Gerund: a noun made from a verb by adding -ing. You can use a gerund as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. You can make a gerund negative by adding “not.”
Reading helps you learn English (subject)
I enjoy reading. (object)
Her favorite hobby is reading. (complement)
He enjoys not working. (negative)
Infinitive: a noun made from the “to” form of a verb. You can use an infinitive as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. You can make an infinitive negative by adding “not.”
To learn is important. (subject)
He wants to learn. (object)
The most important thing is to learn. (complement)
He makes a point not to learn. (negative)
Some Considerations:
Both gerunds and infinitives can be used as the subject or the complement of a sentence. However, as subjects or complements, gerunds usually sound more like normal, spoken English, whereas infinitives sound more abstract. Gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical.
Riding my bike is really fun. (more casual)
What’s really fun is to ride my bike. (more formal or philosophical)
As the object of a sentence, it is more difficult to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. In such situations, gerunds and infinitives are not normally interchangeable. Usually, the main verb in the sentence determines whether you use a gerund or an infinitive.
He enjoys swimming.
He wants to swim.
Even verbs that can use either a gerund or an infinitive often indicate different meanings depending on which is used.
He stopped smoking.
He stopped to tie his shoe. (this implies “in order to”)
Verb + Gerund |
Verb + EITHER |
Verb + Infinitive |
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admit advise appreciate avoid complete consider delay deny detest dislike enjoy escape excuse finish forbid get through have imagine mind miss permit postpone practice quit recall report resent resist resume risk suggest tolerate |
begin cease choose continue detest dislike dread forget hate have keep leave like love need prefer prepare propose regret remember say start stop try |
agree aim appear arrange ask attempt be able beg care condescend consent dare decide deserve expect fail happen hesitate hope hurry intend leap long mean neglect offer plan proceed promise refuse shoot strive swear threaten wait want wish |
Kayla | 2016
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