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.
329
questions
0
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1answer
46 views
Please help identify subject/noun/verbs?
Can anyone help me to identify what the subject, nouns, and verbs are in this sentence?
Recognizing and pursuing only your interests results in a selfish, collapsing world order.
0
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1answer
30 views
Which sentence is correct and why? (Gerund vs infinitive)
It was driving me crazy not knowing what they were.
It was driving me crazy not to know/ to not know what they were.
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2answers
26 views
to + ing form. as an example, "to connecting people
In this sentence:
Lincoln Park Zoo is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a family-oriented...
Can I write "dedicated to connect people with nature"? If not, why do I ...
1
vote
2answers
28 views
“What is fun for you?” “It is to play baseball.”
I'm an ESL teacher, and I'm having a difficult time deciding if these sentences are grammatically correct or natural:
A: "What is fun for you?"
B: "It is to play baseball."
A: &...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Is it correct to say “I saw Tom opening the door”? [duplicate]
Or should I say
I saw Tom open the door.
I want to know if there is a difference in meaning between using "verb + noun + infinitive" and "verb + noun + gerund" in case both are ...
0
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2answers
51 views
What is the difference between “to play” or “to be playing” [closed]
I need to be playing in Europe
I need to play in Europe
Which sentence is more correct or is there any difference at all?
0
votes
2answers
30 views
Still confused to differentiate try+to and try+gerund
What I learned from try-to-do-something-vs-try-doing-something, to+do is used to attempt to do or accomplish and to+gerund is used to test the effect or result or an effort based on more of a guess ...
0
votes
3answers
66 views
Helping or Help?
Could the word "help" be used instead of "helping" in this sentence? Would the meaning be the same either way?
Money will also go to helping the pink iguana and the Floreana
...
0
votes
1answer
14 views
Is it correct to change “Would you mind if I…” to “Don't mind me…”?
Suppose this is the original sentence:
Would you mind if I changed the channel?
What I learned from here, I assume that we have to use past verb after "I". Otherwise, we use a gerund after ...
1
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2answers
31 views
What kind of verb is “is” in this sentence?
She is crying for help.
What kind of verb is the verb "is" in this sentence? Whether it is finite or helping verb or both?
2
votes
1answer
22 views
Can infinitive-to and gerund be alternated in a sentence if it contains more than 2 “to”?
Sally reminded me to ask you to tell Bob to remember to
bring his soccer ball to the picnic.
The sentence above, somehow seems unnatural and not good to me. Can I alternate with gerunds as follows?
...
0
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0answers
17 views
which one is correct? “…continued to not be done” or “…continued to be not done.” or “…continued to not to be done.”
Here is the sentence:
The action was not done in the past and has continued to not be done.
I am not quite sure about whether the part of the sentence, which is after "continue...." is ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Gerund or Infinitive? (an example sentence)
Which sentence is true?
I think there is a hidden agenda in the proposal to reduce the staff in order to make the company more efficient.
I think there is a hidden agenda in the proposal reducing ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
'end up to find' or “end up finding”? Gerund vs Infinitive?
What is the reason for using "finding" in this sentence and not "to find"?
"These newcomers often end up not (to find)/(finding) the opportunities they are looking for."
1
vote
1answer
244 views
Feel comfortable to do or doing
I come across some opinions of native English speakers that "I don't feel comfortable to do something" is not idiomatic and should be replaced with "I don't feel comfortable doing ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
“You must not forget … (turn) off your stove, it's very dangerous.”
I saw this fill in the blanks question on my practice book and it left me confused
You must not forget ..... (turn) off your stove, it's very dangerous.
For the book, answer is to turn. My answer ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
“to find a friend to practice speaking with“ or ”finding a friend to practice speaking with"?
In the following conversation:
--- Did you have any problems in your English study?
--- Yes, _____ a friend to practice speaking with.
Is it correct to fill in the blank with "to find” Or "...
0
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0answers
21 views
Extend vs Extending
We are also working with our customers as they make changes, including in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as aviation, shipping, road freight, and industry. We will contribute to '...
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Watching or to watch. Which one is correct in these two sentences? [duplicate]
Is it ok to say:
Then, I started watching an episode of...
or should I say
Then, I started to watch an episode of...
Which one is correct or are both correct? Can you explain me what's the ...
0
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0answers
97 views
“Begin to” or “Begin v.-ing”
It seems that "Begin/start to do something" is generally the correct form, as opposed to "Begin/start doing". Are there situations in which the latter is correct?
I've just come ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
What I hope for is to V/Ving
I'd like to know "what someone hopes for is" should be followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund:
What Peter hopes for is to buy/buying a sports car.
0
votes
1answer
120 views
“started to get”, “started getting” or “started to getting” - which is correct?
From that point things started to get complicated.
From that point things started getting complicated.
From that point things started to getting complicated.
Which of these sentences would be correct,...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Except + infinitive or gerund
This has done nothing except______ an already delicate situation.
a) to inflame
b) inflaming
c) inflame
Which one is correct?
