the second and fourth examples above. If I say in Italian: “Ho visto Maria tornando da scuola” (“I have seen Maria coming back from School”), it is clear that “I” was coming back from School, not Maria. Beispiel. will have the same type of stem changes in the gerund. It is very useful to study them and practice using them correctly. ✽ Use the past gerund when the secondary or auxiliary action occurred in the past before the main (past) action, as in the last two examples above. C’è una vera ragione per vincere il concorso. In Italian, you use the verbs fare and lasciare. Giorgio è bravo a dare fastidio alle persone. FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATION WRITE TO In the sentence above, he stopped in order to rest for a few minutes. For example: After like you can put either a gerund OR an infinitive. C’è la possibilità di prendere un raffreddore in questi giorni. Questo è un nuovo modo di costruire un muro. The emphasis is on the fact that this action is unfolding (as opposed to an action that occurs regularly or that is completed). Having forgotten my wallet, I had to ask my housemate for money. Finally there are many situations in which English uses Gerund while Italian uses the Infinitive. There is an additional agent in these cases (specified or not), which causes or allows a person to act in a certain way or to perform another action. For a reminder of which verbs go with avere and essere and for a list of irregular past participles, look here. Ho lasciato il mio amico scegliere il ristorante. Melayu. Non posso venire ora perchè sto parlando con mia sorella. These cases all call for the use of the infinitive in Italian. The gerund (il gerundio) is one more important verb form. She has the opportunity of changing her job. It is formed in Italian by taking the infinitive of the verb, dropping the -are, -ere, or -ire and adding -ando or -endo to the remaining verb stem. It often provides background or additional information like the reason for the action, the means by which the action is carried out, or the manner in which it is carried out. Dopo essermi alzato, sono uscito subito di casa senza fare colazione. Sono stati accusati di irrompere in un negozio. and then add the gerund. For more information on Prepositions after verbs, see Prepositions after verbs. In Italian you can’t use the gerund as a noun, instead, you should you the infinitive: mangiare sano è importante (to eat healthily, is important) ITALIAN GERUND AND THE PRONOUNS In the present continuous form, the pronouns can be placed before the verb or joined onto the end of the verb. In Italian it refers always to the subject of the sentence, in English this is not necessary. I can think of no cases where an Italian gerund would be used the same as an English gerund (i.e. Sono stufo di essere trattato come un bambino. Gerund in Italian vs Infinitive First of all we can say that the Gerund is used, like in English, for making the Past and the Present Continuous. ● I got my hair cut. ✽ Instead of using a past gerund, you can use a past infinitive after dopo. Beispiel. Das Verb to stop beschreibt eine abgebrochene Handlung, wenn es zusammen mit dem Gerund steht. Gerunds versus Infinitives – Know the right use of them in a sentence. Marco has the idea of buying a new house. C’è il rischio di scavare troppo in profondità. hope to do) or a gerund (ex. Learn Italian with ITALIAN VIRTUAL SCHOOL, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Ha il problema di nuotare troppo lentamente. Talking about it, I’m starting to feel better. (He remembered the fax and sent it.) Ho un dubbio sul comprare questo nuovo software. a) to smoke b) smoke c) smoking d) to smoking 9) When "stop" is used with an infinitive, the infinitive takes on the meaning of "in order to." La possibilità di aggiustare questa macchina è bassa. The infinitive is also used after verbs of perception, like vedere and sentire. What are Infinitives? × Instead, the second verb you must change to a gerund or infinitive. Having gotten up late, I didn’t have time to have breakfast. Only infinitives are used after certain verbs followed by nouns or pronouns referring to a person.