I have to start a sentence where I cannot figure out exactly if gerund or infinitive is to be used:
They say humans have an innate passion to light a fire.
Does that sound correct, or it would be more appropriate:
They say humans have an innate passion to lighting a fire.
The idiom is to have a passion for something
Fig. to have a strong feeling of need or desire for someone, something, or some activity.
- Mary has a great passion for chocolate.
- John has a passion for fishing, so he fishes as often as he can.
The present participle "-ing" is often used after prepositions, therefore, the OP should write
- They say humans have an innate passion for lighting fires.
When we talk about the activity of something as a hobby or as a habitual action, the noun is often plural.
- It is said that teenage girls often have a passion for riding horses
