Questions tagged [infinitive-vs-gerund]
For questions about the difference in meaning or grammaticality between using a gerund or an infinitive in a particular context.
287
questions
0
votes
1answer
19 views
Correct use of passive and active gerund
Please consider the question from a grammar test.
I don't mind ______ that I'm wrong.
being told
telling
to tell
to be told
The test says (1) option is correct. My point is that both (1) and (2) ...
3
votes
2answers
341 views
“Spending more time trying to” and “Spending more time to try to” [duplicate]
Is there any difference in meaning between "Spending more time trying to" and "Spending more time to try to"?
Below is the headline of an online news article I just read this morning, and I am ...
0
votes
0answers
8 views
Usually prefer to protect vs. Usually prefer protecting? [duplicate]
Are any of these incorrect?
Judges usually prefer to protect government agencies.
Judges usually prefer protecting government agencies.
Could anyone also help explain the difference if there is any? ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Gerund or infinitive? What should I choose?
Which one do I need to choose in this case?
You can use these words TALKING with members of your family.
OR
You can use these words TO TALK with members of your family.
1
vote
1answer
16 views
'It's great fun to play with somebody.' vs 'It's great fun playing with somebody.' [duplicate]
I wonder if anyone here can help: 'It's great fun to play with him' and 'It's great fun playing with him'. Are they both correct? I feel the second one sounds more natural, but how about the first one?...
1
vote
1answer
15 views
Active and passive voice usage for gerunds and infinitives
I saw him go.
What is the passive voice of this?
My book is saying:
He was seen to go by me.
Why can’t it be :
He was seen going by me.
0
votes
1answer
28 views
“to stop is important” or “stopping is important”?
Do the sentences below sound normal to native speakers?
To stop him now is important.
Stopping him now is important.
To argue is useless.
Arguing is useless.
To help these people is ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Infinitive and geund differences in usage
1) It started to rain.
2) It started raining
My grammar book said both are correct and both have almost same meaning. What are the nuances in their meanings?
0
votes
2answers
32 views
Gerunds and Infinitives difference
1)His dream is to have a big house.
2)His dream is having a big house
Are both the sentences correct? If yes, What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
0
votes
0answers
16 views
Verb+ing and to+Verb as subjects
1)Playing basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.
2)To play basketball for UConn is her favorite fantasy.
Are both sentences correct? If yes, what is the difference in meaning between them?...
0
votes
0answers
4 views
Gerund and Infinitive usage differenced [duplicate]
1)I started speaking.
2)I started to speak.
What is the difference in meaning of these two sentences
1
vote
0answers
23 views
gerund and infinitive differences
1)Nobody likes being cheated
2)Nobody likes to be cheated
Are both sentences correct? If yes, what is the difference in meaning of the two sentences?
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Gerund, infinitive or root form
“Once you crossed the whole camp on foot, asking for a glass of water is not a surprise”.
I used the gerund (asking) because it sounds to me like the correct form in this case, once I couldn’t find ...
2
votes
3answers
45 views
infinitive and gerund
which of the below given two sentences is correct? If both are correct, what is the difference in meaning between them?
1)She was heard to sing a song by them.
2)She was heard singing a song
0
votes
0answers
17 views
Isolated infinitive in explanatory elements of a sentence
You were supposed to get rid of distractions, to focus, so you could have achieved that prize you lost.
I'm not sure if in the sentence above the correct would be “to focus”, “focusing” or simply “...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
To hear(infinitive) vs to hearing (gerund)
Why this sentence
I look forward to hearing from you (gerund)
is correct instead of
I look forward to hear from you (infinitive)
0
votes
2answers
32 views
Gerund vs infinitive while asking question
Which one should I use gerund or infinitive while asking a questin like below?
Which one does it cost more , to repair it or to buy new one ?
Which one does cost more ,repairing it or buying ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
gerunds or infinitive with these verbs
Could someone please tell me what it's wrong to use the infinitive instead the gerund in these examples? Why Can't I do this? To me is sounds better with the infinitive.
"Thieves broke into the ...
-1
votes
1answer
14 views
Gerund and infinitive dispfference
1)I don’t remember of meeting you in kashmir last year.
2)I don’t remember meeting you in kashmir last year.
3)I don’t remember to have met you in kashmir last year
Which of the three ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Difference in usage of gerund and infinitive
she did no more than sleep the whole day
Vs
she did no more than sleeping the whole day
What is the difference in meaning of these two sentences?
0
votes
0answers
26 views
usage of gerunds
I don't like him wasting time
vs
I don't like his wasting time
what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences
0
votes
0answers
21 views
gerund and infinitive difference
I regret being late
vs
I regret to be late.
what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences???
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Present Continuous with going to
What is the difference between these?
I am going to run.
I am going running.
Do those mean the same thing as each other? Do they mean the same thing as any or all of these next ones?
I am going to ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
To have + past tense vs Gerund
I still remember to have met you in shimla last year
Vs
I still remember meeting you in shimla last year
what is the difference in meaning of these two sentences
1
vote
2answers
66 views
Perfect gerund usage
She denied seeing him yesterday.
vs
She denied having seen him yesterday.
