In our previous two podcasts, we’ve explored how gerunds and infinitives are used when one verb follows another verb in English and also when this sometimes leads to a change in meaning.
In today’s podcast, you’ll learn some more advanced uses of gerunds and infinitives so that you can really take your English to the next level.

Book recommendation from Carmen: “I’d like to share with you that I’ve recently read a book that advanced English learners might find engaging. The title is ‘Becoming Mrs. Lewis’ by Patti Callahan. It’s the true story of the relationship between C.S. Lewis (the author of ´The Chronicles of Narnia’) and Joy Davidman. I love the way the writer explains feelings and emotions and describes cities, clothes and circumstances so vividly.”

If you haven’t listened to episodes 553 and 554, we suggest you do so before this one because, even if you’ve studied gerunds and infinitives before, it’s always a good idea to reinforce your knowledge and make sure you’re 100% in control of the basics.

Let’s look at how gerunds and infinitives can be used in more advanced English.

Perfect Gerunds and Infinitives
Perfect gerunds and infinitives are used to express actions completed before a certain point in time or to indicate reflection on a past action.
“Having finished the project, she went home.” (Perfect gerund – an action completed)
“Having eaten far too many biscuits, Reza and Craig put the lid on the biscuit tin and went back to podcasting.”
“She seems to have forgotten about the meeting.” (Perfect infinitive – reflection on a past action)
“I appear to have left my wallet at home.”

1. Perfect Gerunds (having + past participle)
The perfect gerund shows that the action happened before the main verb in the sentence.
We can often use perfect gerunds to express regret, gratitude, or acknowledgment about a past action:
He regretted having spoken so harshly..
They were proud of having won the competition.
The defendant still denies having taken part in the robbery.

After prepositions that require gerunds:
She was accused of having cheated during the test.
She is embarrassed about having trusted her very unfaithful ex-husband.
He was praised for having completed the project early.

Indicating a reason for an earlier result:
Having missed the bus, she decided to walk home.
Having failed the exam, he studied harder for the next one.
Having been defeated (PASSIVE) by the enemy, the army surrendered.

2. Perfect Infinitives ((to) have + past participle)
The perfect infinitive refers to actions completed before another action or time frame and is used to reflect on the past or imagine unreal situations.
Expressing past possibility or speculation:
She seems to have forgotten the meeting. (It appears she forgot.)
He must’ve eaten his dinner already – there’s a dirty plate in the sink. (is this example infinitive?)
They appear to have left already.
Indicating unrealized past intentions:
He hoped to have finished the report by now. (He hasn’t finished it yet.)
They intended to have launched the product earlier. (The launch was delayed.)
The government was to have fixed unemployment by now, but it hasn’t.

Expressing regret or criticism about the past:
She ought to have called earlier. (But she didn’t.)
You should have informed me about the delay.
They could’ve warned us that our hotel is in a dangerous neighbourhood!

In conditional sentences to describe imagined situations:
To have arrived earlier, you would need to have left at dawn. (You didn’t arrive early.)
To have received a discount, she should’ve bought the ticket before 8:00 pm yesterday.

3. Combination Patterns
Perfect Gerund and Infinitive Together Sometimes both forms appear in the same sentence:
He admitted to having failed to complete the task on time.
Having needed to drink lots of water to quench his thirst, he then had to pee.

…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
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In next week’s episode: Travel agencies and useful vocabulary for travel agents and tourists

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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’