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.
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gerund or infinitive after the verb "to go"
I know that when the activity is outdoors and done especially in your free time, we should use the ing ending after the verb to go, Example: I go swimming every morning....or they go running every ...
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Is "He has gone for playing cricket" correct?
"He has gone to play."
"He has gone for playing cricket."
The first sentence is correct. Please explain if the 2nd one is right?
If so, then why? If not, then why not?
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The usage of "looking forward to"
In a book called Collins English Conversation p.265 there is an example:
I was looking forward to have a rest.
My question is about whether we should use "looking forward to have a rest" or "...
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Gerund vs Infinitive Form
I learnt that after a preposition, the rule is that the gerund form of the verb is used (instead of the infinitive form), as in "Thank you for coming".
In this sentence:
They joined forces to fight ...
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considerably improve and update or considerably improving and updatating
I'm trying to write a motivation letter and I'm having doubts when writing a couple of sentences using ing termination or not.
To enroll in this course will allow me to pursue my career goal of ...
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Difference between using the infinitive form and the gerund form
difference between
"We don't want everybody to know about it."
and
"We don't want everybody knowing about it."
user61355
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"Trouble to pronounce words" or "trouble pronouncing words"
Do these sentences have exactly the same meaning?
Young children often have trouble to pronounce words right.
Young children often have trouble pronouncing words right.
I can't understand the ...
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I am too tired ____ out. Besides, I have to wake up early morning. The correct answer is "going". Why?
I tried some online tests just now:
I am too tired _______ out. Besides, I have to wake up early morning.
I chose 'to go'. However, it turned out that I was wrong, according to the test maker. The ...
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it ~ to vs it ~ ing
When I first learned English, I was taught to use only "it ~ to" form as opposed to "it ~ ing" form, so I always thought the latter one is not grammatical.
But I heard a lot of native speakers ...
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Is the use of the infinitive more correct than gerund in this sentence?
In one of the lines in The Blacklist,
I need your assistance locating the source of a call that was placed
on a pay phone.
For some reason, the sound of the infinitive feels more natural to me.
...
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Can "happen to" be followed by a Present Progressive form?
Or does it always take an infinitive form?
Ex.: Is "I happen to be doing this at the moment" correct or should you say "I happen to do this at the moment"?
Nicolas
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I had a bullet going through my arm x I had a bullet go through my arm
I already know the main use of have when it's is used as a command:
I had the security kick him out.
I also know its use in sentences of cause, for example:
His jokes were so funny that they ...
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play or playing?
SOURCE
I recently read a journal article and there is a sentence that really confused me; please help me figure it out!
This is the context:
Cook (2000) defined language play as playing with ...
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Gerund or infinitive? Can you figure out a particular example for me?
I'm puzzled, really.
In the following example, how come the word ending in the -ing form is a verb.
-- I don't like dancing.
I know that 'like' here is a linking verb and can't be let alone without ...
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Difference in the meaning between "of + ~ing" and "to infinitive"?
What is the exact difference in the meaning and the grammar between
"The quickest way of contacting the police station is to use your
cellphone"
and
"The quickest way to contact the police ...
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"hearing him speak" or "hearing him speaking"
The sentence:
Probably, after hearing him speak in English, they allowed him to enter in the pub.
So, can I use speaking in place of speak?
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"remember to do" vs. "remember doing" [duplicate]
What is the difference between in the meaning of these two sentences:
I will remember to post the letter.
I will remember posting the letter.
How can we know where to use gerund or ...
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"It means" + "to [infinitive]" or "[gerund]"?
In a sentence "Something means X", where X is a verb (i.e. an action), should I use the gerund or the form "to + infinitive"? Is there a difference between them?
Example:
Helping your mom means to ...
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"Users resort to seeking..." -- Is it correct to use a gerund like this?
I am not sure if the use of a gerund is correct in the following sentence:
Users resort to seekING answers in social media
or
Users resort to seek answers in social media
I know that the rule ...
Vasilis
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What do you mean by "ordinary preposition"?
I can't specifically figure out the meaning of ordinary preposition, especially with "to".
When does verb + ing come after to?
And when to + bare infinitive?
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Why didn't the infinitive come after the following sentence:
He is addicted to watching movies. Why the writer used gerund after the preposition "to"? , because as known, we use the infinitive after the prepostion (to).
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When to use "to finishing" and when to use "to finish"?
Which one is correct and why?
"We have to work around the clock to finish this video".
"We have to work around the clock to finishing this video".
Thanks in advance
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What kind of rule for using (gerund+infinitive)?
sentence:
Keep me from having to mingle (I have never seen such construction gerund+infinitive. The only two cases I know is I'm used to doing, I'm looking forward to seeing - we can treat it as an ...
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Gerund vs. infinitive: are both forms acceptable for the following examples?
1.) It is a lesser evil to have x than to have y.
2.) Having x is a lesser evil than having y.
Which of them are incorrect?
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Gerund vs infinitive: He lay in bed planning (to plan) the days to come
I'm confused about gerund and infinitive in this sentence. Please understand me.
He lay in bed planning (to plan) the days to come.
In that sentence, planning is correct. But I think "to plan" is ...
