Questions tagged [gerund-vs-infinitive]
Questions about the differences between "gerunds", formed with *-ing*, and infinitives, formed with *to*.
186
questions
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Why's “subject to the vacant possession of the Premises be ready to be delivered to the Tenant” wrong?
The landlord's realtor keeps insisting that "be" is correct. She repeats she's been practicing real license for at least 20 years, and she's read thousands of these clauses. She asked if I ...
0
votes
0answers
5 views
“Begin to” or “Begin -ing” [migrated]
It seems that "Begin/start to do something" is generally the correct form, as opposed to "Begin/start doing". Are there situations in which the latter is correct?
I've just come ...
0
votes
0answers
5 views
infinitive-vs-gerund clausal confusion in the subject role [migrated]
Storing all the information and passing it to consumers through the World Wide Web also entails costs.
What if I use store in place of storing and pass instead of passing there?
Store all the ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
A question about a sentence I wrote
I was writing a speech, and I wrote the sentence
They start becoming less hesitant to asking questions.
Google Docs says that it should be
They start becoming less hesitant to ask questions
...
0
votes
0answers
37 views
Correct answer for the following question? What is the reason? [duplicate]
I have come accross a multiple choice question in which I mixed up for what the answer might be. I am aware that we could use a gerund after help but not sure so much.
Here I add the picture of the ...
0
votes
0answers
9 views
I plan to use this approach to do something or doing something
I know if we say "This is an approach to doing something" we should use "to doing" after approach.
In the case "I plan to use this approach ", should I say "to do&...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
What is the correct form for an ad banner [duplicate]
What is the correct form: "Stop mumbling, start speaking!" or "Stop mumbling, start to speak!" ? This is for an advertisement of foreign language learning appl=.
Thanks
0
votes
1answer
37 views
My job is to do something or doing something? [duplicate]
My job is to teach English.
My job is teaching English.
Which one is correct and why?
0
votes
0answers
34 views
Can the following sentences both be correct meaning different things?
"Ron dedicated his whole life to educating underprivileged children."
And
"Ron dedicated his whole life to educate underprivileged children."
In the first sentence, "to" ...
1
vote
0answers
16 views
To + infinitive vs. To + gerund [duplicate]
In one of the grammar books I study I found a following example:
In my previous job I was confined to doing only one thing.
I'd say that confined to do is the correct way to say it. I always thought ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
“this drug induces sleeping” or “this drug induces sleep”?
I seem to have heard both structures before, but I don’t understand which it would be.
In other languages the second verb would be in the infinitive, but I have heard things like "Josh hates ...
0
votes
1answer
29 views
Gerund after “to”. Sentence: We use music to helping us relax
I found this question in a test:
"We use music to helping us relax." Where helping was the correct answer option.
I want to know why is this form of the verb correct and not the infinitive ...
0
votes
2answers
33 views
What is the right way to start a sentence: “To avoid wasting time trying to figure out” or “To avoid to waste time trying to figuring out”?
I have some problems when it comes to the usage of "to" vs "ing" to express the infinite form like in:
[1] To avoid wasting time trying to figure out ..."
[2] To avoid to ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
What difference in meaning is imparted by changing the verb form?
These are both grammatically correct:
You’ll go back to reliving your college days.
You’ll go back to relive your college days.
The former is rather like "I look forward to seeing you...", ...
0
votes
0answers
40 views
“Not to watch” vs “Not to have watched” as subject of a sentence [duplicate]
E.g. 1 Not to watch Kobe Bryant's matches when he was alive is my biggest regret.
£.g. 2 Not to have watched Kobe Bryant's matches when he was alive is my biggest regret.
Am I right that e.g. 1 is not ...
0
votes
2answers
55 views
Why can't to-infinitive be used as subject in “Not to learn French is my biggest regret.”?
E.g. 1 "Not learning French is my biggest regret."
E.g. 2 "Not to learn French is my biggest regret."
I know that e.g. 1 is correct and e.g. 2 is wrong, but what is the grammar ...
