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Mrbkiter Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Use TO + VERB as subject
Hi everyone,
Sometimes I saw sentences like "To love is to be vulnerable". Here they use TO + verb as subject. I usually see V_ing as subject and this is really a new big one. Does Anyone here know what, why and when we use this structure? every comment will be very appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Sometimes I saw sentences like "To love is to be vulnerable". Here they use TO + verb as subject. I usually see V_ing as subject and this is really a new big one. Does Anyone here know what, why and when we use this structure? every comment will be very appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hello, mrbkiter - and welcome to English Forums. An infinitive clause can often/usually substitute for a gerund phrase, but the gerund is usually less awkward and certainly more common in the subject position. The general difference between them is that the infinitive suggests potentiality while the gerund suggests activity, so keep that difference in mind when you choose.
- Hello, mrbkiter - and welcome to English Forums.
- An infinitive clause can often/usually substitute for a gerund phrase, but the gerund is usually less awkward and certainly more common in the subject position.
- The general difference between them is that the infinitive suggests potentiality while the gerund suggests activity, so keep that difference in mind when you choose.
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1 Answers
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Hello, mrbkiter - and welcome to English Forums.
An infinitive clause can often/usually substitute for a gerund phrase, but the gerund is usually less awkward and certainly more common in the subject position. The general difference between them is that the infinitive suggests potentiality while the gerund suggests activity, so keep that difference in mind when you choose.
An infinitive clause can often/usually substitute for a gerund phrase, but the gerund is usually less awkward and certainly more common in the subject position. The general difference between them is that the infinitive suggests potentiality while the gerund suggests activity, so keep that difference in mind when you choose.
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