1
vote
1answer
47 views
“To solve” vs “For solving”: what is the difference? [duplicate]
What are the differences between:
An algorithm to solve optimization problems
and
An algorithm for solving optimization problems
I think only the second one is correct but I can’t explain why the ...
-1
votes
1answer
42 views
Using infinitive instead of gerund?
Are these sentences have a difference with meaning, tense or etc. between each other:
Playing is easy.
To play is easy.
and
They need getting up early.
They need to get up early.
1
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0answers
23 views
There are some benefits to have/having an experience
Can you help me with this rule?
I have no idea about its name (maybe gerund?).
But Word offers me to change "have" to "having".
Why should (or shouldn't) I do it here?:
There are ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
What + sb + verb + [be (in the appropriate tense)] is followed by to + infinitive or a gerund?
When we have a sentence of the form: What + sb + verb + [be (in the appropriate tense)] + ... (for instance, what I like is ...), which rules do we have to apply to determine whether the sentence is ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
infinitive or present continuous: (five to come)
Scenario 1
Suppose that a customer has ordered some things online. He is now in your store to pick them up. The order has 100 boxes of cookies. Then, you check his order form and get them for him. ...
0
votes
0answers
5 views
Can I use a gerund after “having”?
The sentence I'm having trouble with is:
Show the class how to perform the activity by having one student act as the giver and you acting as the receiver.
Should it be "you act as the receiver&...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
“Start to feel better” vs. “Start feeling better”
Which is correct?
He will enjoy this when he starts to feel better.
Or
He will enjoy this when he starts feeling better.
0
votes
1answer
24 views
like somebody TO do something VS like somebody doING something
I’m studying Complex Object with the verbs of desire. “Like” is one of them.
And it seems to me that this structure isn’t widely used at least in American English today.
e.g I like her to sing
I feel ...
0
votes
2answers
95 views
“Get around to” + infinitive/gerund?
I came across these sentences;
I barely got around to listen to all of them lately.
I didn't get around to posting on instagram.
The second sentence is correct since Get around to takes the ...
1
vote
0answers
31 views
“To pay slightly more is…” vs “Paying slightly more is…”
Could I say both of the sentences below?
To pay slightly more is a necessary evil for motorists...
vs
Paying slightly more is a necessary evil for motorists...
When should I use infinite and when ...
0
votes
3answers
221 views
Which one is more common: “allow to reduce” or “allow reducing”?
Activation allows (to reduce/ reducing) the temperature of the process.
I found that "reducing" can be used after "allow". Moreover, we can write "to reduce" after "...
0
votes
2answers
122 views
Why is the first case “to reducing” and the second one “to reduce”? Is it correct? [duplicate]
Why is the first case to reducing and the second one to reduce? Is it correct?
During this time, she studied an environmental management system with an innovative approach to reducing pollution in an ...
0
votes
2answers
32 views
Is it to solve or to solving here?
I am not sure which one works better in this context: to solve or to solving?
...The scholarship in this master's program is a chance for Dania to learn techniques, unexplored in India, designed to ...
0
votes
0answers
626 views
I miss doing this or I miss to do this? [duplicate]
Is it correct to say
I miss doing this
I miss traveling a lot
OR
I miss to do this
I miss to travel?
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Is there any difference between to be late and being late in complex object?
He doesn’t like us to be late for work.
He doesn't like us being late for work.
Is there any difference in meaning between the two?
I know that there is a big difference in meaning between:
I saw ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
adjective + to + verb vs adjective + verb+ing
I practice to improve my writting skills. I just learned the following:
after adjective we use to + verb.
For example,
These students are difficult to teach.
However, I am confused about the following ...
1
vote
2answers
70 views
Difference between “on my way to be 25” and “on my way to being 25”
Set 1:
China is close to be the centre of world trade.
China is close to being the centre of world trade.
Set 2:
I am on my way to be 25.
I am on my way to being 25
Which is the correct form, ...
1
vote
1answer
21 views
Infinitive and Gerund Difference in usage
1). She refused to pay the penalty.
2). She refused paying the penalty
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences??
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Infinitive vs Gerund Usage differences [duplicate]
1). I have no choice but to run away.
2). I have no choice but running away.
Which one is correct and Why ? If both are correct, What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
1
vote
0answers
44 views
PRONOUND PLUS 'TO +VERB“ OR ”PREPOSITION +VERB-ING
I know it this sentence is wrong but i need an explanation.
RIGHT : I hope you would help me in letting him understand.
WRONG: I hope you would help me to let him understand.
RIGHT: Adults should ...
2
votes
2answers
106 views
In the sentence “I watched the balloon rise”, “rise” is in what verb tense? And why?
I watched the balloon rise.
I understand that "rise" in this sentence is not in the 3rd person, because otherwise it would have "s" and it doesn't.
Is it infinitive? The why not &...
0
votes
1answer
23 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
409 views
“Spending more time TRYING…” and “Spending more time TO TRY…”
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
29 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
39 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
32 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
55 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?
