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Originally Posted by rajan 1) We went to swim is wrong because The verb swim represents an act, an action, and not a state, so a gerund, an -ing noun, is used. |
Rajan, it has nothing to do with "act" and "state".
Infinitives, like "to swim", express an unactualized event. The event hasn't yet happened or the speaker hasn't yet experienced the event. The event is unknown. On the other hand, "-ing" express an actualized event. The event happened or the speaker experienced the event. S/he he knowledge of the event.
EX: We went
swimming.
(the event "swimming" happened)
EX: We want
to swim.
(the event "swim" hasn't happened yet)
EX: We want
to go swimming.
(the event "go swimming" hasn't happened yet. Note, "swimming" is the object of the verb "go". That's why it takes -ing in that context.)
EX: I dont want
to drink.
(the event "drink" did not happen)
EX: I don't want
to drink anymore.
(the event "drink (more)" does not happen)
All the best.
