1. Gerunds (-ing Form): Verbs, Prepositions & Subjects
١. صيغة اسم الفاعل/المصدر (Gerund -ing): بعد أفعال محددة، وحروف الجر، ومبتدأ الجملة
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb functioning as a noun. It is used as the subject of a sentence, after all prepositions (in, on, at, about, without, before, after), and after a specific family of verbs.
Verbs Followed ONLY by Gerunds (-ing)
• enjoy, avoid, suggest, consider, mind, finish, admit, deny, practice, recommend, risk, imagine, keep (on), give up.
• Cannot take 'to + verb' under standard English grammar.
Subject + Verb + [Verb-ing] + Object
- We enjoy developing sustainable energy solutions.
- Engineers must avoid making assumptions during structural testing.
- Would you mind resetting the network router?
Gerunds After Prepositions & Fixed Prepositional Phrases
Whenever a verb directly follows a preposition (in, of, at, without, for, before, after, by, interested in, good at, look forward to), it MUST take the -ing form.
Preposition + [Verb-ing]
- She succeeded by analyzing real-time sensor data.
- We look forward to testing the new robotic prototype.
- Never perform electrical repairs without disconnecting the main power.
Gerund as the Sentence Subject
Using an -ing verb at the beginning of a clause as a singular noun concept.
[Verb-ing] + Singular Verb + Complement
- Inventing innovative medical tools requires years of empirical research.
- Troubleshooting network glitches is a crucial engineering skill.
2. Infinitives (to + base): Verbs, Adjectives & Purpose
٢. صيغة المصدر المؤول (to + Verb): بعد أفعال معينة، والصفات، ولبيان الغرض والهدف
The infinitive is 'to + base verb'. It is used to express intention, purpose, after evaluative adjectives, and after verbs indicating decisions, promises, or future expectations.
Verbs Followed ONLY by Infinitives (to + base)
• decide, hope, plan, promise, refuse, offer, agree, manage, afford, threaten, want, would like, seem, appear, choose, hesitate, fail.
Subject + Verb + to + [Base Verb]
- The tech startup decided to patent their battery algorithm.
- They managed to repair the server before the morning briefing.
- We cannot afford to purchase obsolete equipment.
Infinitive of Purpose (in order to / so as to)
Explains *why* an action was performed. Answers the question 'For what reason?'.
Main Clause + to + [Base Verb] (Purpose)
- He rebooted the workstation to clear temporary memory cache.
- The scientists met to discuss the clinical trial results.
Infinitives After Adjectives & Impersonal 'It is'
Used after descriptive adjectives (easy, difficult, important, impossible, dangerous, necessary).
It is + Adjective + to + [Base Verb]
- It is vital to wear protective goggles inside the chemistry lab.
- This diagnostic software is easy to operate.
3. Dual Verbs: Meaning Shift (Gerund vs Infinitive)
٣. أفعال تقبل الصيغتين مع اختلاف جذري في المعنى (stop, remember, forget, try)
Certain pivotal verbs take both gerunds and infinitives, but the meaning changes completely depending on which form you choose.
STOP: Interruption vs Cessation
• stop + to do = pause or interrupt an action in order to do something else.
• stop + doing = permanently or temporarily quit/terminate an activity.
stop to do (purpose) VS stop doing (quit activity)
- The technician stopped to check the pressure valve. (He paused his work in order to check)
- The machine stopped vibrating after we tightened the bolts. (The vibration ceased completely)
REMEMBER & FORGET: Duty vs Memory
• remember/forget + to do = remember/forget a duty, obligation, or task beforehand.
• remember/forget + doing = recall/forget a past memory or lived experience.
remember to do (task) VS remember doing (past memory)
- Please remember to lock the laboratory door. (Obligation / Duty)
- I remember visiting the science museum when I was seven. (Past Memory)
- He forgot to plug in the charger. (Failed to perform task)
- I will never forget watching the space rocket launch live. (Unforgettable memory)
TRY: Effort vs Experiment
• try + to do = make a difficult attempt or strenuous effort to achieve something.
• try + doing = test a method, suggestion, or experiment to see if it works.
try to do (hard effort) VS try doing (experiment/method)
- He tried to lift the heavy industrial motor by himself. (Physical struggle)
- If your laptop freezes, try restarting it in safe mode. (Experimenting with a solution)
4. Question Tags: Confirmation & Social Agreement
٤. الأسئلة المذيلة (Question Tags): طلب التأكيد والموافقة في المحادثة
Question tags are mini-questions placed at the end of statements to verify information or check agreement. In English, polarity reverses: Positive statement ➔ Negative tag; Negative statement ➔ Positive tag.
Standard Polarity Rule & Auxiliary Matching
• Statement (+), Tag (-) ➔ You are an engineer, aren't you?
• Statement (-), Tag (+) ➔ They haven't finished the trial, have they?
• If no auxiliary is present, use do/does/did: You work at ARAMCO, don't you? / He patented the design, didn't he?
Statement + , + Auxiliary + (not) + Subject Pronoun?
- The sensor detected the leak, didn't it?
- Solar power isn't expensive to maintain, is it?
- You can operate this 3D printer, can't you?
Special & Irregular Question Tags
• I am... ➔ aren't I? (I am late, aren't I?)
• Let's... ➔ shall we? (Let's review the blueprints, shall we?)
• Imperatives (Orders/Requests) ➔ will you? / won't you? (Turn on the scanner, will you? / Don't touch the cable, will you?)
• Indefinite Pronouns (someone, everyone, nobody) ➔ they (Everyone agrees, don't they? / Nobody called, did they?)
• Negative words (never, rarely, hardly, nothing) take POSITIVE tags ➔ Nothing went wrong, did it?
Irregular Patterns Mastered Through Direct Contrast
- I'm responsible for safety inspections, aren't I?
- Let's test the circuit board, shall we?
- Close the security hatch, will you?
- Nobody has complained about the glitch, have they?
- You never open unknown email attachments, do you?
5. Saudi Learner Pitfalls & Contrastive Diagnostics
٥. أخطاء شائعة لدى المتعلمين العرب وتصحيحها التشخيصي
Arabic speakers often transfer Arabic clausal structures ('أنْ' + فعل) and direct translation of 'أليس كذلك؟' into incorrect English patterns.
Pitfall 1: Using infinitive after verbs of enjoyment or prepositions
❌ Incorrect: *I enjoy to design websites.* / *He is interested in to learn robotics.*
✅ Correct: I enjoy designing websites. / He is interested in learning robotics.
enjoy + V-ing | preposition + V-ing
- Do you mind assisting me? (NOT *mind to assist*)
- She succeeded in fixing the sensor. (NOT *in to fix*)
Pitfall 2: Using static 'isn't it?' for all question tags
Arabic 'أليس كذلك؟' is universal, but English question tags must strictly match the auxiliary and subject of the statement.
❌ *You like robotics, isn't it?* ➔ ✅ You like robotics, don't you?
- They arrived early, didn't they? (NOT *isn't it?*)
- We will present tomorrow, won't we? (NOT *isn't it?*)