0
votes
1answer
58 views
Is this slogan grammatically correct in its double use of the to-infinitive?
The motto of the institution where I work is:
To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life
Is this (double use of the to-infinitive) grammatically correct? And if so, is it ...
0
votes
1answer
99 views
Time to infinitive or time for gerund
Please consider the following constructions:
1. It's time to launch it
2. It's time for launching it
3. It's time for being taught this lesson
4. It's time to be taught this lesson
Which one(s) is/are ...
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Word form after MEAN
Help me with this question, please.
I know that if we use mean+gerund it means having a result (can be replaced with 'involve') as in Working from home means being able to keep work-life balance.
If ...
1
vote
3answers
132 views
What is the difference between using gerunds vs. infinitives as the subject of a sentence?
For example: What is the difference in saying "To err is human" vs. "Making mistakes is an intergal part of the human condition?"
In our textbook "Speak Out C1" the author explains that it is more ...
1
vote
2answers
154 views
‘Drive somebody to’: Why with infinitive?
We use ‘look forward to + gerund’. According to Cambridge the use of gerund is due to the fact that ‘to’ is a preposition when following ‘look forward’ (as opposed to an infinitive marker).
At the ...
1
vote
0answers
92 views
health experts foresee/predict the novel coronavirus spreading in the U.S
One of the top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Americans on Tuesday that health experts foresee the novel coronavirus that has killed thousands spreading in the ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Difference in meaning between gerund and infinitive [duplicate]
The whole class was working hard preparing for the exam.
The whole class was working hard to prepare for the exam.
What are the differences between these two sentences?
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Gerund versus infinitive [duplicate]
I wonder if someone could offer feedback about the use and meaning difference between the use of infinitive and gerund
Being an artist is admitting you are lost and not wanting to be found.
Being an ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
When to use verb, base verb or gerund [closed]
Hello i have question help me please
The children were so frightened they dared not [?].
=> Moving / to move / move ?
Why is the answer "Move" without "to" ?
I have searched and found a site which ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Is there a difference between “started to go” and “started going”? [duplicate]
Is there a meaning difference between started to go and started going in this example sentence?
"...", he said and started to go/going away.
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Go shopping vs for shopping [closed]
Yesterday I was teaching my student about the verb shop. I told him that we use "go" with "shop" to mean to go and buy things.
e. g.
1) You are going shopping.
2) You were going shopping.
...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
See somebody do/doing something [duplicate]
Consider these two variations:
Every morning, tourists can see soldiers raise the national flag in the square.
Every morning, tourists can see soldiers raising the national flag in the square.
What ...
0
votes
1answer
416 views
When the adjective 'suited' is followed by a verb, should this verb be in the infinitive or in the -ing form?
Here are some example sentences from different dictionaries.
With her qualifications and experience, she would seem to be ideally suited to/for the job. (Cambridge online dictionary)
This was a job ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Being sensitive vs To be sensitive
Being sensitive to others when taking part in a general discussion is a useful quality to have.
vs
To be sensitive to others when taking part in a general discussion is a useful quality to have.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
'To solve' versus 'To solving'
Trying to understand what seems to be a very subtle difference in written and spoken English. Recently, I've seen articles that use 'to + gerund' and 'to + infinitive' in the exact same situations, ...
0
votes
0answers
93 views
Is this tutorial using “to [verb]-ing” the right way? When should I just use “to [verb]”? [duplicate]
That tutorial says
Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) is an approach to analyzing datasets to summarize their main characteristics. It is used to understand data, get some context regarding it, ...
0
votes
2answers
72 views
What are the correct words I have to insert here? (Verb patterns) [closed]
I have to complete this sentence with verb patterns.
I think that my answer is correct but the checker does not think the same.
Your hair needs -------------- . It looks a right mess! (CUT)
I ...
0
votes
3answers
173 views
Allow X: What’s the difference between “for the sharing of X” and “to share X”? Do they mean the same thing?
What is the difference between these two:
Presentation events allow for the sharing of knowledge.
Presentation events allow to share knowledge.
