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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grammaticality of 'for what to blame them is a bit unfair'
The subordinates have had to take these steps in accordance with instructions of the top management of the company, for what to blame them is a bit unfair.
I am considering the possibility of using ...
user11470
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"He was too busy to work at a factory" - Is this sentence correct in grammar?
I know this sentence is correct.He was too busy working at a factory.
but I wonder whether this sentence is correct and natural. (specially in grammar)
He was too busy to work at a factory.
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"to be" vs. "being" after adjective (and why)
Which sentence is correct, and why?
1) It's awesome being by the water.
2) It's awesome to be by the water.
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How do we choose infinitive over gerund or vice versa? [duplicate]
In the fill up, "it is difficult ____ affection on her.", I chose "showering" out of the given options. But the answer is given as "to shower".
Now I look up on net and get that we mostly use "it is ...
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"look forward to meet you", or "to meeting you"? [duplicate]
Which one is correct?
I look forward to meet you during the coming festival.
or
I look forward to meeting you during the coming festival.
Please help me with explanation.
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'verb-ing' or 'to verb' after the verb 'continue'?
Which form of the verb is correct after the verb "continue"?
If police didn't arrest him, he would continue robbing.
If police didn't arrest him, he would continue to rob.
(These sentences are ...
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"remember visiting" vs. "remember to visit"
Remember is one of the verbs which we always put to + infinitive after it:
I always remember to do my homework.
But actually not always. This sentence is an exact example of what I mean:
Do you ...
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How can I decide when to use “for” + “-ing” or “to” + [infinitive] in a sentence?
Example:
I have nothing to do for now.
Nothing for doing for now.
Another one:
I have some things to study.
I have some things for studying.
New Examples: (QUESTION UPDATED)
I don't ...
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When to use gerund or infinitive?
Is there a rule for using gerunds and infinitives instead of memorizing the verbs?
I mean when to use gerund or infinitive just by looking at the sentence.
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Which is correct, "go to swim", "go to swimming", or "go swimming"? What are the differences?
I want to go to swim.
I want to go swimming.
I want to go to swimming.
I wonder which one is correct and how to tell the difference between them.
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Difference between late getting back and late to get back
I have a question about the following sentence -
"I'm sorry I was so late getting back to you."
Is it possible to say that -
"I'm sorry I was so late to get back to you."
About the first ...
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Which one is right?
Which one is right:
I would love to spend it rather than preserving.
I would love to spend it rather than preserve.
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interested in hearing / interested to hear
Murphy's Grammar says that we use interested to ... to say how somebody reacts to what they hear/see/read/learn. And we use interested in doing something when we're thinking of doing it, we would like ...
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he was seen *to break* the window
We have a situation: someone saw the boy break the window. Can I make this passive sentence?
The boy was seen to break the window.
I use Murphy's Grammar and this structure is never discussed.
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Improving the sentence if there is a need
Some categorically suspected having seen the guard and thief together.
At first I thought there is no error. But then I thought maybe we can change it to 'Some categorically suspected to have seen ...
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Do you use "like walking" or "like to walk"? [duplicate]
OK, my German friend asked me this the other day and I couldn't give her an answer! Native English speaker for 27 years and it's still hard for me, ha-ha.
Do you like to walk?
Do you like walking?...
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to afford *doing* something
1) They can't afford to go out very often.
2) They can't afford going out very often.
A native speaker has said that the second usage can be heard in a colloquial speech, but it is incorrect. Is ...
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Why is 'enjoy to [verb]' incorrect?
I can say:
I love to read. I hate to read.
But it must be:
I enjoy to read. I enjoy reading.
What is enjoy so different?
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2
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"see the example below for understanding" versus "see the example below to understand"
Which sentence would sound more natural? Are both of them grammatically correct? Which do you think is more correct?
See the example below for understanding how it works.
See the example below to ...
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Help understanding when to use an infinitive in this excercise
I was taking an English test and I haven't know which sentence is wrong. could you help me out?
a) The telephone is ringing. I will go to answer it.
b) I feel like going dancing tonight. Would you ...
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"I did my best to do something" or "I did my best doing something"?
I wonder which case the gerund or infinitive is (more) appropriate here: "I did my best to do something" or "I did my best doing something"?
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"I wouldn't bother writing this email if I {didn't / don't} treasure our friendship"
I wouldn't bother writing (or to write) this email if I didn't (or don't) treasure our friendship and by all means want to mend it.
I'd like to know if you'd use
didn't or don't, and why;
bother ...
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This is important "to learn" or "to learning"?
From VOA Special English:
Scientists are also sharing work on crops in standing flooding. Mr. Ismail says this is important
to learning about what will help farmers use the wet soil of flooded ...
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Expressing a purpose with for + gerund?
The question is simple but I would like to understand the principle governing the choice of prepositions in the following examples.
I know it is not correct to say, for example
1) *I have come here ...
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What's the diffence between "I want you to go to sleep" and "I want you going to sleep"
Are the following two sentences correct?
I want you to go to sleep.
and
I want you going to sleep.
If they are both correct, what's the difference?
roast_soul
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"Make easy" vs. "Make it easy"
I need to know which of these options is the correct one and why:
The Spanish cooking makes it easy to have a nice meal.
The Spanish cooking makes easy to have a nice meal.
I don't know if I need ...
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Why is there -ing object after tried?
She reveals the truth: Clare Quilty, an acquaintance of Charlotte's,
the writer of the school play, and the man Lolita claims to have
loved, checked her out of the hospital after following them ...
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What's the difference in meaning between infinitive and gerund? [duplicate]
(1) They love to walk in the woods.
(Angela Downing, English Grammar: A University Course)
(2) They love walking in the woods.
She says (1) will be interpreted as potential, while a gerund ...
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Using a verb as subject of a sentence
In Italian, when I write a sentence about an action (e.g. eating fish, playing), I would use the infinitive, such as mangiare pesce fa bene alla salute (which literally is "to eat fish is healthy"), ...
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