Gerund and Infinitive – no difference in meaning
Gerund and the Infinitive after the verb – no difference in meaning
These verbs can be followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive without changing their meaning:
| Verb | Examples |
|---|---|
| begin | He began working. |
| He began to work. | |
| can’t stand | She can’t stand being alone. |
| He can’t stand to be alone. | |
| continue | They continued talking. |
| They continued to talk. | |
| hate | She hates washing up. |
| She hates to wash up. | |
| like | I like speaking Spanish. |
| I like to speak Spanish. | |
| love | She loves driving her car. |
| She loves to drive her car. | |
| prefer | Mike prefers eating at home. |
| Mike prefers to eat at home. | |
| start | They started fighting. |
| They started to fight. |
These verbs can also be followed by a Gerund or an Infinitive without changing their meaning. Mind the structure with the infinitive:
- Gerund: Verb + –ing
- Infinitive: Verb + Person (as object) + infinitive with to
| Verb | Examples |
|---|---|
| advise | They advised driving it was a long way to town. |
| They advise us to drive it was a long way to town. | |
| allow | They allow smoking here. |
| They allow us to smoke here. | |
| encourage | They encourage doing your best. |
| They encourage you to do your best. | |
| forbid | They have forbidden playing here. |
| They have forbidden children to play here. | |
| permit | They do not permit smoking here. |
| They do not permit us to smoke here. |
When recommend is followed by an infinitive, put that after recommend, then the object and then the infinitive without to.
| Verb | Examples |
|---|---|
| recommend | They recommend walking. |
| They recommend that we walk. |
Although gerunds and infinitives can often be used interchangeably there may still be a small difference in meaning. Using a gerund suggests that you are referring to real activities or experiences. Using an infinitive suggests that you are talking about potential or possible activities or experiences. Consider:
- I like speaking Spanish because it’s a lovely language. I like the experience of speaking Spanish, and the way it makes me feel when I speak the language.
- I like to speak Spanish when I’m in Spain. I prefer the option of speaking Spanish when I am in Spain.