English Gerund Or To-infinitive

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khanhha Friday 20th of January 2006 07:13:38 AM
Gerund or to-infinitive - Please help me when do I use gerund and when do I use to-infinitve.
I know I will choose gerund in this sentence but is it right if I choose to-infinitive? If it is not right please give me some advice.Thanks.
"Swimming/to swim is a good form of exercise."

joziboy Friday 20th of January 2006 08:44:22 PM
- Hi khanhha :)
Yup, they mean exactly the same thing. Either is correct, it just sounds better to use the gerund in that case.

khanhha Friday 20th of January 2006 09:34:25 PM
- Hi Joziboy,
Thanks for your reply.
Is it right when to infinitive is rarely used and I think that when I use gerund the sentence will have a meaning and when I use to infitive the sentence will have another.
They are not exactly the same.
Can you explain?

CliveN Saturday 21st of January 2006 02:40:56 AM
- To be honest, I'd say "Swimming is a good form of exercise."

The two sentences both mean the same thing, but "swimming" in this case comes more naturally. "To swim" might have a very, very subtly different meaning, but I don't think it makes much difference.

leobloom Saturday 21st of January 2006 05:07:01 AM
- I would have also chosen the -ing form but i couldn't explain why, i remebered there was a rule andnow i found this:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html

the gerund is a noun while the infinitive carries the idea of purpouse...

Tyrrena Sunday 22nd of January 2006 08:46:39 PM
- Hi!

Don't forget that the gerund can be used as a noun, that's why its'more common and it sounds better, especially in this case (subject of the sentence).

stormgoblin Monday 23rd of January 2006 10:40:35 AM
yeah - i'll add my thoughts?
i think that the infinitive form is best used when describing specific actions, whereas gerund forms are used to describe a general action.
if a doctor says "swimming after you have a cold may not be very healthy" he is reffering to a generalized action, like everyone says, occuring at any time. however, if he is speaking to a person, about a specific instance, perhaps if his patient is telling him that he wants to swim tomorrow, even though he has a cold--then, the doctor might say "it may not be the best for you to swim, tomorrow."
i hope that helped...
salaam,
mene

khanhha Monday 23rd of January 2006 11:28:31 AM
- Hi stormgoblin,
Your help is also valuable to me.
Thanks.

Phrasebase Archive
	khanhha	Friday 20th of January 2006 07:13:38 AM
	Gerund or to-infinitive - Please help me when do I use gerund and when do I use to-infinitve. I know I will choose gerund in this sentence but is it right if I choose to-infinitive? If it is not right please give me some advice.Thanks. "Swimming/to swim is a good form of exercise."
	joziboy	Friday 20th of January 2006 08:44:22 PM
	- Hi khanhha :) Yup, they mean exactly the same thing. Either is correct, it just sounds better to use the gerund in that case.
	khanhha	Friday 20th of January 2006 09:34:25 PM
	- Hi Joziboy, Thanks for your reply. Is it right when to infinitive is rarely used and I think that when I use gerund the sentence will have a meaning and when I use to infitive the sentence will have another. They are not exactly the same. Can you explain?
	CliveN	Saturday 21st of January 2006 02:40:56 AM
	- To be honest, I'd say "Swimming is a good form of exercise." The two sentences both mean the same thing, but "swimming" in this case comes more naturally. "To swim" might have a very, very subtly different meaning, but I don't think it makes much difference.
	leobloom	Saturday 21st of January 2006 05:07:01 AM
	- I would have also chosen the -ing form but i couldn't explain why, i remebered there was a rule andnow i found this: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html the gerund is a noun while the infinitive carries the idea of purpouse...
	Tyrrena	Sunday 22nd of January 2006 08:46:39 PM
	- Hi! Don't forget that the gerund can be used as a noun, that's why its'more common and it sounds better, especially in this case (subject of the sentence).
	stormgoblin	Monday 23rd of January 2006 10:40:35 AM
	yeah - i'll add my thoughts? i think that the infinitive form is best used when describing specific actions, whereas gerund forms are used to describe a general action. if a doctor says "swimming after you have a cold may not be very healthy" he is reffering to a generalized action, like everyone says, occuring at any time. however, if he is speaking to a person, about a specific instance, perhaps if his patient is telling him that he wants to swim tomorrow, even though he has a cold--then, the doctor might say "it may not be the best for you to swim, tomorrow." i hope that helped... salaam, mene
	khanhha	Monday 23rd of January 2006 11:28:31 AM
	- Hi stormgoblin, Your help is also valuable to me. Thanks.