Stop doing/ to do?

Question

Please, explaine the following grammatical hardship:
There is a difference between
1) I stopped talking and I stopped to talk

But what is the general rule for that? As it is confusing....... Does it have to do something with TRANSITIVE VERB?
When is it needed to use GERUND (if it is gerund, not sure) or infinitive with to.

I nealry escaped being caught or I nealry escaped to be caught

How to find out which one to use?

Regards

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

Hi Ticce.

There are some verbs which are followed with infg forms.

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Some verbs that are followed by -ing can also be followed by infinitive of purpose. One of them is stop. See these ones:

I stopped talking. (I ceased to do it.) ~~(I stopped to talk)~~
I stopped to talk. (in order to talk, for instance I can't walk and takl at the same time because I gasp).

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Infinitives often is used for expressing purpose. We often use an infibnitive to talk about persons purpose - why he or she does something. Also so as to(more informal than in order to), in order to do the same and is being used in negative statements and before negative infinitives.

I will go there to get a new car. ~~(I will go there for getting a new car)~~
Peter shouldn't be there in order not to miss his train.

TicceDoes it have to do something with TRANSITIVE VERB?

No, it has nothing to do with it. Transitive verb is one which may have Direct object (without preposition):
I know him well.
I see him.
She tells us.
Intransitive Verbs are the rest and particularly ones which can't take Direct Object or go with preposition only: look at the sky.

Ticce~~I nealry escaped being caught~~ or I nealry escaped to be caught

Not a good examples, really, because of ambiguity.

The simple rule is to check good dictionary like CollinsCobuild. A common bunch of verbs which take Infinitives or Gerunds are simple to be located. You can use any good book of English Grammar. There are common verbs which can take an Object as Ing-form:
advise, admit, allow, avoid, appreciate, can't bear, can't help, can't stand, consider, delay, deny, detest, dislike, dread, enjoy, escape, excuse, fancy, finish, forbid, forgive, give up, imagine, insist on, involve, keep, keep on, like, mean, mind, miss, object to, pardon, permit, postpone, practice, prevent, propose, recollect, recommend, remember, resent, resist, risk, stop, suggest, understand.

Stop doing/ to do?

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