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JCDenton Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Infinitiv vs gerund

Hi guys,

our english teacher tortures us in the class with infitives and gerunds...
Can you please advise me some system howto use it correctly?...

For example

"Debbie plans to study abroad next year" vs "Debbie plans studying abroad next year".

First one is gramatically correct, but second one doesn't sound incorrect to my ear...

thank you for explanation

regards

Tomas
  

Top answer

There is, unfortunately for learners, no foolproof explanation. Some verbs are followed by the to- infinitive only, some by the bare infinitive only, some by either, some by the -ing form only, some by the infinitive or the ing- form with no significant difference in meaning, some by the infinitive or the ing- form with significant difference in meaning, some followed by the ing- form preceded by the preposition to etc.

— Fivejedjon

  • There is, unfortunately for learners, no foolproof explanation.
  • Some verbs are followed by the to- infinitive only, some by the bare infinitive only, some by either, some by the -ing form only, some by the infinitive or the ing- form with no significant difference in meaning, some by the infinitive or the ing- form with significant difference in meaning, some followed by the ing- form preceded by the preposition to etc.
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7 Answers
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There is, unfortunately for learners, no foolproof explanation.

Some verbs are followed by the to- infinitive only,
some by the bare infinitive only,
some by either,
some by the -ing form only,
some by the infinitive or the ing- form with no significant difference in meaning,
some by the infinitive or the ing- form with significant
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Thank you guys for reply.

This is hard to remember...
Anyway, is it really big problem in the communication when you use it incorrectly?

T.
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JCDentonis it really big problem
Only when there is a difference in meaning between the two forms after a given verb. The verb "stop" is the only big problem in this respect. Other mistakes just sound like foreigner English, but they're usually understandable.

CJ
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CalifJimThe verb "stop" is the only big problem in this respect
I'd add TRY and REMEMBER.
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fivejedjonI'd add TRY and REMEMBER.
I'd add "used to".
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Why?

Used to immediately preceded by a subject is nor followed by an -ing form.
BE/GET/BECOME used to immediately preceded by a subject is not followed by an infinitive form.
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