Learn French 100% free Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

> Log in <
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn French now!




Get a free French lesson every week!

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug


  •  



    Gerund/ infinitive

    Forum > English only || Bottom

    [POST A NEW REPLY] [Subscribe to this topic]


    Gerund/ infinitive
    Message from nish101 posted on 10-01-2012 at 15:48:34 (D | E | F)
    Hello,

    I can't distinguish between gerund and infinitive.
    Can someone help me? so that I could easily distinguish between them.
    Thank you for your answers. ^^

    -------------------
    Edited by lucile83 on 10-01-2012 16:08


    Re: Gerund/ infinitive from gerondif, posted on 10-01-2012 at 20:16:35 (D | E)
    Hello,
    an infinitive is written like this : "to play"
    A gerund is written like this: "playing"
    So far, it is easy to distinguish between them.

    What you mean maybe is that you don't know when to use them.

    Here are some simple clues but there are more:

    a) Use an infinitive:
    - after an adjective: I am happy to see you. I am sad not to come.

    - after verbs indicating a wish, a will, an order:
    I want to come, I would like to come, I order you to come, I expect you to come at 5,
    I promise to come....

    b) A gerund is a verb + ing thus transformed into a noun .

    use it:
    - after a preposition normally followed by a noun:

    Thank you for helping me. I am interested in running, I am fond of jogging, I am keen on sailing,
    I am mad about wind-surfing. I am fed up with waiting.

    - Use it after a verb indicating what you like or hate doing:

    I like books: I like reading.
    I enjoy sports: I enjoy running.
    I love guns: I love shooting.

    I don't mind questions: I don't mind answering them.

    I hate violence: I hate fighting.
    I can't stand heights: I can't stand climbing.

    a gerund can become the subject or the object of a verb:
    Swimming is good for you ! I love swimming.

    Watch out!
    "I like swimming" means that you are used to swimming (to is a preposition here), that you have already swum many times.

    "I would like to swim with dolphins" is a dream that you have never fulfilled,done, so use the infinitive here.

    This is just a start....




    Re: Gerund/ infinitive from phrasemix, posted on 12-01-2012 at 14:16:16 (D | E)
    Hello,

    How do you know which one to use? It's really just a matter of memorization. You should memorize phrases that can be followed by an infinitive and ones that can be followed by a gerund.
    There are only a few that can have either one, like "Stop doing something" and "Stop to do something". In those cases, you can just learn the difference in their meanings.

    -------------------
    Edited by lucile83 on 12-01-2012 17:57
    Please don't copy so many phrases from the internet, thanks.






    [POST A NEW REPLY] [Subscribe to this topic]


    Forum > English only