Coaching in education from mastersanty

Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive, but with a difference in meaning. begin dread forget keep need regret remember start stop try Some verbs can be followed by a gerund or an infinitive with little difference in meaning. can't bear can't stand cease continue hate like love neglect prefer propose REMEMBER Although the difference in meaning is small with these particular verbs, and gerunds and infinitives can often be used interchangeably, there is still a meaning difference. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Because of this small difference in meaning, gerunds and infinitives cannot always be used interchangeably, such as in the examples below. Examples: • The British reporter likes living in New York. HE LIVES IN NEW YORK AND HE LIKES WHAT HE EXPERIENCES THERE. • The British reporter likes to live in New York whenever he works in the United States. HE LIKES THE OPTION OR POSSIBILITY OF LIVING IN NEW YORK WHEN HE WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES. • I like speaking French because it's such a beautiful language. I LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF SPEAKING FRENCH, AND THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL WHEN I SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. • I like to speak French when I'm in France. I PREFER THE OPTION OF SPEAKING FRENCH WHEN I AM IN FRANCE.

VERBS FOLLOWED BY GERUNDS admit advise allow anticipate appreciate avoid begin can't bear can't help can't see can't stand cease complete consider continue defend delay deny despise discuss dislike don't mind dread encourage enjoy finish forget hate imagine involve keep like love mention mind miss need neglect permit postpone practice prefer propose quit recall recollect recommend regret remember report require resent resist risk start stop suggest tolerate try understand urge VERBS FOLLOW BY INFINITIVE agree appear arrange ask begin can't bear can't stand care cease choose claim continue decide demand deserve dread expect fail forget get (be allowed to) happen hate hesitate hope intend learn like love manage need neglect offer plan prefer prepare pretend promise propose refuse regret remember seem start swear tend threaten try vow wait want wish would like (meaning "wish" or "want") yearn

Gerund versus infinitive

1. A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding "-ing." The gerund form of the verb "read" is "reading." You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence. Examples: • Reading helps you learn English. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE • Her favorite hobby is reading. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE • I enjoy reading. OBJECT OF SENTENCE Gerunds can be made negative by adding "not." Examples: • He enjoys not working. • The best thing for your health is not smoking. 2. Infinitives are the "to" form of the verb. The infinitive form of "learn" is "to learn." You can also use an infinitive as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence. Examples: • To learn is important. SUBJECT OF SENTENCE • The most important thing is to learn. COMPLEMENT OF SENTENCE • He wants to learn. OBJECT OF SENTENCE Infinitives can be made negative by adding "not." Examples: • I decided not to go. • The most important thing is not to give up. 3. 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. In the following sentences, gerunds sound more natural and would be more common in everyday English. Infinitives emphasize the possibility or potential for something and sound more philosophical. If this sounds confusing, just remember that 90% of the time, you will use a gerund as the subject or complement of a sentence. Examples: • Learning is important. NORMAL SUBJECT • To learn is important. ABSTRACT SUBJECT - LESS COMMON • The most important thing is learning. NORMAL COMPLEMENT • The most important thing is to learn. ABSTRACT COMPLEMENT - LESS COMMON 4. 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. Examples: • He enjoys swimming. "ENJOY" REQUIRES A GERUND. • He wants to swim. "WANT" REQUIRES AN INFINITIVE