What are GERUNDS and INFINITIVES
Gerunds are formed with ing: walking,talkig.
Infinitives are formed with to: to walk,totalk.
Gerunds and infinitives can do several jobs.
Both can be subject of a sentence.
Writing in English is difficult.
To write in English is difficult.
Both can be the object of a verb.
I like writing in English.
I like to write in English.
But…
Only gerunds can be the object of a preposition.
We are talking about writing in English.
It is often difficult to know when to use a gerunds and when to use an infinitive. These wide lines may help you.
GERUNDS: are often used when action are real, concrete or completed.
I stoped smoking.
(The smoking was real and happened until I stopped).
INFINITIVES: are often used when actions are unreal, abstract, or future.
I stopped to smke.
(Iwas doing something else, and Istopped; the smoking had not happened yet).
GERUNDS & INFINITIVES
1. GERUNDS.
1.1 GERUNDS AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE.
1.2 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF A PREPOSITION.
1.2.1 VERB + PREPOSITION.
1.2.2 VERB + OBJECT + PREPOSITION.
1.2.3 TO BE + ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITION.
1.2.4 TO BE + NOUN + PREPOSITION.
1.3 GERUNDS AS THE OBJECT OF VERB.
1.3.1 VERB + GERUNDS.
2. INFINITIVES.
2.1 INFINITIVES AS THE SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE.
2.2 INFINITIVES AS THE OBJECT OF THE VERB.
2.2.1 VERB + INFINITIVES.
2.2.2 VERB + (PRO) NOUN + INFINITIVE.
3. GERUNDS OR INFINITIVES.
3.1 VERB + INFINITIVES=VERB+ GERUND
3.2 VERB + INFINITIVE VERB + GERUND.
