This final lesson on gerunds and infinitives addresses the most subtle remaining patterns — the ones that catch even advanced learners. The used to / be used to confusion is one of the most consequential errors in English because it reverses the meaning entirely. The negative forms, perfect gerunds, and passive gerunds extend the system into territory that is essential for formal and academic writing. After this session, teachers will have a complete and coherent picture of the gerund-infinitive system.
Before you start — think honestly about your own teaching and experience.
Look at the examples. Answer each question before reading the explanation — this is how your students will learn too.
Read these sentences. Both use 'used to' — but they mean very different things. Can you identify the difference?
'Used to + infinitive' = a past habit or state that no longer exists. It is a modal-like expression about the past. There is no present form of this meaning: you cannot say 'I use to work hard'. It is always past: 'I used to work hard' (but I don't any more). 'Be used to + gerund' = accustomed to — the person finds this normal or familiar because of experience. This is a completely different meaning. The 'to' here is a PREPOSITION — not an infinitive marker. So the verb after it must be -ing (as with all prepositions). 'She is used to living in cities' — 'to' = preposition → gerund follows. 'Get used to + gerund' = to become accustomed to — the process of adapting. 'He is getting used to waking up early' — adapting, in progress. The three forms: used to (past habit), be used to (state of being accustomed), get used to (process of becoming accustomed).'
Now look at these negative forms. Where exactly does 'not' go — and does it make a difference?
For the negative infinitive: 'not' comes BEFORE 'to'. 'Not to leave' — not 'to not leave'. 'Not to talk'. 'Not to attend'. In standard English, splitting the infinitive with 'not' ('to not leave') does occur in informal contexts but 'not to leave' is the traditional and still widely preferred form, especially in formal writing. For the negative gerund: 'not' comes BEFORE the -ing form. 'Not leaving'. 'Not talking'. 'Not attending'. The same rule: 'not' always comes before the whole verb unit — before 'to' in infinitives, before '-ing' in gerunds. This is simpler than it looks: not + to + infinitive; not + gerund.'
Now read these more complex gerund forms. What additional information do they add — about time or voice?
PERFECT GERUND (having + past participle): adds a sense of time — the gerund action happened BEFORE the action of the main verb. 'She was embarrassed about having made the mistake' — the mistake was made before the embarrassment. When the timing is obvious from context, the simple gerund is often enough ('embarrassed about making a mistake'). The perfect gerund is useful in formal writing when the time sequence needs to be made explicit. PASSIVE GERUND (being + past participle): adds passive meaning — the subject of the gerund is receiving the action, not performing it. 'Nobody likes being ignored' — people are ignored (passive), and they don't like it. 'She resents being asked' — she is asked (passive). The passive gerund is extremely common and appears wherever a person experiences something done to them.'
THE USED TO / BE USED TO SYSTEM — a complete comparison:
Used to + infinitive (past habit — no longer):
Be used to + gerund (accustomed — finds it normal):
Get used to + gerund (becoming accustomed — in progress):
GERALDS AND INFINITIVES IN FORMAL WRITING — patterns worth knowing:
Subject gerunds are common in formal and academic writing:
Does the sentence describe a past habit that no longer exists? → used to + infinitive. Does the sentence describe someone who finds something normal/familiar? → be/get used to + gerund (to = preposition here). Is 'to' followed by a verb — and is it 'be/get used to' or 'look forward to' or 'object to'? → that 'to' is a preposition → -ing follows. Is 'not' placed after 'to' in an infinitive? → wrong — not comes before 'to' (not to go, not not to go). Is the gerund expressing being received as an action? → passive gerund: being + past participle.
Choose the correct form. These involve the most subtle gerund and infinitive patterns — read each sentence carefully before choosing.
Each sentence contains an error. Write the correct version and explain why — then reveal the answer.
Use this sequence directly in class — guided discovery, no textbook needed. Tap each step to mark it done.
STEP 1 — THE USED TO PUZZLE (8 minutes): Write these three sentences on the board:
STEP 2 — USED TO DRILLS (5 minutes): Students produce three sentences about their teaching career using all three forms:
STEP 3 — NEGATIVE FORMS (5 minutes): Teach the negative placement rule as a single clear formula:
Negative infinitive: not + TO + base verb ('not to go', 'not to be late')
Negative gerund: not + -ING ('not going', 'not attending')
Drill with five sentences. Students position 'not' correctly. Correct any 'to not' in formal written examples.
STEP 4 — PASSIVE AND PERFECT GERUNDS (8 minutes): Teach through meaning, not form.
Passive gerund: 'Is the person doing the action or receiving it?' Receiving → being + past participle.
STEP 5 — THE FULL SYSTEM (5 minutes): Ask students to review everything they know about gerunds and infinitives — and organise it into a personal reference map. They work in pairs to produce their own summary with examples. This consolidates the full system and reveals which areas still feel uncertain. Share and address any remaining gaps.
Use directly in class — copy, adapt, or read aloud. No printing needed.
For each strategy, choose the option that best describes where you are now.
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