To go there or going there

Question

Teachers, I have a question about the use of the infinitive and the gerund as the subject of sentence.
Would you say "To go there will take five hours." or "Going there will take five hours."? What decides the choice? Does the verb "will take five hours" have to do with the choice? I appreciate your help.

Just the truth · Accepted Answer

The difference is not great. However, it has been suggested by language researchers that "___ing" is more likely to be used to discuss a real situation. An infinitive often describes a less concrete, a more potential situation.

It may have been Dwight Bolinger, http://www.cinestatic.com/bolinger.htm who first suggested this nuance.

To go there will/would take ...

Going there will/would take ...

Mister Micawber · Answer

In your examples, there is scant difference of meaning. Your question is not an easy one, as I know that I have a personal preference for the '-ing' form in initial position, sometimes for no very solid reason.

Fundamentally, the infinitive presents the concept/activity/potentiality, while the '-ing' form emphasizes the practice/action/process.

I don't believe that the predicate contributes much if anything to the choice (since the predicate does not appear until the subject has already been chosen); it is more likely the particular topic or the meaning of the subject itself which favours one form or the other.

'To err is human, to forgive Divine.'
'Erring is human, forgiving is Divine.'

This well-known proverb appears in the first (infinitive) form, not the second, because the message is not concerned with the methods or processes of erring and forgiving, but the facts that man is prone to error and that ***'s job is to forgive (with apologies to any theologians among us).

'Bungee-jumping creates a fantastic rush!'
'To bungee-jump creates a fantastic rush!'

In this paradigm, the speaker is obviously preoccupied with the experience-- the plunging into the void, falling endlessly, being suddenly drawn up short by a large rubber band-- so the first ('-ing') form is a heavily-favoured choice, while the infinitive sounds quite awkward.

Oops! Didn't see you typing away there, JTT-- serves me right for being so verbose.

Just the truth · Answer

Not a problem, Mr M. I feel that your suggestions and analysis offers some support for Mr Bollinger's theory.

To go there or going there

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