Gerunds and infinitives

[durianlover]

Is it true that a gerund and infinitive can not be next to each other?

What about this sentence

I quit smoking to improve my health.

Is the "to" an infinitive or an adverb?

Thank you

[5jj]

Is it true that a gerund and infinitive can not be next to each other?

No. Where did you get that idea?

I must quit (bare infinitive) smoking (gerund).
I want to quit (to-infinitive) smoking (gerund).

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=durianlover;832917]

I quit smoking to improve my health.

Is the "to" an infinitive or an adverb?


NOT A TEACHER


(1) I think that you are absolutely right: the infinitive phrase (to improve my health) is being used adverbially. It modifies the verb "quit."

It answers the question: Why did you quit smoking?

(2) As you know, you can also make the sentence stronger by adding two words:

I quit smoking in order to improve my health.
In order to improve my health, I quit smoking.