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try + gerund/infinitive [duplicate]
Entrepreneurs try to delay taking money from investors as long as possible.
Entrepreneurs try delaying taking money from investors as long as possible.
Assuming (2) is correct, is there any ...
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Which one is correct. I oppose to taking a drug or I'm opposed to taking a drug?
Which is the correct sentence?
1)I oppose to taking a drug.
2)I'm opposed to taking a drug.
I have a problem in understanding the 2nd one.
"I'm opposed" makes sense when there is another subject ...
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Can I use an infinitive with the verb 'recommend'?
According to this source the verb 'recommend' can be used only with a gerund, but I've found some examples with an infinitive:
1) We recommend you to update your browser
2) We recommend you to ...
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Using past continuous to refer to past habits with adverbials of frequency?
Can we use past continuous tense to refer a past habit with adverbs of frequency words? For example:
He was going for a morning walk every day.
What is the difference between these two phrases?
...
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What the difference between these two examples with infinitive and gerund?
1) He has just finished writing
2) He has just finished to write
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Infinitive after Preposition
As I know, gerunds must be used after prepositions but I heard the sentences below in a movie. Is it possible to use such constructions ?
1-"He is waiting for me to call him" I thought it must be "...
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To have or having(Infinitive Or Gerund) [duplicate]
She likes ________(to have/having) the birds is as an expensive hobby.
What should we use here ? Infinitive or Gerund? Why?
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"afraid to miss" or "afraid of missing"
Afraid as an adjective means ‘feeling fear’. We use it with of + noun, of + -ing form, a to-infinitive or a that-clause Cambridge Dictionary
We can use of +ing or to-infinitive with afraid, how to ...
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"There are two apartments fitting you perfectly."
"There are two apartments fitting you perfectly." Is this a correct sentence? or even a good sentence construction?
Using the word "fitting" as a present participle in this sentence seems ...
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which one is correct " to+verb+rather than+(verb+ing or to+verb)
which one is correct :
I prefer to live with someone rather than to live alone
or
I prefer to live with someone rather than living alone
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Mean +ing or mean +infinitive with to
Can anyone explain the difference between "mean +ing" and "mean +infinitive with to"?
As far as I know one uses "mean +infinitive with to" to show one`s intentions and "mean +ing" to express what will ...
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I like knowing / to know things in advance
There is a very small difference in meaning between the two forms. The -ing form emphasises the action or experience. The to-infinitive gives more emphasis to the results of the action or event. We ...
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I have arranged to discuss "to buy" his house
When we have three verbs in the same clause. And we need to decide whether use "ing" or "to" with the third one.
Should we choose based on the main verb (first one) or the second verb?
In the ...
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I'll be singing or I'll sing or I'm singing
When you announce the name of the song you are going to sing right now, which expression is correct or most appropriate,; "Now, I'll be singing XXX." "Now, I'll sing XXX." or "Now, I'm singing XXX."?
...
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When do we use keep + to inf and keep + ing?
When do we use keep + to inf and keep + ing?
I searched on the internet and did not find anything really accurate and precise on the topic.
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"Let’s start speaking" or "Let’s start to speak"
Which one is correct and more common? is there better way?
Let’s start speaking English.
Let’s start to speak English.
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Expect there to be or being
Most people expect there __________ another financial crisis in the next year.
a. to be
b. being
According to the attached picture, both a & b are okay, but some native speakers of English say ...
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When do we use *to + ing*? "He confessed to killing Kem over a $3,000 debt"
When do we use to + ing (gerund)? is the following form commonly used?
Later, he confessed to killing Kem over a $3,000 debt. A Cambodian court charged him with premeditated murder. Authorities ...
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There is no 'denying' or 'deny'?
CONTEXT
1: There is no denying that Americans are great.(correct)
2: There is no deny that Americans are great.(incorrect)
Why can't I use deny , I know that it is incorrect but what is the ...
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Dilemma of "forbade me to use" and "forbade me using"
Consider the sentence:
"My teacher forbade me to use mobile phone in the class."
Is it right to rewrite the sentence as:
"My teacher forbade me using mobile phone in the class." ?
Please ...
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Should "the number of college students going overseas" use "who go" instead?
Which of the following sentences sound more natural?
I'm surprised at the number of college students going overseas.
I'm surprised at the number of college students who go overseas.
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"To <verb>+ing" vs. "To <bare verb>"
On a website I have read:
Interpreting the assignment question
There are usually three steps to analysing an assignment question.
Some questions may involve more than one task.
...
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What is the ellipsis of the sentence？
But then as Mama and Papa drove away, Sal burst into tears. A delayed
reaction. It was as if something inside her suddenly broke or popped
or was switched on. She was hysterical. Gabby, Billy, and ...
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To + Gerund in a particular case
Regarding the sentence marked in yellow, also, there might be other errors, I am especially not sure about to furnishing and to delivering. Should they be as they are or should I write to furnish and ...
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sway to or sway into
Can I use the 2nd sentence instead of the first one:
I was swayed by her rhetoric into donating all my savings to the charity.
I was swayed by her rhetoric to donate all my saving to the charity
