To swim and swimming

[Nathan Mckane]

Hi !

What's the difference between these two regarding meaning ?

I like to swim .
I like swimming .

I read in a book that when you say ''I like to swim'' you actualy mean that you want to swim on that specefic occasion and by saying ''I like swimming'' you are stating that you like it in general .

Thanks/

[TheParser]

Hi !

What's the difference between these two regarding meaning ?

I like to swim .
I like swimming .

I read in a book that when you say ''I like to swim'' you actualy mean that you want to swim on that specefic occasion and by saying ''I like swimming'' you are stating that you like it in general .

Thanks/

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Mr. McKane.

(1) Yes, that is also something similar to what I hear.

(2) A grammar book that is used by many American teachers

(The Grammar Book by Mesdames Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman)

gives these examples:

I like camping in the mountains. (It is so peaceful HERE) =

more immediate and more vivid

***

I like to camp in the mountains. (It is so peaceful THERE) =

more remote, more objective

*****

Personally, I feel that if you meet an old friend on the street, it would be

more emotional to say, "Wow! It is so nice seeing you after all these

years!!!" I feel that "It's nice to see you" would lack warmth.

***** Thank you.

[2006]

Hi !

What's the difference between these two regarding meaning?
Don't leave a space between the last word and the period or question mark.
I like to swim.
I like swimming.

The two sentences mean the same thing. The second one is more common.


I read in a book that when you say ''I like to swim'' you actualy mean that you want to swim on that specific occasion No, it doesn't mean that. But "I'd like to swim." can mean that.


and by saying ''I like swimming'' you are stating that you like it in general . Both of your sentences mean this.

Thanks/

2006

[bertietheblue]

The general difference after verbs that can take either an infinitive and gerund is that the infinitive is often specific and the gerund often general. Compare:

I like swimming.
I like to swim in the sea when the weather is really hot.

That said, they are pretty much interchangeable.

"At least in this instance," he adds.

[2006]

The general difference after verbs that can take either an infinitive and gerund is that the infinitive is often specific and the gerund often general. Compare:

I like swimming.
I like to swim in the sea when the weather is really hot.

That said, they are pretty much interchangeable.
And one could also say 'I like swimming in the sea when the weather is really hot.'

2006

[Tdol]

You could, but from previous discussions, I get the impression that the infinitive for a restricted or conditional fondness is more marked in BrE.