0
Klavier Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
to infinitive/gerund as subject
0 Hello. 02 br
00 I know there is a difference (maybe not so evident) when one uses the to-infinitive or the gerund when they act as subject of the sentence. Some sources just say that the gerund is much more common in this function without mentioning the reason. With so little information I don't know how to make my choice before making the phrase. So, my question is: how do you know when to use the gerund or the to-infinitive before saying the utterance? Does it depend on the verb itself or the sentence that accompany the verb? 0-
00 I know there is a difference (maybe not so evident) when one uses the to-infinitive or the gerund when they act as subject of the sentence. Some sources just say that the gerund is much more common in this function without mentioning the reason. With so little information I don't know how to make my choice before making the phrase. So, my question is: how do you know when to use the gerund or the to-infinitive before saying the utterance? Does it depend on the verb itself or the sentence that accompany the verb? 0-
Top answer
0 Hello Latin 02 br 02 br 00 It seems to me that with the to-infinitive, you focus on the action as a completed whole, and so seem to stand outside it; whereas with the gerund, you focus on the action as a process, and so seem to stand 01 i 00 inside 02 i 00 it. Thus here, #2 has a "friendlier" air, to my ears: 02 br 02 br 00 1. 02 br 02 br 00 2.
- 0 Hello Latin 02 br 02 br 00 It seems to me that with the to-infinitive, you focus on the action as a completed whole, and so seem to stand outside it; whereas with the gerund, you focus on the action as a process, and so seem to stand 01 i 00 inside 02 i 00 it.
- Thus here, #2 has a "friendlier" air, to my ears: 02 br 02 br 00 1.
- 02 br 02 br 00 2.
- 02 br 02 br 00 In some contexts, a to-infinitive has an odd or chilly effect: 02 br 02 br 00 3.
- Swimming in the sea is very enjoyable.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
0 Hello Latin 02 br
02 br
00 It seems to me that with the to-infinitive, you focus on the action as a completed whole, and so seem to stand outside it; whereas with the gerund, you focus on the action as a process, and so seem to stand 01 i 00 inside 02 i 00 it. Thus here, #2 has a "friendlier" air, to my ears: 02 br
02 br
00 1. To err is human; to
02 br
00 It seems to me that with the to-infinitive, you focus on the action as a completed whole, and so seem to stand outside it; whereas with the gerund, you focus on the action as a process, and so seem to stand 01 i 00 inside 02 i 00 it. Thus here, #2 has a "friendlier" air, to my ears: 02 br
02 br
00 1. To err is human; to
00
0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Latin 12 cite 10 Hello. 12 br
10 I know there is a difference (maybe not so evident) when one uses the to-infinitive or the gerund when they act as subject of the sentence. Some sources just say that the gerund is much more common in this function without mentioning the reason. With so little information I don't know how to
00
0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 MrPedantic 12 cite 10 It seems to me that with the to-infinitive, you focus on the action as a completed whole, and so seem to stand outside it; whereas with the gerund, you focus on the action as a process, and so seem to stand 11 i 10 inside 12 i 10 it. 12 br10 So, would the
12 blockquote
00
0 01 blockquote
01 cite 10 Goodman 12 cite 12 br
11 blockquote11 cite 20 Latin 22 cite 20 Hello. 22 br
20 I know there is a difference (maybe not so evident) when one uses the to-infinitive or the gerund when they act as subject of the sentence. Some sources just say that the gerund is much more common in this
00
0 Hello Latin 01 blockquote
00 So, would the to-infinitive convey a more 'abstract' meaning (of actions not so common) and the gerund one that you feel more close (of actions more common)? 12 blockquote10 Yes, I think the to-infinitive does (on the whole) have a more abstract air than the gerund. (There are doubtless exceptions: maybe certain set phrases, for in
0
Related Questions