Do they share the exact same meaning?
5
votes
2answers
11k views
“I like watching” vs “I like to watch” What's the difference?
Which of the two possibilities would native speakers more likely say when they watch a football (soccer or American) match from the comfort of their home?
What sport do you watch most on television?...
0
votes
1answer
18 views
“… assisting emerging countries meet their development goals…” vs “… assisting emerging countries in meeting their development goals…”
Her role included assisting emerging countries meet their development goals through active engagement with senior level representation from both the public and private sectors.
Her role included ...
-1
votes
1answer
73 views
being usages dilemma
I've read in BBC that we use use "being" as a verb-ing. BBC has listed two kinds of usage; what I want to learn about here is the "preposition + verb-ing" usage. It has been said that "being + past ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Which of the following sentences is correct ; basically I don't understand where to use gerund and where infinitive, and why
It is snowing; will you like to go skiing on Saturday or Sunday?
It is snowing ; will you like to go skii on Saturday or Sunday?
(plz reason the answer in simple and discernible way)
0
votes
0answers
24 views
To smoke vs Smoking at the beginning of the sentence [duplicate]
I have been taught that we can use either of "to INF" or "Verb-ing" at the beginning of the sentence as a subject, which leads me to a point of confusion.
Here is my confusion:
A: To smoke is ...
0
votes
1answer
108 views
Even though she is angry, you should try _______ (talk) to her [closed]
Even though she is angry, you should try _______ (talk) to her
In the question above I need to decide whether I should use talking, the gerund-participle, or to talk, a to-infinitive.
I’m confused ...
1
vote
0answers
41 views
“Instead of ʏᴏᴜʀ calling” vs “Instead of ʏᴏᴜ calling” [duplicate]
Which is better:
Instead of your calling, maybe I should do it.
Instead of you calling, maybe I should do it.
I feel like the first one is the better choice here because instead of needs a gerund, ...
2
votes
1answer
715 views
“I know him ʙᴇɪɴɢ honest” vs “I know him ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ honest”
The intended original sentence before conversion is:
I know that he is an honest man.
I want to know about these two possible reformulated versions of that sentence that replace the original’s ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Use of the infinitive, always use 'to'?
Which is the correct use:
Thanks for the opportunity of being here?
or
Thanks for the opportunity to be here?
The idea was to use the verb in infinitive.
1
vote
1answer
726 views
Gerund vs infinitive: ‘suggested to me {to get/getting}’ [closed]
Can I know which one is correct. I am confused about when to use gerund/infinitive in a sentence.
My brother suggested to me to get a job in bank
My brother suggested to me getting a job in bank.
...
0
votes
2answers
121 views
“It is” as the beginning of paragraphs
Is it encouraged or discouraged to use "IT IS" at the very beginning of a paragraph in formal writing English?. For instance:
It is often argued that study art in school should be mandatory, since ...
-1
votes
1answer
52 views
“It is an advantage learning a foreign language”. -> It is an advantage to learn…? (infinitive or -ing)
I've come across the following sentence in an article which provides businessmen with advice on how to improve their career prospects.
"It is an advantage learning a foreign language."
I think the ...
0
votes
2answers
630 views
Does the verb “ban” take a gerund or infinitive as its complement? [closed]
Which one below is correct while using the verb ban?
Plastic bottle using was banned by government in the country.
Government banned to use plastic bottle in the country.
Plastic bottle was banned ...
3
votes
2answers
631 views
Usage of infinitive or gerund
For him to sail back is unthinkable
For him sailing back is unthinkable.
Why is the second sentence considered as wrong?
Can the first sentence be paraphrased as (1)
It is unthinkable that he could ...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
Gerund, to-infinitive or bare infinitive?
Which of the following three constructions is more common in everyday speech?
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than kissing my girlfriend.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to kiss my ...
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
imperative to -ing [duplicate]
Which one is right?
the degree is imperative to consolidating my grasp on concepts and keeping me abreast of upcoming upgrades
the degree is imperative to consolidate my grasp on concepts and keep me ...
