For questions about the difference in meaning or grammaticality between using a gerund or an infinitive in a particular context.
Questions tagged [infinitive-vs-gerund]
396 questions
12
votes
3 answers
Looking forward to talk to you or looking forward to talking to you. Which is correct?
I always use Looking forward to talk to you. But I kind of have the feeling it is not correct.
Which of the following is the correct way to use?
Looking forward to talk to you
or
Looking forward to talking to you.
goutam
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10
votes
3 answers
How can I decide when to use “for” + “-ing” or “to” + [infinitive] in a sentence?
Example:
I have nothing to do for now.
Nothing for doing for now.
Another one:
I have some things to study.
I have some things for studying.
New Examples: (QUESTION UPDATED)
I don't know if you use XXX, but I was wondering if it could be…
Thiago C. S Ventura
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8
votes
1 answer
What is difference between 'to publish' and 'publishing'?
Apart from a small chain of retail outlets, __________ non-fiction is the source of Baxter Books' revenues.
a. publisher
b. publishes
c. publishing
d. to publish
The answer is 'c'. Why not 'd'? Sometimes It is very difficult for us (non native,…
Dasik
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7
votes
4 answers
What's the diffence between "I want you to go to sleep" and "I want you going to sleep"
Are the following two sentences correct?
I want you to go to sleep.
and
I want you going to sleep.
If they are both correct, what's the difference?
roast_soul
6
votes
3 answers
to afford *doing* something
1) They can't afford to go out very often.
2) They can't afford going out very often.
A native speaker has said that the second usage can be heard in a colloquial speech, but it is incorrect. Is it true?
mosceo
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5
votes
2 answers
"look forward to meet you", or "to meeting you"?
Which one is correct?
I look forward to meet you during the coming festival.
or
I look forward to meeting you during the coming festival.
Please help me with explanation.
A. Prasad
- 353
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5
votes
3 answers
it ~ to vs it ~ ing
When I first learned English, I was taught to use only "it ~ to" form as opposed to "it ~ ing" form, so I always thought the latter one is not grammatical.
But I heard a lot of native speakers actually using the second form, so I wondered if it's…
Jnn
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4
votes
2 answers
"Hearing this makes me sad." vs "To hear this makes me sad."
I hope you see the intended meaning of both of those sentences.(I dont actually know if both of these are valid, I just made them up)
I know gerunds assume the role of a noun but would you really understand the first sentence as "The hearing of…
L.White
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4
votes
1 answer
Chicken out followed by an infinitive
Is it possible to use "infinitive" after chicken out?
She chickened out to go there by herself.
user1425
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4
votes
3 answers
Why is it v-ing after looking forward to?
I took an English grammar test and one question was:
Chen's looking forward ... his new job next week.
There were four choices: to starting / to start / starting / in starting.
My answer was "to start", because I knew the structure of "looking…
Sokah TOA
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4
votes
1 answer
To have or having(Infinitive Or Gerund)
She likes ________(to have/having) the birds is as an expensive hobby.
What should we use here ? Infinitive or Gerund? Why?
Aajan
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3
votes
1 answer
"To do this" or "For doing this" to start explaining something?
Many questions have been asked and answered about "to + bare infinitive" vs "for + gerund" in the middle of a sentence.
However, when one wants to start explaining something, what is better? For instance:
"Now, let us focus on baking the bread.
To…
hdl
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3
votes
4 answers
Why do we use 'telling' in the following sentence?
Why do we use 'telling' in the following sentence?
Was it difficult, telling your mum and dad?
-Well, yes and no.
Instead of 'telling' could we say 'to tell'?
What's the difference between them?
Thank you.
user159328
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3
votes
3 answers
"He was too busy to work at a factory" - Is this sentence correct in grammar?
I know this sentence is correct.He was too busy working at a factory.
but I wonder whether this sentence is correct and natural. (specially in grammar)
He was too busy to work at a factory.
Dasik
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3
votes
1 answer
Why in this example do we need to use "working" in the gerund form after the verb "love"?
In the example below I believe do we need to use "working" in the gerund form?
You will love working here
I thought that verbs following "love" can be either in the gerund form or the infinitive form, but for this example the infinitive form does…
Jo R
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