He learning english, like that of many other languages, involves a challenge for non-native students. Not all students are the same and there are things that can be complicated for some, such as the case of grammar, while for others the most difficult thing is the conversationToday we want to talk to you about infinitive vs. gerund, two verb tenses that are important to know how to apply in order to be successful on your path to language learning.
Infinitive vs. gerund: What are they and when are they used?
In Lewu we are experts in teaching english, that's why we have courses (face-to-face and English), not only for children, but also for Adults. In addition to offering courses, we offer linguistic immersions and of course with camps. A great way to learn English! But we want to tell you about the infinitive vs. gerund, two verb tenses that you will encounter at some point and that could cause you a headache.
One of the great challenges that non-native students face is, precisely, understanding the infinitive vs. gerund. They are not the same! The gerund They are the verbs ending in -ing, while the infinitive has the following construction: To + base verbIt is worth noting that both have specific uses and can completely change the meaning of a sentence if not used correctly.
What is the gerund?
He gerund In English it is formed adding the ending -ing to the base verb. This verb tense functions as a noun within a sentence and can therefore fill functions that the noun would otherwise have. For example, the gerund of the verb "speak" is "speaking" and of "run" is "running". These are some of the common uses of the gerund (with examples):
- Subject within a sentenceThe gerund is used at the beginning, as in the sentence: "Swimming is fun."
- As a complement to a verb/actionFor example: «She enjoys painting».
- As a complement to a preposition, as is the case with “He is interested in learning Spanish”.
What is the infinitive?
He infinitive In English it is formed with the word "To", followed by the base verb. Verbs in the infinitive are, for example, "To speak", "To run". We want to tell you that the infinitive can also be used as a noun, adjective and even as adverb and has a wide variety of uses in English:
- For express the purpose or intention which has the subject, as in the sentence "She went to the store to buy milk."
- After some verbs, as is the case with “He decided to leave early” or “They promised to help us”.
- As a subject or complement in a sentence, for example, in the sentence "To learn a new language is challenging."
Infinitive vs. Gerund: When is each used?
The big million dollar question: Infinitive vs. GerundHow do you know which one to use? Sometimes, both the infinitive like the gerund can follow certain verbs, but changing the meaning of the sentence. That is why it is very important to know How and when to use them. For example, in the sentences "She stopped playing" and "She stopped to play"; as you can see, the meaning of both sentences changes if the infinitive or the gerund.
On the other hand, how do you remember when you should use the infinitive or the gerund? We'll tell you some tips. Tricks that you should memorize:
- Gerund is usually used after the prepositions.
- After a few verbs like enjoy, avoid or mind, the gerund is used.
- The infinitive is used, on the other hand, in verbs like want, need and decide.
Understand When to use the infinitive or the gerund in English It may seem like quite a challenge at first, however, with the practice, it becomes much easier. Remember that the context and the verb that is used and you want to conjugate are key to determining Which form is correct?Using these structures correctly will not only improve your grammar, but will also make your English sound more natural and fluent. Remember to follow our tips to learn how to use these two tenses!
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