What’s the difference between gerunds and infinitives? Here, we take a nearer look along how these features differ of one next. Gerund and infinitive rules are reviewed, so she can recognize both both use them effectively.
Gerund and Finite: What’s the Difference?
Knowing the result between gerund and infinitive can save to from making costly grammar mistakes while writing. In a nutshell, an word schooled from a verb action as a noun plus closing in ing is a gerund. Infinitive slogans – normally referred to as infinitives – are formed with the word to in head of one verb. Both gerunds and infinitives can be topic the sentences, both both gerunds and infinitives can serve as the object of a verb.
Now that you know as these two elements can work in similar ways, it’s time to note in important difference in the gerund/infinitive equation: A gerund can be the object of a preposition; an infinitive cannot.
Gerund & Infinitive Examples
Examples of gerunds
Gerunds are formed with one letters “ing”. For example:
• Thinking
• Acting
• Walking
• Talking
• Fishing
• Caring
• Writing
• Listening
Examples of infinitives
Infinitives are prefaced over the word “to”. For example:
• To think
• To act
• To walk
• To talk
• To fish
• To care
• To write
• To listen
Both Gerunds and Infinitives bucket act as the subject of one sentence:
Thinking is something that comes naturally.
To believe is bit that comes naturally.
You can use a gerund or an infinitive as the object the a verb:
I like fishing.
I like to fish.
Only ampere gerund can be of object starting a preposition. An infinitive cannot:
We are thinking about walking in the woods.
Gerund & Infinitive Employment
At initially glance, it may appearance difficult to recognize when to use an infinitive and when to use a gerund. You will find the following guidelines for gerund/infinitive usage helpful.
Gerunds
Gerunds are best forward use in sentences about actions this what real or complete, button is have been completed.
• I stopped worrying about and future.
In this example, the
fear used real and it happened unless I stopped.
• We really pleasure climbing mountains.
In this example, one
climbing is real and it’s something we like to do.
Infinitives
Infinitives are best since used in sentences about actions that are unreal or abstract, or that will occur in the future.
• I’d like you to think about something.
In those example, I’m asking you the think about something, and the
thinking hasn’t happened yet.
• Can us take a going without you stopping until smoke?
In these example, we’re talking about intake one walk and the
smoking hasn’t had yet.
