Gerunds and Infinitives

Definition the Infinitive (TO)

The infinitive in Spanish is the form of the verb that ends in r, such as walking, eating, sleeping, in English it carries the word "to" in front. For example, the words to walk, to eat, to sleep are infinitives that are translated to the words walk, eat, sleep, which in turn are Castilian infinitives.

Infinitives sentences (TO)

She wants to see him.
I want to dance with you.
We will be glad to help you with your homework.

Gerund prayers (ING)

I like going to the beach.
Carlos is eating an hamburger.
I love hiking.

Examples of Infinitive (TO)

To add To answer
To appear To arrive
To ask

To bark

To be

To became

To belong

To born

To build

To can

To clean

To close

To contain

To cook

To cost

To cover

To crack

To create

To cross

to cry

To dark

To die

To discover

To draw

To drink

To drive

To dry

To ear

To eat

Definition the Gerund (ING)

The gerund is when the form of the verb ends in the letters "ing" and is used mostly when using verbs that express the beginning and end of an activity, example Before leaving = before leaving. After eating it is translated into English by after eating or when the infinitive plays the role of a name. For example, swimming is very healthy and is translated as swimming is very healthful.

Its use in English

use of each

Used of Infinity (TO)
1. After some verbs like: would like, agree, decide, choose, plan, refuse, hope, want, manage etc.

I want to become a teacher.



2. After adjectives:

I'm happy to see you again.



3. To express an objective or why we are doing an action:

I'm here to study English. // I have come to help you.



It is NOT correct to say * I'm here for to study English.



Important:

The negative form of the infinitive is "not + infinitive": I'm happy not to see you again.

Used of the Gerund (ING)

1. After some verbs: deny, avoid, can not help, like, dislike, enjoy, mind, keep on, suggest, finish etc.

I have finished doing his homework.



2. After a preposition (usually it is about verbs or adjectives with mandatory preposition):

I'm interested in learning English. // I'm fond of playing tennis.



In this category also comes the typical formula of the end of an email or a letter: I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon. In this construction, "to" is a preposition.



3. When the verb is the subject of the sentence:

Smoking is dangerous for your health.

Important:

The negative form of the gerund is "not + gerund": I enjoy not doing anything on holiday.

The use of the infinitive (I would like to travel) and the gerund (I like traveling) in English is a common source of problems among learners. Probably because the two structures are translated into Spanish with the same structure (I would like to travel / I like to travel), therefore the natural tendency is to over-use the infinitive in English.

The other problem is that the use of one form or another depends, to a large extent, on the type of verb they accompany (would like + infinitive; like + gerund) and for that there is a list of verbs that require an infinitive and verbs that require a Gerund that has to be memorized.
English has two types of verbal nouns, the infinitive (with or without "to") and the gerund (the ending -ing). Most verbs that take a verbal noun can be followed by one or the other (a gerund or an infinitive, but not both). However, there are certain verbs to which a gerund or an infinitive can follow him indistinctly.

Examples of Gerund (ING)

Adjusting
Answering
Appearing
Attaching

Baking

Becoming

Beginning

Being

Belonging

Blowing

Breeding

Building

Buying

Calling

Carrying
Chaining

Changing

Checking

Cheering

Choosing