gerund or infinitive

1. {
Gerund, Infinitive
Advanced grammar

2. What is a Gerund?
A gerund is a noun made from a verb. To make a gerund, you add
"-ing" to the verb.
For example:
In the sentence "I swim every day", the word "swim" is a verb.
In the sentence "I like swimming", the word "swimming" is a noun.
Therefore, "swimming" is a gerund.
Second example:
In the sentence "She reads several books a week", the word "read" is a
verb.
In the sentence "Reading is important", the word "reading" is a noun.
Therefore, "reading" is a gerund.

3. More examples of gerunds: buying, fishing, running,
watching, telling, and so forth.
The word "gerund" actually comes from the Latin word gerere,
which means "do".
You could say this actually makes sense: the gerund describes
an action, something you do.
Gerunds are often used when actions are real or completed.
Examples:
(Note how the main underlined verb relates to real or completed
actions.)
She stopped smoking.
I finished doing my homework.
They keep on fighting.
We discussed moving to Florida.
You recommended waiting until tomorrow.
He recalled falling asleep on the couch.
She practices playing those drums all the time.

4. What is an Infinitive?
An infinitive is the basic form of the verb + "to".
Example Sentences:
"I want to swim."
"They asked us to leave."
The word "infinitive" comes form the Latin word infinitus, from in- (not)
and finitus (finished, limited).
You could say this actually makes sense: the infinitive describes an action,
but unlike a regular verb, it is not limited in any way.
The regular verb is limited to the tense and subject. For example, in the
sentence "Diana danced" the action is limited to Diana and to the past.
However, the infinitive is unlimited. In the sentence "To dance is easy", the
action is not limited to any subject or to any time.
Infinitives are often used when actions are unreal, general, or future.

5. Gerund or Infinitive ?
The basic difference between gerunds and infinitives is the
following:
Using a gerund suggests that you are referring
to real activities or experiences.
Using an infinitive suggests that you are
talking about potential or possible activities or experiences.

6. So when you need to decide which one to use, first check whether
the main verb is limited only to gerunds, or only to infinitives.
If the verb is not on any of the lists, you can use the following
guidelines:
The word "go" + sports or recreational activities usually take a
gerund.
Examples: "Let's go shopping", "They went skiing".
After a preposition you should use a gerund.
Examples: "I will talk with you before going to lunch", "I am
looking forward to working with you".
Expressions with the words "have", "spend" and "waste" take a
gerund.
Examples: "She had fun skiing", "He wasted all his time
worrying".

7. In many cases, the infinitive form is used to show the intention or
purpose.
Examples: "We are here to help", "He left to catch the train".
The infinitive form is also used to show the reason.
Examples: "We were sad to hear about your difficulties", "She was
shocked to learn the truth".
If none of these guidelines apply, simply use the principle in Part I
above.
Does it describe a concrete action? Then use a gerund.
Does it describe a general or potential action? Then use an
infinitive.
Examples: "As a painter, I truly love painting",
"I love to paint. I wish I would paint more often."

8. Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive with little to no
change in meaning:
Example: It started to rain. / It started raining.
begin
can’t bear
can’t stand
continue
hate
like
love
prefer
propose
start

9. forget I forgot to meet him.
(I didn’t meet him because I forgot to do it.)
I forgot meeting him.
(I don’t have the memory of meeting him before.)
go on He went on to learn English and French.
(He ended one period of time before this.)
He went on learning English and French.
(He continued learning the languages.)
quit She quit to work here.
(She quit another job in order to work here.)
She quit working here.
(She quit her job here. She doesn’t work here
anymore.)
regret I regret promising to help you.
(I’m sorry that I made the promise.)
I regret to tell you that we can't hire you.
(I’m telling you now, and I’m sorry.)
remember She remembered to visit her grandmother.
(She didn’t forget to visit.)
She remembered visiting her grandmother.
(She had memories of this time.)
stop I stopped to call you.
(I interrupted another action in order to call you.)
I stopped calling you.
(I stopped this activity. Maybe we had a fight.)
try I tried to open the window.
(I attempted this action but didn’t succeed.)
I tried opening the window.
(This was one option I sampled. Maybe the room
was hot.)
Verbs followed by a gerund or infinitive with a change in meaning :

10. Verbs Followed by an Infinitive
She agreed to speak before the game.
agree
aim
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
be able
beg
begin
care
choose
condescend
consent
continue
dare
decide
deserve
detest
dislike
expect
fail
forget
get
happen
have
hesitate
hope
hurry
intend
leap
leave
like
long
love
mean
neglect
offer
ought
plan
prefer
prepare
proceed
promise
propose
refuse
remember
say
shoot
start
stop
strive
swear
threaten
try
use
wait
want
wish

11. Verbs Followed by an Object and an Infinitive
Everyone expected her to win.
advise
allow
ask
beg
bring
build
buy
challenge
choose
command
dare
direct
encourage
expect
forbid
force
have
hire
instruct
invite
lead
leave
let
like
love
motivate
order
pay
permit
persuade
prepare
promise
remind
require
send
teach
tell
urge
want
warn
Note: Some of these verbs are included in the list above
and may be used without an object.

12. Verbs Followed by a Gerund
They enjoyed working on the boat.
admit
advise
appreciate
avoid
can't help
complete
consider
delay
deny
detest
dislike
enjoy
escape
excuse
finish
forbid
get
through
have
imagine
mind
miss
permit
postpone
practice
quit
recall
report
resent
resist
resume
risk
spend
(time)
suggest
tolerate
waste
(time)

13. Verbs Followed by a Preposition and a Gerund
We concentrated on doing well.
admit to
approve of
argue about
believe in
care about
complain about
concentrate on
confess to
depend on
disapprove of
discourage from
dream about
feel like
forget about
insist on
object to
plan on
prevent
(someone) from
refrain from
succeed in
talk about
think about
worry about