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infinitive or gerund?
Could you tell me when to use the infinitive or the gerund as the subject of a sentence?
Thanks
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Re: infinitive or gerund?

Originally Posted by
carla guaraldi Could you tell me when to use the infinitive or the gerund as the subject of a sentence?
Thanks
That would depend on what you were trying to say. In many cases, the "infinitve" is a bit stiff, when used as a subject. There are times when it is preferred, however.
Infinitives often create the sense of "potential action" or an abstraction. Gerunds often imply "concrete/real action" or process.
To love another person is to experience every emotion.
Loving another person is experiencing every emotion.
Which is better? I would choose the first. This is an abstraction.
To own a yacht is to throw one's money in the ocean.
Owning a yacht is throwing one's money in the ocean.
I prefer the second here. One gets more pain from the real action created by a gerund.
Does that help at all? :wink:
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Re: infinitive or gerund?
Thanks a lot Mike it has helped me, but could you give me some more
information about it?
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Re: infinitive or gerund?

Originally Posted by
carla guaraldi Thanks a lot Mike it has helped me, but could you give me some more
information about it?
I've run out of ideas. What else do you want to know? :?
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I'd go with Mike's ideas, to be honest.
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Originally Posted by
tdol I'd go with Mike's ideas,to be hoest.

:wink:
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What do you mean by potential actions?
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Originally Posted by
carla guaraldi What do you mean by potential actions?
Those would be things one could or is thinking about. A concrete action is one that is actually being done.
I like to eat pizza.
This is a concept. It is a statement about what one likes when one has the opportunity.
I like eating pizza.
This focuses on the actual act of eating pizza.
It is a minor difference, since pizza is liked in both cases.
There is more information here:
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#gerunds
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thanks very much for your help :D
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Originally Posted by
carla guaraldi thanks very much for your help :D
You're very welcome. :wink:
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