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
0
votes
0answers
39 views
Some misunderstandings with the usage of the verb like as a gerund and infinitive
The book says this at the beginning of the chapter:
The theory
The exercises
The solutions
My questions
I used to work in a supermarket. I didn't like it much.
So they used to work there ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
except drink / to drink / drinking - difference
She had nothing to eat except drink water
She had nothing to eat except to drink water?
She had nothing to eat except drinking water
Are all the above sentences grammatical? IF So, What is the ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Gerund vs Infinitive
I want you to talk rather than him to talk // his talking.
What should I say in this sentence ? Should I use gerund or infinitive after "rather than" ?
I know that I can just say “rather than him” ...
2
votes
2answers
489 views
What's the difference between “the waiting” and “the wait”?
I've just completed an application to a university. Now I'm writing an e-mail to my friend and was wondering whether finishing with the sentence
And now the waiting begins.
or
And now the wait ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
“helps make exercising” OR “exercise”?
I was asked to correct this sentence on my exam:
A simple rule of 'five' helps make exercising a most enjoyable activity.
What's the error and how do I correct it?
On the exam I changed ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Begin a sentence with To+inf vs Gerund?
To read this book was my dream.
Reading this book was my dream.
What is the difference between using “To read” and “Reading”?
When I have to use any of them? When they can not be ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Difference between 'try to do' and 'try doing'
What is the difference between 'try to do' and 'try doing'?
My textbook says, that if you want to make suggestion, you must say 'try + doing':
A: Fred isn't answering his phone. What shall I do?
...
2
votes
1answer
58 views
Infinitive or gerund?
I run into a question as shown below studying an exam held in my country:
Fill the blank.
The passengers ---- the announcement of the cancelled flight for the second time groaned audibly.
A) ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
I was looking forward ____ at the new restaurant, but it was closed
I was looking forward ____ at the new restaurant, but it was closed.
Are to eat and to eating both correct or only the last one ?
2
votes
3answers
64 views
Is or Does ? - need help which one is the correct one
Which one is correct?
Does your business partner taking advantage of you?
or
Is your business partner taking advantage of you?
For me they seemed correct but I'm not familiar with the English rules ...
2
votes
2answers
253 views
to + inf vs to + '-ing'
I have been doing an online test to check my English skills and found this:
I was looking forward ____ at the new restaurant, but it was closed.
Incorrect (your answer):
to eat
...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
Are they exactly same? is + verb, is + to + verb, is + verb + ing
All you have to do is ask the question.
All you have to do is to ask the question.
All you have to do is asking the question.
The first sentence is what I saw on the tv show and the other ...
0
votes
0answers
51 views
infinitive or gerund: two most important keys to succeed
In the following sentence, should "two" be preceded by "the"? And is "succeed" correct?
Diligence and intelligence are two most important keys to succeed.
0
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0answers
24 views
I always get confused between be and being can anyone solve my problem [duplicate]
I don't want you to be here again.
I don't want you being here again.
'Being' is always a problem for me. I can use all gerunds but not this one. Please help.
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Can infinitives replace gerunds after 'rather than'?
I learned from grammar books that rather than can be used both as a conjunction and as a preposition.
So can live replace living in the following sentence (A) like (B)? I think it can according to the ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Eager to meet or eager to meeting?
Which is correct? "I am always eager to meeting you..." or "I am always eager to meet you......"
I for some reason think that 'meeting' should be used because it's being referred in future.
0
votes
0answers
33 views
“It's a bit terrifying doing something” vs “It's a bit terrifying to do something”
I am wondering which one of the following is grammatically correct? Or maybe both are grammatically correct but they mean different things?
It is terrifying to explore the world, not knowing where ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
cleaning vs to be cleaned
Look at this example below
The carpet needs___________ before we use it.
a) cleaning b) to be cleaned
Which one would be more appropriate in the given context and why?
My thought process ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
“don't forget {sending/to send}” and “presents {hanging/to hang} on my tree”
This is a question from my exam please help me. Why and which one is correct?
Please do not forget ... me some pretty presents ... on my tree.
1) sending - hanging
2) to send - hanging
3) ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
what used after ''had great motivation''?
She had great motivation ... the exam.
a)in passing
b)passing
c)to pass
which answer is true? and why?
1
vote
1answer
72 views
When are “to + verb” and “verb+ing” not interchangeable?
Like in the following example:
I would really appreciate having some feedback on this topic.
Why can’t I just write “to have” instead of “having”?
In this case, they are not supposed to be ...
2
votes
2answers
96 views
Strange usage of the 'ing' with the want verb
I started reading Harry Potter and there is a sentence They didn't want Dudley mixing with a child like that.
I understand the meaning of the sentence, but could someone explain why mixing is used, ...
1
vote
3answers
59 views
Can we use “to be stripped” instead of “being stripped” in this sentence?
The warning from the European commission could lead to that country being stripped of its European rights.
(As far as l know we must use infinitive after nouns )
0
votes
1answer
798 views
To get vs in getting
Which one is correct-
He did not succeed to get the job though he tried his level best.
He did not succeed in getting the job though he tried his level best.
Book says second one is correct.
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Personal pronoun with a gerund or infinitive?
My father never approved _____ a foreigner.
a. her to marry
b. her marrying
c. she marrying
d. she not marry
Please answer the question with an explanation.
