infinitive or gerund?

[carla guaraldi]

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

 

[MikeNewYork]

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:

 

[carla guaraldi]

Thanks a lot Mike it has helped me, but could you give me some more
information about it?

 

[MikeNewYork]

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? :?

 

[Tdol]

I'd go with Mike's ideas, to be honest. ;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

I'd go with Mike's ideas,to be hoest. ;-)

:wink:

 

[carla guaraldi]

What do you mean by potential actions?

 

[MikeNewYork]

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

 

[carla guaraldi]

thanks very much for your help

 

[MikeNewYork]

thanks very much for your help

You're very welcome. :wink: