Gerund or Infinitive?
Click on the title of the page for a link to a website which will help you, if you need clarification
He stopped to light his cigarette.
He stopped smoking.
Did you remember meeting her at the party?
Did you remember to meet her after work?
I regret to tell you that he is wrong for you.
I regret telling you that he is wrong for you.
I enjoy playing music with my friends.
I would enjoy having some time off.
I want to go to London, next week.
I hope I'll see my friends from university.
I hate shopping.
I love dancing.
Can you determine the difference between the pairs?
Very often, the difference is simply that the first verb ( followed by a to infinitive) is interested in a future event, whereas, the verb (followed by an ..ing form) is looking backwards. Eg I ENJOY = (past experience) cycling. Or, I HOPE (future) to understand this soon.
Another formula is decided by a MODAL verb in the first place. I CAN swim, where the to-infinitive loses its 'to'.
Or, where the first part contains a preposition: He BURST OUT laughing, which is always followed by a gerund form. These are called verb patterns.
He stopped to light his cigarette.
He stopped smoking.
Did you remember meeting her at the party?
Did you remember to meet her after work?
I regret to tell you that he is wrong for you.
I regret telling you that he is wrong for you.
I enjoy playing music with my friends.
I would enjoy having some time off.
I want to go to London, next week.
I hope I'll see my friends from university.
I hate shopping.
I love dancing.
Can you determine the difference between the pairs?
Very often, the difference is simply that the first verb ( followed by a to infinitive) is interested in a future event, whereas, the verb (followed by an ..ing form) is looking backwards. Eg I ENJOY = (past experience) cycling. Or, I HOPE (future) to understand this soon.
Another formula is decided by a MODAL verb in the first place. I CAN swim, where the to-infinitive loses its 'to'.
Or, where the first part contains a preposition: He BURST OUT laughing, which is always followed by a gerund form. These are called verb patterns.